AINTREE

4:20 SILVER CROSS PRAMS RED RUM HANDICAP CHASE GRADE 3 (CLASS 1) (5yo+) 2m

ANDREAS 11-12 ~ 4th in the Grand Annual at this year’s festival which was a fine effort in ground that was softer than ideal. He traveled well and looked the likely winner before the ground took its toll. That was normally how the horse ran until his battling win in the Grand Annual last season so he is forgiven this years performance at the festival as the horse really needs Good ground. He gets it here today and although having to shoulder top weight he still looks well handicapped enough to take a race of this nature so he is respected.

WANANGO 11-11 ~ Only 5 runs over fences but the way he performed when winning a handicap chase at Uttoxeter marked him down as a horse to follow. However he has been raised some 18lbs in the handicap for that win and the bare form of that race doesn’t suggest he deserves such a mark. The 2nd Patman Du Charmil was running over an inadequate trip and was soundly been by Maljimar and Mister McGoldrick before and after that Uttoxeter defeat so hardly a horse a the top of his game. The 3rd Magic Sky was beaten 19 lengths by Wanango at Uttoxeter but was only 18 lengths off the lead in the Grand Annual. So that puts Wanango right in the picture for today’s race then? Well not now the horse has been raised 18lbs and in fact it leaves him with a mountain to climb. Connections swerved their intended target at the festival, The Grand Annual in favour of a tilt at the County Hurdle but he was unable to take advantage of his lower mark over hurdles. The horse is unexposed and open to plenty of improvement but it looks as if the handicapper has had his say and that could anchor his chances.

LENNON 11-9 ~ Flat track bully and not surprisingly he has a good record at Aintree (Runs 3-2 Wins) and the quicker the ground the better. He looks feasibly handicapped given his obvious class and how well he ran at Doncaster last time out off only 4lbs lower. Today’s conditions look ideal and as he has been lightly raced this season he comes here relatively fresh. He has a good chance of improving his record over course and distance.

CALATAGAN 11-4 ~ The new Mister McGoldrick perhaps as this horse loves Wetherby (Runs 3-3 Wins) but he ran an excellent race in the Grand Annual at this years Cheltenham festival. Although he has form on all types of ground it appears he needs soft ground to be seen to best effect so the drying ground may have gone against. He would probably also prefer a stiffer track as he was beaten when falling at Doncaster in the race won by Howle Hill. There are also concerns regarding his jumping as he can make several errors in a race which won’t help him. Still nicely treated so not out of it after his fine effort at Cheltenham but suspicion he had his conditions that day and he won’t today.

LORD HENRY 11-4 ~ Hard pulling horse who although clearly talented throws away his chances in these competitive big field race but doing too much too soon. He was allowed to go on at Ascot where he destroyed a decent field and the 12lbs hike in the weights looked fair. He ran no sort of race in the Grand Annual but this track and ground should suit him much better. If he is allowed to just bowl along in front he could open up a sizeable gap and might prove difficult to catch.

SAINTSAIRE 11-0 ~ Last season he won on soft ground at Newbury but failed to build on that effort and the same looks likely this year. His connections should ensure he goes off at cramp odds but there is little form in the horses’ last three runs to encourage any backers.

DESERT QUEST 10-13 ~ Needs fast ground so today’s conditions should suit but the former Paul Nicholls trained gelding has looked a tricky ride for his new connections. He really needs a strong pace to be delivered late, which he should get today and the son of Rainbow Quest has always been better in big fields. His handicap mark over fences is still 20lbs lower than his highest mark over hurdles so there is plenty of room for manoeuvre. This horse needs his conditions to be at his best but he has them today and with the blinkers, that were so effective when he wore them over hurdles, he could bounce right back to his best form.

LESLINGTAYLOR 10-11 ~ The Doncaster victory over Tidal Bay looks even better now but that result flatters Leslingtaylor as Tidal Bay clearly wasn’t in the same form that he showed in the Arkle. The same can be said for Leslingtaylor but for different reasons as he ran a shocker. He may have hated the ground and the track but it was still a lifeless run. If he is none the worse for that performance and connections suggest he isn’t then he must have a good chance of bouncing back to form. Today’s conditions should be ideal having won and won well over course and distance in similar ground earlier on in the season. He looks nicely handicapped on a mark of 140 as it is only 7lbs higher than his hurdles mark and he has proven this season that he is a much better chaser. He should have a leading chance now conditions are back in his favour.

BAMBI DE L’ORME 10-8 ~ Winner in this race last year but this seasons race looks a tougher renewal. He is also 7lbs higher in the handicap and has to bounce back from being pulled up in the Grand Annual last time out. His best recent run came at Doncaster where he was comfortably held by Lennon and the 5lbs pull in the weights doesn’t look enough. He should have conditions to suit like last year but he’ll probably find a couple too good and isn’t in the same form now as he was 12 months ago.

GREENHOPE 10-7 ~ 4th in last years weaker renewal of this race but at the weights he has a chance of reversing form with the winner Bambi De L’Orme. The Nicky Henderson gelding isn’t getting any younger though and the 10yo is 3lbs higher than his last winning mark so he will have to improve if he is to win. However he could still run a decent race but this is tougher than last season and a place is once again all that connections can hope for.

ALMAYDAN 10-6 ~ Very consistent but as a result he is well exposed and handicapped to his best. He ran another respectable race in the Grand Annual but had little chance with the principles and the same result looks extremely likely again.

MAGIC SKY 10- 4 ~ Very similar profile to Almaydan and all connections can be seriously hoping for is that they pick up some prize money. The 8yo gelding managed it in last seasons renewal but this looks a better race and the horse may fill a similar spot that he managed in the Grand Annual (9th) a couple of weeks ago.

MARCEL 10-2 ~ Seems ancient history when this French import won 7 hurdle races in a row. However he hasn’t been the same horse since his novice days and he is currently an exposed chaser. He did win last time out though at Kelso but it was an average race at best and Magic Sky who was a close 3rd has chances to reverse the form. Much more is needed in this company though and the horse won after a drop in the handicap so a move back up in the weights won’t help his cause.

ELA RE 10-1 ~ Hails from a yard in-form but he has looked a performer for the lower levels and this step up in class should find him out. He is also on his highest career mark but hardly looks progressive enough to win off his new mark.

FOUR CHIMNEYS 10-0 ~ Interesting raider from Ireland who won a decent beginners chase at Gowran Park two starts ago. He goes well in soft ground so the drying conditions may have gone against him but he has form on a faster surface so it may not inconvenience him. What will probably go against him more is the trip as he has appeared to appreciate more than 2 miles.

TRAMANTANO 10-0 ~ The connections of this horse need shooting as the horse is much better animal fresh. If he had come into this race after a decent race he would have an excellent chance of picking up such a prize but he has been run into the ground. He’ll run his race but he won’t be able to reproduce his best form.

DEV 10-0 ~ 4lbs out of the handicap so effectively 9lbs higher than when winning at Sandown last month. That was a weak race but it was his first for 4 months so he should improve for the run. His best effort came at Aintree over course and distance when running in novice chase behind Leslingtaylor and Marodima. He was beaten 14 lengths by Leslingtaylor but is 13lbs better off in this handicap however the winner had any amount in hand and was eased down at the finish. He followed that up with a decent run in the Grade 2 November Novices' Chase and so isn’t completely out of it on his lowly handicap mark. However in this competitive race prize money looks the best he can hope for.

STAN 10-0 ~ 6th in this race last year and running off a 1lb higher mark due to the horse being 5lbs out of the handicap. He was 6lbs out of the handicap last time so is better treated today but he has been running without seriously threatening in several much weaker contests than this so once again looks likely to play a minor role.

CONCLUSION

Shortlist includes Andreas, Lennon, Lord Henry, Desert Quest and Leslingtaylor.

Lord Henry could well run a big race at a big price if allowed to bowl along in front and he doesn’t throw his chance away by running keen. However is isn’t a reliable sort and may be if anyone is thinking of backing him it they will do well to wait and play in-running to see how he races early.
Lennon is lightly raced this season and appears to have been prepared for the race with connections missing Cheltenham in favour of this handicap. He has scope for improvement but he will have to on his form last time out as it comes short of the standard shown by horses like Andreas in the Grand Annual.

The three that come out with strong chances are Andreas, Desert Quest and Leslingtaylor. The race could conceivably turn into a battle between the three as they look the class acts in the race.
Andreas has conditions to suit and still looks reasonably handicapped so a bold bid is expected. He was still traveling well when falling in this race last year and he may be able to gain compensation.
He may not be able to concede 15lbs to Leslingtaylor though who looked supreme when winning over course and distance in October. His win at Doncaster looks great now Tidal Bay has romped away to win the Arkle. However he has to bounce back from a poor effort in the Arkle but if he does he is the one they have to beat.
Desert Quest has always bee a little quirky but when he has his conditions he isn’t far off being top notch. He showed that when winning the County Hurdle and William Hill Handicap Hurdle in impressive fashion. He is rated some 20lbs lower over fences but he has yet to prove himself with his conditions. Good ground, big field and a fast pace so with the blinkers back on and with a jockey on-board who know him he could well run a massive race.

2pt EACH WAY – DESERT QUEST @ 16/1
1pt WIN – LESLINGTAYLOR @ 15/2

RESULT

DESERT QUEST 15th = -4pts
LESLINGTAYLOR 12th = -1pt