13:30 Aintree

Saturday 9 December 2023

All11:1011:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 44.38s

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Selected odds by:

Brave Seasca²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 145| BF| CD

9/1

Career best display when landing this from 1 lb higher mark 12 months ago but not in anything like the same form in trio of starts thereafter. Had wind op but fared no better when well-beaten last of 6 on return in Haldon Gold Cup 4 weeks ago. Needs to step up a good deal on that.

Form: F/10PP-6

War Lord^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard| OR: 144

11/2

Smart novice chaser who essentially endured a disappointing 2022/23 but offered hope of a rival (following wind op) when third in last month's Haldon Gold Cup from out of the weights. Could well build on that back up in trip.

Form: 3P2P5-3

A Wave Of The Sea⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 144| D

16/1

Losing run is mounting up but ended time with Joseph O'Brien with a creditable fourth in the Munster National (3m, heavy) in October. Starts out for new yard from 3 lb higher mark but this drop back in trip unlikely to inconvenience him.

Form: P9-4404

Richmond Lake²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 142| D

4/1

Quickly got his act together over fences earlier this year, the third of his 4 victories coming in listed handicap company at Ayr (20.5f) in the spring. Little fuss (granted soft lead) when successful on hurdles return at Wetherby and likely more to come back in this sphere.

Form: 61211-1

Gustavian^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 135| D

7/1

Belatedly opened his account over fences at Exeter in February and in process of running well when crashing out at the second last at Uttoxeter (3m) a month later. Shaped as if he'd come on for his reappearance in the Badger Beers but he does need to keep the errors at bay.

Form: 2/431F-7

Heltenham^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

5/2

Improved markedly for switch to chasing last term, rattling off hat-trick of handicap victories at Newbury (19.8f) in March. Fell in Silver Trophy final start but resumed with a comfortable success over hurdles in novice company at Wetherby 21 days ago. Big shout with more to come in this sphere.

Form: 2111F-1

Nothin To Ask^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

22/1

Hit the ground running over fences last term, bagging handicaps at Chepstow/Doncaster. Disappointed on 2 of his 3 starts after but did shape much better than distance beaten suggests at first-named venue in October. Another needing to keep the errors at bay, however.

Form: 11P2F-9

Daly Tiger^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: K Brogan| T: L Morgan| OR: 122| D

20/1

Very smart chaser in his pomp for Noel Meade. Fallen long way in the weights without threatening for present stable, finishing hollow second behind a facile winner at Haydock (16.3f) 2 weeks ago. Back up in trip now.

Form: 380P-42

Donna's Double^t1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120| D

11/2

Mixed bag on the back of chase success at Ayr (20.5f) in January but firmly back on track following a 7-month layoff when third back at that venue 5 weeks ago, edged out close home in a very tight finish. Remains lightly raced in this sphere but task is to build on that here. Tongue tied.

Form: 31655-3

Non-Runners

Cracking Destiny³¹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 10

T: Ewan Whillans J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Heltenham (5/2), Richmond Lake (4/1), War Lord (11/2), Donna's Double (11/2), Gustavian (7/1), Brave Seasca (9/1), Cracking Destiny (12/1), A Wave Of The Sea (16/1), Daly Tiger (20/1), Nothin To Ask (22/1)

HELTENHAM was most progressive from a low base over fences last season, completing a hat-trick with any amount to spare at Newbury in March. Undone by a mistake at Cheltenham on his final start, he had little fuss in resuming winning ways over hurdles at Wetherby 3 weeks ago and there's surely more to come in this sphere. War Lord finished off encouragingly in the Haldon Gold Cup and along with Richmond Lake heads up the dangers.