Two For Gold must carry top weight of 12st if he bids to try and make it third time lucky over the Randox Grand National fences in Saturday's Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree Racecourse.
The Kim Bailey-trained nine-year-old heads the 21 entries for the 2m5f feature contest run over the famous Aintree obstacles this weekend and he is currently a best-priced 8-1 joint second favourite with most bookmakers including the sponsors.
Two For Gold was last seen 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.
Away from Aintree, Two For Gold has some fine form, finishing second to dual Marsh (Melling) Chase hero Fakir D'oudairies in the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase prior to his Grand National effort last February. He also won the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield in January over 2m6f.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Broken Halo is currently the favourite with most bookmakers at a best-priced 6-1 with Bet365. The seven-year-old won two of his four chase starts as a novice last season, including a 17-length, odds-on victory at Fontwell in March. Nicholls said: “He will likely run as long as it keeps on raining and the ground is on the slow side. He is in really good shape and he’s a good jumper, Lorcan (Williams, jockey) is very confident that he’ll be good around there and it was his idea to go for this really so hopefully things go well for us on Saturday. We’ve made a very good start to the campaign and the horses are going well, so we’re very happy.”
Another among the current market leaders at 8-1 with Bet365 and BetVictor is former top chaser Lostintranslation for trainer Joe Tizzard. The 10-year-old won the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, landed a Grade One as a novice at the Grand National meeting and was placed twice at the Cheltenham Festival, including when third in the Gold Cup in 2020. He was rated at 173 in his prime, but is now racing off a mark of 150 and will carry 11st5lb at Aintree on Saturday. He was last seen finishing 15th behind Noble Yeats in last season's Grand National and will be back down in trip markedly for his return to Aintree.
Senior Citizen and Kiltealy Briggs, trained by Alan King and Jamie Snowden respectively, are both among the entries left in by owners, the McNeill Family. Senior Citizen was second in last year's Grand Sefton Chase and has completed three times over the National fences, including when eighth in the Topham Chase on his most recent start in April. He will carry 10st6lb on Saturday and is a best-priced 12-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair.
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Trainer King said: “He will hopefully go for the Sefton which he was second in last season. I wanted to run him at Market Rasen but he didn’t scope quite right. He is in the Paddy Power Gold Cup but that is just a back-up. 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, Nigel Twiston-Davies' One True King and 10-year-old Spiritofthegames, from the Dan Skelton stable – and they are all around the 10-1 or 12-1 mark in the current betting.
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 a best-priced 8-1 with Paddy Power, BetVictor and Betfair.
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Last year's winner, the Peter Bowen-trained Mac Tottie – who also went on to win the Topham Chase at this year’s Aintree Festival back in April – was the biggest surprise absentee among the 26 horses taken out of the race. He had been among the ante-post favourites before he was taken out.
If top weight Two For Gold lines up on Saturday several in the field could be running from out of the handicap.
Leon Blanche, head of communications for sponsors Boylesports, said: “Broken Halo has been a significant mover in the antepost betting at 5-1 favourite from 10-1, but there are some very strong challengers enjoying their fair share of early support too. It’s going to be a stellar cast lining up in the Boylesports Grand Sefton and needless to say we’re looking forward to a thrilling contest over those famous Grand National fences.”
For a full list of Boylesports odds visit https://www.boylesports.com/sports/horse-racing/future-horses/aintree/boylesports-grand-sefton-handicap-chase
Also on the seven-race card at Aintree is the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Day Before Racing Hurdle – which has attracted eight entries including 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. He could face Alan King's Sceau Royal, who won a Listed contest at Kempton on his return two weeks ago, who is entered at Aintree. Although the 10-year-old is more likely to bid for a record-extending fourth victory in Saturday's Grade Two Unibet Elite Hurdle at Wincanton instead.
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/
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 Lostintranslation (IRE) 10-11-06 Taylor & O'Dwyer Joe Tizzard
4 Al Dancer (FR) 9-10-13 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Thomas
5 Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 8-10-13 McNeill Family Jamie Snowden
6 Senior Citizen 9-10-06 McNeill Family Alan King
7 Jacamar (GER) 7-10-06 Mark & Maria Adams Milton Harris
8 Spiritofthegames (IRE) 10-10-06 Mr NW Lake Dan Skelton
9 Broken Halo 7-10-06 Giraffa Racing – BH Paul Nicholls
10 Northern Bound (IRE) 8-10-02 Mrs Emma Kendall Ben Pauling
11 One True King (IRE) 7-10-0 Mr NA Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
12 Gesskille (FR) 6-9-13 The Nevers Racing Partnership I Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
13 The Golden Rebel (IRE) 8-9-12 The Golden Rebels Ben Case
14 Jack Hackett (IRE) 8-9-12 S Reilly Ciaran Murphy (Ireland)
15 Minella Bobo (IRE) 9-9-10 Moran, Outhart, McDermott, Hyde & Hill Rebecca
Curtis
16 High Up In The Air (FR) 8-9-09 Mr P Mott Gary Moore
17 Percussion 7-9-08 Mr ER Hanbury L J Morgan
18 Cooper's Cross (IRE) 7-9-05 Mr J Fyffe Stuart Coltherd
19 Manwell (IRE) 12-9-03 Sam England Racing Club Sam England
20 Al Roc (FR) 11-9-0 Judith Wilson David Pipe
21 Abaya du Mathan (FR) 10-7-11 Judith Wilson David Pipe
21 entries (two Irish-trained)
