Last year's winner Mac Tottie heads the current 47 entries for the Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree Racecourse's Autumn Raceday on Saturday, November 5.
The 2m5f contest is run over the Grand National course and is the first race over the big Aintree obstacles of the new season. The Peter Bowen-trained Mac Tottie showed his liking for the unique Aintree fences with victory in last year's Grand Sefton Chase. He also returned with another success over them in the Randox Topham Handicap Chase at this year’s Randox Grand National Festival back in April. The nine-year-old is on course to bid for a unique hat-trick of successes at Aintree and could aim to become the first dual winner of the Grand Sefton Chase since it was re-established at the track in 2003.
Mac Tottie is a best-priced 12-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair to score again at Aintree and is vying for favouritism with the Paul Nicholls-trained Broken Halo – a seven-year-old who won two of his four chase starts as a novice last season. Broken Halo is a best-priced 10-1 with most bookmakers.
Despite their near domination of the world's greatest steeplechase, the Irish are yet to win Grand Sefton Chase. This year they bid to end that and there are four entries hailing from Ireland, including triple Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott's Grade One scorer Battleoverdoyen – who was 10th in the Topham Chase in April – and recent Guinness Kerry National runner-up Recite A Prayer, from another trainer who has had success over the big Aintree obstacles, Willie Mullins.
Battleoverdoyen is a best-priced 33-1 with Bet365 and Skybet, with Recite A Prayer 20-1 with the former.
Boylesports will be sponsoring the Grand Sefton Chase for the first time and in a three-year deal the Irish bookmakers will also sponsor the second race of the season over the Grand National fences – the Boylesports Becher Chase, which is on Saturday, December 3. Entries for the Becher Chase, which was won last year by Snow Leopardess, will be revealed on Tuesday, November 8.
Racing returns to Aintree in just over a week when the first meeting of the new season is held.
The Jewson Halloween Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 23 is a seven-race card with the Grade Two feature – the Jewson Monet’s Garden Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase the feature. Past winners of the 2m4f contest over the Mildmay fences include Nuts Well, Forest Bihan, Cheltenham Festival Ryanair Chase winner Frodon as well as Nicky Richards' triple winner Monet's Garden – after whom the race is now named.
For more on the three autumn/winter racedays at Aintree and to buy tickets go to https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/
Entries for the Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (2m5f19y) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, November 5
(Horse name, age, owner, trainer)
Abaya du Mathan (FR) 10 Judith Wilson David Pipe
Al Dancer (FR) 9 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Thomas
Al Roc (FR) 11 Judith Wilson David Pipe
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 9 Pioneer Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland
Broken Halo 7 Giraffa Racing - BH Paul Nicholls
Caribean Boy (FR) 8 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Cooper's Cross (IRE) 7 Mr J Fyffe Stuart Coltherd
Dalyotin (FR) 6 Gay and Peter Hartley Rebecca Menzies
De Barley Basket (IRE) 9 Mrs S N J Embiricos & Ms A Embiricos Ben Pauling
Editeur du Gite (FR) 8 The Preston Family, Friends & T Jacobs Gary Moore
Francky du Berlais (FR) 9 Mr Roddy Owen Peter Bowen
Gats And Co 7 Mr David Brace David Brace
Gesskille (FR) 6 The Nevers Racing Partnership I Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Grumpy Charley 7 Mr G Thompson Chris Honour
High Up In The Air (FR) 8 Mr P Mott Gary Moore
If The Cap Fits (IRE) 10 Judith Wilson David Pipe
Jacamar (GER) 7 Mark & Maria Adams Milton Harris
Jack Hackett (IRE) 8 S. Reilly Ciaran Murphy Ireland
Janika (FR) 9 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 8 McNeill Family Jamie Snowden
Lifetime Ambition (IRE) 7 Linda Mulcahy/Mary Wolridge Mrs J. Harrington Ireland
Lord Napier (IRE) 9 Peter Bowen Racing Club & Mickey Bowen Peter Bowen
Lostintranslation (IRE) 10 Taylor & O'Dwyer Joe Tizzard
Mac Tottie 9 Steve & Jackie Fleetham Peter Bowen
Manwell (IRE) 12 Sam England Racing Club Sam England
Minella Bobo (IRE) 9 Moran, Outhart, McDermott, Hyde & Hill Rebecca Curtis
Mister Coffey (FR) 7 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson
Northern Bound (IRE) 8 Mrs Emma Kendall Ben Pauling
One True King (IRE) 7 Mr NA Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
Paint The Dream 8 Mr David Brace Fergal O'Brien
Percussion 7 Mr ER Hanbury L J Morgan
Pink Eyed Pedro 11 Mr David Brace David Brace
Rapid Flight 6 Mr D Mills James Moffatt
Recite A Prayer (IRE) 7 The Turner Family WP Mullins Ireland
Rose Sea Has (FR) 7 The Berrow Hill Partnership Dr Richard Newland
Sam Brown 10 Mr TC Frost Anthony Honeyball
Senior Citizen 9 McNeill Family Alan King
Simply The Betts (IRE) 9 Mr David Maxwell Paul Nicholls
Soldier of Destiny (IRE) 6 Sir Chips Keswick Jamie Snowden
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 10 Mr NW Lake Dan Skelton
Stylish Moment (IRE) 9 The Crick Girls Lucinda Russell
Tamaroc Du Mathan (FR) 7 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls
Texard (FR) 7 Judith Wilson David Pipe
The Golden Rebel (IRE) 8 The Golden Rebels Ben Case
Two For Gold (IRE) 9 May We Never Be Found Out Partnership 2 Kim Bailey
Whoshotthesheriff (IRE) 8 Hambleton Racing Ltd XXXIV Philip Kirby
Zhiguli (IRE) 7 Druzhba Racing Partnership Gary Moore
47 entries (Four Irish-trained)
