16:05 Friday

Bill Baxter

Bill Baxter took to these fences like a duck to water when triumphing in this race 12 months ago and he makes obvious appeal this year off a 1lb higher mark. 

The Warren Greatrex trained grey has failed to get competitive in five subsequent outings culminating is a disappointing effort at Newbury when beaten more than 26 lengths as a 9/2 joint-favourite.

However, this race has almost certainly been his primary target all season long and a return to form seems likely. 

Shakem Up’Arry

Shakem Up’Arry is currently in the form of his life in spite of hitting double digits at the start of the year and he is undoubtedly a big player in this contest.

The Harry Redknapp owned gelding placed sixth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in December before landing a competitive handicap chase at Cheltenham with relative ease.

Ben Pauling’s charge returned to the Cotswolds to land the TrustATrader Plate last month and he looks sure to make a bold bid in his quest for a hat-trick. 

Your Darling

Your Darling hasn’t been seen since cruising to a smart success at Ascot in November, when proving nine lengths too good for subsequent Coral Handicap Chase victor Flegmatik.

That certainly seems to be a smart piece of form and the subsequent break is no concern as Your Darling has a good record when fresh.

However, all four of his previous victories over obstacles have been achieved on right-handed tracks and he will need to defy a career high mark in order to triumph here, which does slightly temper enthusiasm.

Life In the Park

Life In The Park will arrive here fresh from a career best effort in the TrustATrader Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last month, when finishing just two-and-three-quarter-lengths behind Shakem Up’Arry. 

Henry de Bromhead’s seven-year-old stayed on strongly on that occasion and he will be 2lbs better off with Ben Pauling’s charge when factoring in the subsequent ratings rise and Rachael Blackmore taking over in the saddle.

Life In The Park could easily run well if building upon that effort.

Arizona Cardinal

Arizona Cardinal arrives on the crest of a wave following victories at Leicester and Ludlow respectively and the form of his latest success has been boosted twice by the runner-up subsequently.

Stuart Edmunds’ charge is seemingly reaping the rewards of undergoing wind surgery in November and it’s hard to know where the limit of his abilities lie.

The Kayf Tara gelding will compete from a career high mark of 137 and he will be well suited by a strongly run race. 

James Du Berlais

It’s fair to say that James Du Berlais has failed to hit the expected heights since joining Willie Mullins in 2021, winning just one of his eleven outings for the Irish Champion trainer.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned eight-year-old placed seventh in the TrustATrader Plate at Cheltenham last month and was well held when finishing third on his penultimate outing at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The British handicapper has only dropped James Du Berlais 1lb following his trip to the Cotswolds last month and he will clearly need to improve upon that form in order to scoop this prize.

Kandoo Kid

Kandoo Kid has enjoyed a thoroughly consistent campaign outside of being pulled up in the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase, winning the Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase at Newbury in December and placing second on four occasions.

The consistent son of Kapgarde bumped into subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Djelo in the Grade 2 Howden Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot prior to Christmas and the form of his latest defeat also reads well as the winner followed up three weeks later.

Paul Nicholls’ charge could easily prove better than a mark of 142 and is therefore one for the shortlist.

Classic Getaway

Classic Getaway needs to bounce back from two disappointing efforts and will have the burden of top weight in this contest.

That said, the Cheveley Park Stud owned eight-year-old is undoubtedly classy on his day, as demonstrated when comfortably scoring at Thurles in November, and he will appreciate dropping back in trip after failing to see out three-and-a-quarter-miles at Down Royal last month.

This race could easily suit him. However, it should be noted that Willie Mullins doesn’t tend to have many handicap chase winners on this side of the Irish Sea.

Fantastic Lady

Fantastic Lady was hampered by a loose horse when placing second in this 12 months ago and she could easily go close once again off 3lbs higher mark.

Lightly raced for her age, Fantastic Lady again demonstrated her liking for Aintree’s unique spruce fences when placing fifth in the Grand Sefton Chase Handicap Chase in November and she would certainly be a welcome winner following Nicky Henderson’s torrid time at Cheltenham.

The Network mare holds each-way claims at a generous looking price.

Shantreusse

Shantreusse is yet to get off the mark in seven attempts over fences; however, he has managed runner-up efforts on two of his last three starts and clearly connections feel that this race could suit.

The Shantou gelding was attempting to concede 22lbs to a well handicapped rival in Listed company at Naas in February and he has enjoyed a nice break since, while some of his rivals have endured hard races at Prestbury Park last month.

That could well be in his favour here. However, he will likely require a career best effort in order to hit the frame, let alone take home the main prize.

Lounge Lizard

Lounge Lizard lost a shoe when beaten a long in the Becher Chase and he has certainly bounced back since.

Henry Daly’s charge ran a big race when chasing home the classy Ga Law at Cheltenham in January and he showed guts when out-battling an in-form rival at Huntington last month.

Lounge Lizard will compete from the same mark from which he placed fifth in the Becher Chase and he could easily show up better over this intermediate trip.

Frero Banbou

Frero Banbou has been the model of consistently in competitive handicap company over the last few years and he displayed an aptitude for these spruce obstacles when placing third in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase in November.

The Apsis gelding will compete from a 2lbs lower mark on this occasion and he arrives on the back of a solid sixth place finish in last month’s TrustATrader Plate.

It goes without saying that he holds an each-way chance.

Aime Desjy

Aime Desjy is undoubtedly one of the more intriguing contenders in this contest given his solid novice form and potential for improvement. 

The lightly-raced nine-year-old placed fifth behind Corbetts Cross, Three Card Brag, Monty’s Star and Nick Rockett on his chasing debut in December and again displayed promise when chasing home the 143 rated Saint Felicien next time out.

Aime Desjy ran out a comfortable winner on his third try over fences and it’s interesting that connections have decided to bring him here.

He certainly warrants a market check.

Empire Steel

Empire Steel will be having his first outing over these spruce fences when facing the starter on Friday and he does appear to be handicapped up to his best following a fourth win at his beloved Kelso.

Sandy Thomson’s 10-year-old made the majority of the running on that occasion and kept enough in reserve to see off the late challenge of Nells Son, who franked the form next time out.

That piece of form clearly offers encouragement. However, more will be required on this occasion.

Richmond Lake

Richmond Lake is another contender whom will be having his first try over these famous Aintree fences. However, he did score at the Merseyside venue when visiting in December.

Donald McCain’s eight-year-old had subsequent dual scorer Heltenham well behind on that occasion and he will line-up of just a 1lb higher mark following three disappointing efforts culminating in a fall at Kelso.

Richmond Lake could easily run better than his price would suggest if replicating his December form.

Celebre D’Allen

Celebre D’Allen was been a shade over 28 lengths in this contest last year and he shaped well before flattening out in the Becher Chase in December.

The battle-hardened twelve-year-old clearly handles these obstacles well and could easily run respectably once more.

However, it’s hard to envisage him featuring prominently on the balance of his form.

The Edgar Wallace

The Edgar Wallace has seemingly benefited from undergoing wind surgery during the summer as his form figures this season read 1122.

Both of his defeats were by less than a length and both horses who chased him home have won races since, demonstrating just how competitive the nine-year-old has been.

Clearly this race will demand more of Kim Bailey’s change. However, his prominent style of running should provide backers with entertainment at the very least.

Francky Du Berlais

Francky Du Berlais already boasts a 16th place finish in the 2023 Grand National; a 15th place finish in the 2022 Becher Chase; an eighth placed effort in the 2021 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase; and a fourth place finish in the 2022 Topham Chase on his lengthy CV. 

It’s therefore no surprise to see him lining up here once again.

Peter Bowen’s 11-year-old demonstrated that the fire still burns brightly when chasing home Grand National hope Latenightpass in a cross country chase at Cheltenham in November, and he will compete off the very same mark of 134 on this occasion.

It hard to envisage Francky Du Berlais playing a starring role. However, he could easily run better than his price would suggest.

Grandad’s Cottage

Grandad’s Cottage landed a Class 3 contest at Leicester in January and followed that up with a respectable fourth placed effort in Class 2 company at Kempton, when only beaten two-and-a-quarter-lengths.

The form of that race looks fairy respectable as the runner-up has won twice since and Grandads Cottage will compete off the same mark here.

These are clearly deeper waters and Grandads Cottage will need to improve upon what he has shown thus far. However, he does remain open to improvement after just seven starts over fences.

Ciel De Neige

Ciel De Neige become frustrating to follow when trained by Willie Mullins and he failed to beat a solitary rival home on his first two outings for Ben Haslam after switching yards in November.

He did little to suggest that a revival was on the cards when placing fourteenth in the TrustATrader Plate at Cheltenham last month, albeit he did manage to cross the line in advance of three rivals, and even a 5lbs drop in the ratings does little inspire enthusiasm.

Killer Kane

Killer Kane was beaten the best part of 14 lengths when placing third in this race last year and he could easily run well again off a 4lbs lower mark.

However, the fact that he will compete off a lower mark clearly suggests that he hasn’t shone in the meantime and he will need to bounce back to his very best in order to emulate last year’s placing, let alone improve upon it.

Flegmatik

Flegmatik has been running consistently all season long and he rewarded connections with a gutsy success in the Coral Handicap Chase at Kempton in January, when holding off subsequent Ultima Handicap Chase hero Chianti Classico.

However, it’s worth noting that Flegmatik’s last 17 races have all been contested on right-handed tracks, which suggests that connections may have doubts about his ability to go left-handed.

That said, Dan Skelton’s charge is clearly in good heart at present and could easily outrun his price.

Quel Destin

Quel Destin made the most of the weight he received from previous Grade 1 winner First Flow when scoring at Chepstow in December and it may be wise to treat that form with a degree of caution.

Paul Nicholls’ stalwart was soundly beaten when returning to the Welsh track in January and he will line-up off the same mark in this contest, which doesn’t bode well.

Good Boy Bobby

Good Boy Bobby kick-started his campaign with a brace of veterans chase victories. However, he has been well held in three subsequent outings in the same company and now has questions to answer.

On the plus side, those defeats have seen his handicap rating slip back down the very same mark from which he won at Sandown in November.

However, this is clearly a much tougher assignment and it’s hard to envisage him featuring prominently.

Embittered

Embittered proved nine lengths too good for the aforementioned Shantreusse at Navan in December and he was only beaten a total of 16 lengths when placing eleventh in the TrustATrader Plate at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The British handicapper dropped the Gigginstown House Stud owned 10-year-old 3lbs following that outing and he could easily outperform market expectations if performing to the peak of his powers.
However, that is far from guaranteed.

Topham Chase Tips & Prediction

Last year’s winner Bill Baxter hasn’t done much in the meantime and has seen his rating fall as a result, which will help him in his bid to go back-to-back.

While Fantastic Lady, who ran a mighty when chasing him home last year, could easily outperform market expectations once more. 

Ben Pauling has two live candidates in the form of Shakem Up’Arry and Your Darling and both hold sound claims.

The former is in the form of his life at present and his win in last month’s TrustATrader Plate at the Cheltenham Festival was more comfortable than the winning margin would suggest.

While the latter appears to have been kept back for this race following a smart success at Ascot in November and the form has been working out well.

However, KANDOO KID has also been accumulating some solid form this winter and he could easily prove better than a mark of 142.

The consistent eight-year-old was attempting to concede 10lbs to the progressive Heltenham at Newbury last month and Dan Skelton’s charge is now rated 12lbs higher after following up three weeks later.

A big field handicap could easily bring out the best in Paul Nicholls’ representative.

The same sentiments apply to Irish raider Amie Desjy, who could be anything at this stage of his career and probably warrants a market check.

While the likes Francky Du Berlais and Killer Kane have all displayed an aptitude for these fences previously and could outrun their price.