SENIOR CITIZEN can go one better than last year and win Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.11pm) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.
In the first race run over the famous of the Randox Grand National fences of the season Alan King's nine-year-old can finally get his head in front.
Last year at Aintree, Senior Citizen was second to Mac Tottie in the Grand Sefton Chase and he has completed three times over the National fences, including when eighth to the same horse in the Topham Chase on his most recent start in April. Mac Tottie is not in opposition on this occasion and after a break Senior Citizen can bounce back to form in a challenge which he seems to relish.
Senior Citizen is just a 1lb higher from the handicap mark (139) in which he finished second but with the talented Two For Gold heading the weights this time, he carries just 10st9lb and looks to have plenty going for him.
He was also third over the Grand National fences in the Topham Chase in 2021 and is ideally suited by them. He is likely to travel well just off the pace and he has generally stayed on at the finish on his four previous trips to Aintree.
Protektorat will 'run big race' in Betfair Chase, says trainer Dan Skelton
He has also won on his first start of the season in the past two years and was second on his return the previous year, so clearly goes well following a break.
Trainer King should have him primed to run another big race and he may finally land a deserved success over the big fences on Merseyside.
Others who should go well are the Paul Nicholls-trained Broken Halo and Dan Skelton’s Spiritofthegames.
BREWIN'UPASTORM can land back-to-back victories in the Boylesports Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.45pm).
Olly Murphy's nine-year-old makes his seasonal reappearance having been pulled up on his final start of last season, also on Merseyside in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle in April. It seems he is just found wanting at the top level, but he should have enough to win this lesser event for a second successive season.
Trainer Murphy may also be on target at Aintree with DOCTOR KEN in the Boylesports Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.36pm).
The six-year-old won once in five hurdles starts last season but was placed on a few other occasions including when third at Aintree last October. He looks like he will make a better chaser and can prove it by making a winning debut over the bigger obstacles.
Grand National-winning trainer Venetia Williams may have another victory back at Aintree with GALOP DE CHASSE , who land a third chase success in the BoyleSports Handicap Chase (3.18pm).
Skelton’s GREY DAWNING – a winner of two bumpers last season – can make a winning debut over obstacles in the opener, the Boylesports EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) (12.26pm).
Others who triumph at Aintree are the Nicholls-trained MILAN BRIDGE , who is bidding for a hat-trick of successes on his seasonal return, in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.01pm); and Lucinda Russell’s newcomer, BOIS GUILLBERT , in the finale, the Boylesports “Junior” National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (3.50pm).
It’s the final day of the Flat season at Doncaster on Saturday and John and Thady Gosden can have another winner of the BetGoodwin November Handicap (3.13pm) with ISRAR .
The three-year-old son of Muhaarar won well over course and distance in testing conditions last month and he can follow-up in the feature of the final day on the level.
Andrew Balding’s SOMETHING ENTICING can go one better than at Newmarket last month to land the Listed BetGoodwin New UK Betting Site Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Fillies’ & Mares’) (1.30pm).
With David O’Meara’s veteran sprinter Summerghand now a non-runner due to the ground, TARHIB – a winner in soft conditions at Nottingham last time – may be able to grab another success in the Listed Download The BetGoodwin App Wentworth Stakes (2.39pm).
Tim Easterby's DANZAN can win the BetGoodwin Our Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (2.39pm).
Others who may score on Town Moor are the George Boughey-trained DANGER ALERT in the opener, the Phone Betting At Goodwin Racing 08000 421 321 Nursery (11.50am); Mick Channon’s FERROUS in the Bet Online At BetGoodwin Cock O’The North EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (Div 1) (12.20pm); and COLD STARE , from the O’Meara stable, in the Free Bet Nose Loser At Betgoodwin Apprentice Jockeys’ Training Series Final Handicap (Part Of REI) (3.45pm).
At Wincanton King’s SCEAU ROYAL can land a record-extening fourth win in the Grade Two Unibet Elite Hurdle (GBB Race) (3pm).
Ditcheat trainer Nicholls may again be among the winners at his local track with McFABULOUS looking good for victory in the Grade Two Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.15pm) on his return and stablemate and former Cheltenham Festival scorer Frodon should go close in the 61st Badger Beer Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (1.50pm). But he must carry top weight so David Pipe's RED HAPPY may just deny him victory.
Wright Ones
AINTREE
12.26pm Grey Dawning
1.01pm Milan Bridge
1.36pm Doctor Ken
2.11pm Senior Citizen (NAP)
2.45pm Brewin’upastorm
3.18pm Galop De Chasse
3.50pm Bois Guillbert
DONCASTER
11.50am Danger Alert
12.20pm Ferrous
12.50pm Tarhib
1.30pm Something Enticing
2.05pm Talha
2.39pm Danzan
3.13pm Israr
3.45pm Cold Stare
WINCANTON
12.40pm Rose Of Arcadia
1.15pm McFabulous
1.50pm Red Happy
2.25pm Hugos New Horse
3pm Sceau Royal
3.35pm Butterwick Brook
4.05pm Kick Up A Storm
KELSO
12.33pm No But I Will
1.08pm Wheelbahri
1.43pm Broadway Joe
2.18pm Seemingly So
2.53pm Ned Tanner
3.24pm Gentleman De Mai
3.55pm Kamsinas
CHELMSFORD CITY
3.30pm Dreaming Princess
4pm High Honour
4.30pm Holy Fire
5pm Jilly Cooper
5.30pm One More Dream
6pm Muscika
6.30pm Curley Rose
SUNDAY’S NAP: Alminar (Ffos Las 2.15pm)
