2023 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase Tips

The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase is an intriguing encounter and the winner is the horse that not only lasts the distance over two miles and five furlongs, but is also able to negotiate the eighteen Grand National fences along the way. The leading contenders are all trading at a similar price and that includes Gesskille who should be able to jump well.

The seven-year-old was last seen running at Auteuil when obliging in this French race and scoring at odds of 103/10 in the Prix Richard et Robert Hennessy. The fact that this was achieved on very soft ground is definitely a pointer, although the horse could only manage ninth place in last season’s Topham Handicap Chase.

City Chief returns to the track after finishing third last time out, with the runner sent off as the 15/8 favourite in a handicap chase race at Ayr in April. There had previously been successes at Hereford and Wetherby for the horse, with Monbeg Genius another class act who showed that he was capable of jumping well at the Cheltenham Festival.

Fantastic Lady could go well for trainer Nicky Henderson, with Al Dancer potentially an attractive each-way prospect despite being at the age of ten. Sam Thomas has previously seen his horse run well at Aintree when finishing third in the Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase over two miles and four furlongs.

2022 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase Tips

Mac Tottie was the surprise 20/1 winner of the 2021 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase, although you are unlikely to find the same price about the runner this time around. Since obliging twelve months previously, the Peter Bowen-trained horse has returned to Aintree and secured a victory in the Randox Topham Chase, with that coming over two miles and five furlongs.

Interestingly, it was Senior Citizen who finished second in this race last year, with Alan King producing an excellent training performance and we might see the horse produce another classy display here despite finishing well down the pecking order in the Topham last spring.

Broken Halo hasn’t been seen at a race track at Fontwell Racecourse, with the seven-year-old obliging as the 1/2 favourite in the Cazoo Novices’Chase. However, Mister Coffey looks a more viable contender and Nicky Henderson has seen his charge secure a number of high grade performances to date.

The horse was well behind Mac Tottie in the Topham Chase, with this runner finishing second in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and that was a very capable performance. There was also a second-placed finish to L’Homme Presse in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase.

2021 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase Betting Tips

The 2021 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase is just around the corner, with this race taking place on Saturday 6 November and there are a maximum of thirty runners who will line up to compete for a winner’s prize of over £40,000. Some of the previous races have been won by Beau Bay, Hogan’s Height and Warriors Tale, with several entrants going on to compete in the 2022 Grand National.

Who Are the Favourites for the 2021 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase?

Caribean Boy is likely to line up for trainer Nicky Henderson and it will be the first outing of the season for this seven-year-old. The horse was last seen at Aintree when running in the Topham Handicap Chase, with the runner having previously achieved a creditable seventh place in the Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase.

Senior Citizen could potentially have better each-way claims and the Alan King-trained horse claimed a recent victory at Market Rasen as a 9/2 joint-favourite, with the runner having achieved third place in the Topham and that serves to illustrate that the horse can handle the big obstacles which lie in wait for the runners in this race.

Can Paul Nicholls Land Fourth Grand Sefton Success?

Paul Nicholls has obliged with victory three times at Aintree Racecourse when it comes to this race, with Rebel Rebellion scoring a victory in 2013 and the legendary trainer than returned to the Merseyside track three years later and As De Mee provided the honours. Warriors Tale then obliged in 2018 and it looks as though the Englishman has a lively chance this time around.

Cat Tiger looks to have solid credentials and the horse has already travelled over the two miles and five furlong distance in the Rose Paterson Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase back in April, with the horse last seen finishing second at Southwell Racecourse when being sent off as odds-on favourite.

Jonjo O’Neill Has Two Sefton Handicap Runners

The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase has always provided lots of lively each-way possibilities, with Jonjo O’Neill having two runners who are on a hat-trick after signing off for the previous season by scoring two victories. Annie Mc is a talented seven-year-old who ran well at Cheltenham last December before kicking on to achieve victories at Doncaster and Warwick.

Time To Get Up will run in the famous green and gold colours of JP McManus, with the horse winning a handicap chase at Wincanton before running a blinder at Uttoxeter in March when winning the Midlands Grand National.

Janika Heads the Grand Sefton Handicap Betting

Nicky Henderson is no stranger to success at Aintree and he has the market leader in the form of Janika, with the seven-year-old not having been seen at a racecourse for nearly a year, although it hasn’t stopped the bookies from making the horse favourite.

There’s a slight concern when it comes to this horse’s win rate considering that Janika finished well down the order behind Summerville Boy at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, while more recent runs have seen the horse well beaten at Ascot.

However, these can all be filed under the prep run category and there was a fourth-placed finish in the Topham Chase at Aintree eighteen months ago so the ability is clearly there.

Modus Could Lead the Challenge From Other Contenders

Modus achieved a victory on his seasonal reappearance and the Paul Nicholls-trained charge won an Aintree race on 7 November when landing the spoils in a handicap chase over two miles and four furlongs.

However, Modus was not seen at a track for over a year previously to this run and you’re essentially banking that the horse has returned to the sort of form that saw him shine earlier in his career, with a rollercoaster time of things at various tracks.

Spiritofthegames looks far easier to back after a strong performance in the recent Paddy Power Gold Cup, with the horse finishing second behind Coole Cody and that came after achieving a credible sixth place in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase.

The History of the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase

This is a historic race which first took place in 1865 and ran for a century as part of the autumn meeting at Aintree, with the distance being nearly three miles. It has subsequently been shortened to two miles and five furlongs, although it’s still a stiff trip considering that the runners have to overcome eighteen fences in total and these are Grand National obstacles.

Some of the more recent winners include Gas Line Boy, Warriors Tale and Hogan’s Height, with Paul Nicholls having enjoyed three successes in recent years and the first of these was with Rebel Rebellion in 2013, while Jim Goldie was successful with Lampion Du Bost and Endless Power.