16:40 Aintree

Thursday 7 April 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 4m 4.72s

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Selected odds by:

Sky Pirate^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 153| D

18/1

Much improved for drop to 2m last season, signing off with success in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March. Plenty of solid efforts from inflated mark this campaign and best to forgive his latest Cheltenham effort on account of the testing ground. Type to bounce back.

Form: 243240

Dolos^t⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| D

16/1

Very smart chaser at his best who dispelled 3 lifeless runs initially this term to land class 2 handicap at Sandown (15.5f) for the third time in February. Remains with plenty of handicapping scope if backing that up here.

Form: 67-8781

Before Midnight⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 148| D

6/1

Built up a very solid record over fences, finding a little more progress to score narrowly at Ascot (16.7f) in November. Never figured in Grade 2 next time but right back to best when second at Doncaster (16.3f) latest. Worth considering.

Form: 11-1142

Bold Enough²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: M P Walsh| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143| D

12/1

Back-to-back novice chase winner (at around 2m last summer) who ran well when third in Galway Grade 3 thereafter. Seen only 3 times since but likely he'll come on for first run in 5 months at Gowran in March. May yet have more to offer in handicaps.

Form: 113355

Elixir De Nutz^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 142| D

20/1

Smart hurdler who dominated small-field novice/handicap chase contests earlier this year, latterly at Kempton (18f) in February. However, never figured in the Grand Annual on his most recent run and this another ultra-competitive scenario.

Form: 2-4211P

Frero Banbou²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142| D

5/1

7-y-o who was fourth in this race last year and improved further this campaign, successful at Lingfield (2m) in January and only beaten 6 lengths in to third in last month's Grand Annual, despite being detached early. Rates a player once more.

Form: 433123

Thyme White¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| BF| D

12/1

Useful handicap hurdler who made it third time lucky over fences from 8 lb lower mark at Doncaster (16.3f) in December. Similar form when second on back of 3 months off at Ascot (16.7f) 11 days ago and good showing anticipated.

Form: 07-2U12

Dancing On My Own^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141

25/1

Made light of lengthy absence to take a KIllarney maiden chase (17f) in October. Jumping has let him down on 2 of 3 starts since though, including when tenth in the Grand Annual last month.

Form: 16/13F0

King D'Argent³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

10/1

Highly progressive over fences last term, notching his third victory in this sphere at Warwick (2m) 12 months ago. Mixed bag initially this campaign but mark reflects that and right back to form when runner-up to Bun Doran at Doncaster recently. Shortlisted.

Form: 2-35952

Gaelik Coast^p1⁶⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 137| D

14/1

Won at Musselburgh in October and his Cheltenham fourth over extended 20f in January (on back of wind op) was up there with pick of his efforts. However, he was well held from 1 lb lower mark in this 12 months ago.

Form: 0-21834

Shakem Up'arry⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 136| BF| D

15/2

Much improved when opening chase account at Haydock 2m) in December. Stamina possibly stretched tackling 2½m back at that venue next time and back to form when second at Newbury (2m) in February. However, this is deeper.

Form: 80-U132

Bun Doran^p,t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 134| D

28/1

Veteran who has confirmed he still has plenty to offer this season, capitalising on handicapper's mercy to end losing run at Doncaster last month, by a neck from King D'argent. 3 lb rise fair and in with a shout again.

Form: 434241

Gunsight Ridge^t⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| BF| D

4/1

Consistent hurdler who confirmed initial chase promise when off the mark at Sandown (15.5f) in January, asserting final 100 yds. Shaped better than distance beaten suggests when third behind Dolos at Sandown since and he remains low-mileage.

Form: 32-3213

The Last Day⁷⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 133| CD

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler who landed a C&D handicap chase from 2 lower mark back in 2019. Seen only 4 times since but looked set to defy lengthy absence when falling last at Haydock in January. Clearly fragile but undoubtedly still useful if putting it all together. Interesting.

Form: 114/56-F

Fugitif^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Stan Sheppard| T: R Hobson| OR: 133| D

33/1

Hurdles winner who added second chase success to his tally at Newcastle (2m) in January. Never figured in Grade 1 at Sandown next start but back to form without threatening when fourth of 5 at Chepstow (2m) in February. However, this tougher again.

Form: 3-1P144

Espion Du Chenet^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: Louise G Lyons| OR: 131| D

66/1

8-y-o who has been kept busy this season, running out a 6.5 length winner at Thurles (16.5f) in February. Clearly in rude health at present but has to race from much-inflated mark here which makes things a whole lot tougher.

Form: 217531

Non-Runners

Global Citizen²²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Zarkareva¹⁰²

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

Gunsight Ridge (4/1), Frero Banbou (5/1), Before Midnight (6/1), Global Citizen (7/1), Shakem Up'arry (15/2), King D'Argent (10/1), The Last Day (12/1), Bold Enough (12/1), Thyme White (12/1), Gaelik Coast (14/1), Dolos (16/1), Sky Pirate (18/1), Elixir De Nutz (20/1), Zarkareva (20/1), Dancing On My Own (25/1), Bun Doran (28/1), Fugitif (33/1), Espion Du Chenet (66/1)

Unsurprisingly a host arrive with claims and with that in mind a chance is taken on one at the foot of the weights in the shape of THE LAST DAY. A former C&D winner, he's obviously fragile but highlighted he still has plenty to offer prior to falling on return at Haydock in January (looked likely winner). Clearly on a handy mark, he can go well, with Frero Banbou, Before Midnight, King d'Argent and Grand Annual winner Global Citizen heading up a long shortlist of dangers.