Horses to follow at the Aintree Grand Sefton meeting.
Always a fantastic meetint at Aintree and the first take of the Grand National fences. This meeting always highlights some key horses for us to keep onside when it comes to the graded races throughout the season and most importantly the big Spring festivals like the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National meeting. Here are my 5 horses to follow for tomorrow's action and beyond.
Mossy Fen Coolio Out to Emulate Mister Meggit in Season Opener
Mister Meggit was a fine winner of this race last season before going onto contest the Sefton grade 1 at the Aintree Grand National meeting in April after a break. The same connections run Mossy Fen Coolio who was a 25 length winner of his point to point back in February and he looks a fine mew addition to the Jonjo O’Neill team. Mow the 2023 winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies runs a horse called On Deadly Ground and he was 2nd in his point to point 566 days ago, he'll be in the same colours as the well know Potters Charm and would look to me off such a long lay off to be a long term work in progress. There is one in here who may have race fitness on his side with Fergals Ballyyeaston having a run in a bumper first but he looks the type to me to want really soft ground and he wont get that tomorrow.
Nothing jumps out at me amongst the rest so Im inclined to take a chance on last season winning connections and go with Mossey Fen Coolio to emulate Mister Meggit, he looks a stayer, they arent waiting any time in bumpers and goinf straight over hurdles and these owners had a nice horse last season called Roadlesstravelled with Jonjo and he won first time out going straight over hurdles from points so I'm hoping similar can happen with this horse. If he is to win and put up a good performance that definitely opens up roads to the graded scene, and races like the Challow hurdle at Newbury before going onto the Sefton at Aintree or even the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival could be a soring target for him up to 3m.
Horse to follow: Mossey Fen Coolio
Odds: 5/4 with BetMGM
Impose Toi the Class Act in Tomorrow’s Pertemps Qualifier
12:55 3m½f (3m149y) Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2)
The next qualifying race for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival takes place tomorrow, and this is a contest where the focus shouldn’t solely be on the winner, but also on the horses that finish in the places. The top four finishers will qualify for the Final in March, with the winner guaranteed a spot.
The horse I’m most interested in is Impose Toi, trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico De Boinville. Within this field, he strikes me as a runner with the potential to progress into graded company this season. There’s clear logic in aiming to get him qualified for the Pertemps Final — he’s rated 148, which suggests he may ultimately prove too good for this level, but securing qualification now offers valuable options later in the season.
If he uses his class to win and guarantee a place in the Final, connections can campaign him in graded races through the spring. Should he fall just short at that level, they retain the option to drop back into handicap company. Henderson’s record in this series speaks for itself, having trained both the first and second in last season’s Pertemps Final. Notably, Impose Toi finished second in the Coral Cup, proving his Cheltenham credentials.
He’s also one who tends to perform well fresh, his record after breaks of 100 days or more reads 2112. To me, he holds a distinct class edge here. There will likely be several lower-rated rivals content to finish in the top four and secure qualification rather than challenge the 148-rated hurdler for victory. We saw a similar situation recently when Haiti Couleurs won a qualifier off top weight, and I can see Impose Toi doing the same here. He looks a solid each-way proposition, particularly if extra places are available.
Horse to follow: Impose Toi
Odds: 6/1 with BetMGM
Russell’s King Of Answers Poised to Step Forward Over Fences
1:30 3m1f (3m210y) (Mildmay) Watch On Racing TV Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
The last two renewals of this contest have produced some smart staying novice chasers for British yards. In 2023, Giovinco took the prize before going on to finish a fine third behind Fact To File in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Last year’s winner, Haiti Couleurs, may have landed what looked a weak renewal at the time, but he did so with ease and later confirmed his class when landing the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. The race, therefore, has a strong recent record of unearthing future graded performers.
This year’s line-up once again brings together a mix of unexposed chasers, and it will be interesting to see if another top prospect emerges. Andy Ammo, representing last year’s winning connections, looks up against it on form. While no doubt progressive, he has plenty to find with some of these rivals, and he’s opposable at the likely prices. Hidden History, from the Dan Skelton yard, makes his chase debut, but the stable’s record with first-time-out novices this season has been underwhelming. He’s one to watch rather than back and Ben Pauling’s Champagne Twist has ability but doesn’t have the best record when fresh, and his form tailed off badly towards the end of last season. He’s passed over on this occasion.
The one to side with could be King Of Answers, trained by Lucinda Russell. He made a satisfactory chasing debut at Hexham over a trip that was on the sharp side and should strip fitter for that run. The step up in distance looks ideal, and with Patrick Wadge taking the ride, he can be expected to improve again. Off a mark of 127, there’s every reason to think he can go close here. He’s the each-way play in a race that, while perhaps lacking a standout like Giovinco or Haiti Couleurs, should nonetheless provide a good test for some promising novice chasers.
Horse to follow: King Of Answers
Odds: 8/1 with BetMGM
Fizz and Plan the each way plays
2:40 2m5f (2m5f19y) (Grand National) Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2)
This contest has long been a popular and significant fixture in the National Hunt calendar, serving as the season’s first real taste of the famous Grand National fences. While it may not typically produce a Grade 1 performer, it often highlights horses worth following into the spring handicaps. Last year’s winner, King Turgeon, for instance, went on to contest the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and returns again this year seeking back-to-back victories.
This renewal looks a competitive one with several familiar names and connections who traditionally target the race. White Rhino, representing Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, will be having his first experience of the National fences under Sean Bowen. The yard has an excellent record in this event, having won it with Geskille two years ago and finished third with Gaboriot last season. The concern for White Rhino, however, will be how he takes to these unique obstacles, particularly after bleeding on his most recent start. Stablemate Gaboriot is back again, 3lb lower than last year’s third, and with Robbie Dunne taking the ride with Henry Brooke injured, he’s likely to give another bold account but he does need a big turnaround in form.
Defending champion King Turgeon attempts to follow up last year’s success but must now shoulder 12lb more. Given the competitiveness of this year’s field, he looks a favourite worth taking on. Two who appeal more from a betting perspective are Jet Plane and Vintage Fizz.
Jet Plane, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton, looks primed for a big run off a mark of 132. He bolted up in a hunter chase off 133 at Wetherby before finishing a fine second over these fences in the Foxhunters’ Chase, suggesting he relishes both the trip and the challenge of Aintree. With proven form around here and a workable mark, he commands serious respect.
The other of interest is Vintage Fizz for Jedd O’Keeffe, who finished runner-up in this race last year off a 3lb higher mark. He shaped well that day, travelling strongly before staying on behind the winner. His preparation looks better timed this season, coming here fresh after a 54-day break, a notable improvement on the 24-day turnaround he had last year. His record suggests he’s best when fresh, with strong efforts following breaks of between 60 and 100 days, and the booking of Sam Twiston-Davies is a significant positive. He looks attractively handicapped and likely underestimated in the market.
A typically competitive renewal, but Jet Plane makes plenty of appeal with proven form over the fences and conditions to suit and Vintage Fizz rates a big danger too so to me both could be the value each-way plays.
Horses to follow: Jet Plane / Vintage Fizz
Odds: 9/1 with BetMGM and 10/1 with BetMGM
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