Two For Gold tops the weights and Broken Halo is the 9-2 favourite as 15 entries were declared for Saturday's Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree Racecourse.
The Kim Bailey-trained nine-year-old heads the final declared field for the 2m5f feature contest run over the Randox Grand National fences this weekend. He is currently a best-priced 6-1 second favourite with William Hill, Paddy Power, bet365 and Betfair.
Two For Gold was last seen in action when he was pulled-up two fences from home by jockey David Bass in the Grand National at Aintree back in April. He also unseated Bass at The Canal Turn on his only previous crack at the famous Aintree obstacles in the Randox Topham Chase in April 2021.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Broken Halo is currently the 9-2 favourite with the same bookmakers. The seven-year-old won two of his four chase starts as a novice last season, including a 17-length victory at Fontwell in March.
Milton Harris' Jacamar is next best in the betting at a general 7-1 following his fourth on his seasonal return at Chepstow last month.
Senior Citizen, trained by Alan King, is an 8-1 chance with SkyBet and he will bid to go one better than when second to Mac Tottie in last year's Grand Sefton Chase. He has completed four times over the National fences, including when eighth in the Topham Chase on his most recent start in April.
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Trainer King said: “He seems to love the Aintree fences and the only time he sees them is at the racecourse as we don’t school him over them at home. He was outpaced in the Topham then he stayed on again. I don’t see any reason why he can’t perform over them again.”
Other entries include the Sam Thomas-trained Al Dancer, who is 10-1 with Coral, Nigel Twiston-Davies' One True King – a 20-1 chance with the same firm – and 10-year-old Spiritofthegames, from the Dan Skelton stable.
Spiritofthegames is 10-1 with bet365 having been fifth behind Mac Tottie over the Aintree obstacles in the Topham Chase back in April. He was second on his seasonal return at Fakenham last month and Skelton said: "He was fifth in the Topham there in April and I was pleased with his comeback run the other week."
Despite their near domination of the world's greatest steeplechase in recent season, the Irish are yet to win Grand Sefton Chase. This year they have just two entries headed by Jessica Harrington's Lifetime Ambition with Ciaran Murphy's outsider Jack Hackett also a possible runner. Harrington's seven-year-old, who was second on his most recent start at Punchestown in April, is among the market leaders and is a best-priced 9-1 with Bet365.
Also on the seven-race card at Aintree is the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Day Before Racing Hurdle – which has just four entries headed by last year's winner, the Olly Murphy-trained Brewin'upastorm. The nine-year-old will make his seasonal reappearance having been pulled up on his final start of last season, also on Merseyside in the Aintree Hurdle in April.
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The first race on Saturday's seven-race card, the Boylesports EBF 'National Hunt' Novices Hurdle (Qualifier), at Aintree is due off a 12.26pm with the finale, the Boylesports 'Junior' National Hunt Flat Race, scheduled for 3.50pm. Gates open at 10.30am and tickets are priced from £25 for adults, if booked in advance. For more information on this weekend's racing at Aintree and to buy tickets go online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/autumn-raceday/
Final entries for the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (2m5f19y) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, November 5 (2.11pm ITV1)
(Horse name, age, weight, owner, trainer)
1 Two For Gold (IRE) 9-12-0 May We Never Be Found Out Partnership 2 Kim Bailey
2 Lifetime Ambition (IRE) 7-11-06 Linda Mulcahy/Mary Wolridge Mrs J Harrington (Ireland)
3 Al Dancer (FR) 9-10-13 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Thomas
4 Senior Citizen 9-10-06 McNeill Family Alan King
5 Jacamar (GER) 7-10-06 Mark & Maria Adams Milton Harris
6 Spiritofthegames (IRE) 10-10-06 Mr NW Lake Dan Skelton
7 Broken Halo 7-10-06 Giraffa Racing – BH Paul Nicholls
8 One True King (IRE) 7-10-02 Mr NA Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
9 Gesskille (FR) 6-10-02 The Nevers Racing Partnership I Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
10 The Golden Rebel (IRE) 8-10-02 The Golden Rebels Ben Case
11 Jack Hackett (IRE) 8-10-02 S Reilly Ciaran Murphy (Ireland)
12 Percussion 7-10-02 Mr ER Hanbury L J Morgan
13 Cooper's Cross (IRE) 7-10-02 Mr J Fyffe Stuart Coltherd
14 Al Roc (FR) 11-10-02 Judith Wilson David Pipe
15 Abaya du Mathan (FR) 10-10-02 Judith Wilson David Pipe
Last year's winner: Mac Tottie 8-11-1 (Peter Bowen) James Bowen 20-1. 13 ran.
Betting Guide: 4 Broken Halo, 11-2 Two For Gold, 6-1 Jacamar, 15-2 Lifetime Ambition, Al Dancer, 8-1 Senior Citizen, 10-1 Spiritofthegames, Gesskille, 12-1 Cooper's Cross, 14-1 One True King, 25-1 The Golden Rebel, Jack Hackett, 33-1 Percussion, 50-1 Al Roc, 100-1 Abaya Du Mathan.
