2:40 Aintree Tips

The winner of this race 12 months ago, KING TURGEON makes his seasonal reappearance. He had a run under his belt this time last year having won a 3m2f handicap chase at Chepstow a fortnight before. It’s no concern that he comes here this year without a run as he does go well fresh. He was rated 127, carrying 10st2lbs when winning that day. He has taken a big hike in the weights since and is now rated 137 and will carry 11st5lbs today. He has won off 133 and was placed off a mark of 139. Those two efforts came over 3m2f and he drops back in trip today on ground that has soft in the description which will suit him. He disappointed when pulled up in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival last March, a race in which he was never involved. I would expect him to be ridden prominently here and get a clear sight of fences which he took to very well last time. His task is made tougher with the extra weight this time around but he is proven to see the trip out strongly and he is an improving 7-year old.

White Rhino hasn't faced the National fences before, but he comes from a yard that does well with their runners on this unique track. He also looks like one that is more than capable of winning after a break. He's won first time out the last two seasons. The fact that Sean Bowen has been booked is a big positive as he is riding out of his skin at the moment and rides the course particularly well.

Came out poor after being in contention here in the Topham back in April when a bad mistake two furlongs out took the wind out completely. Tends to go well fresh though, and a good run could be on the cards without any mistakes this time. Two pounds lighter this time.

Colonel Harry is a good horse, having won a Grade Two race in the past. He goes well fresh and should relish these conditions, so he looks like value at this price.

King Turgeon was an emphatic winner of this race last term and could still be on the up, but he is now 12 lb higher at the weights, while third home, Gaboriot, arrives here 3 lb lower. With only four lengths separating them last year, I side this time with Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s nine-year-old. He has plenty of experience in hunter chases and staying contests over fences but has taken particularly well to these Grand National fences and tends to go well when fresh. The return of blinkers on his first run of the season, with Bobby Dunne taking over the ride off a low weight of 10-6, looks a positive move. If reproducing a similar effort to last year’s renewal, he could be overpriced at double digits and rates solid each-way value with bookies paying 5 or 6 places.

Jet Plane finished a close second over course and distance in the Foxhunters Chase back in April and is now running in handicaps. Dan Skelton's horses are outperforming and he should go close back at Aintree.

This race is a specialist's event, and my Each Way tip for this one is VINTAGE FIZZ, who boasts the most compelling specialist credentials in the line up. He was a superb second in this exact race 12 months ago, proving he relishes the unique test of these 18 fences. He returns this year 1lb lower in the handicap and now enjoys a huge 13lb weight pull with last year's winner, King Turgeon. That swing is more than enough to turn the tables. He is a fantastically reliable jumper with no falls or unseats in 19 chase starts which is a golden attribute for this challenge. The forecast rain will turn the ground soft, which is perfect for him. With a strong pace guaranteed, Sam Twiston Davies can get him into a rhythm before using his proven stamina to at the very least finish in the places.

Nocte Volatus has a very good record fresh and also has a very consistent record. The stable is in decent form and hopefully, he can pick them up late on.

It is funny, I mention that Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore stable runners are coming up short, and they get a first and second at Hexham on Friday plus two winners. They have If Not For Dylan lining up with being three pounds out of the handicap, something that I do not like. With the rain around, this can affect the ground, which can bear well for light weights such as this one. :thumbsup: Click to react :grinning: Click to react :thumbsdown: Click to react Add Reaction Edit Forward More [20:25] Friday, 7 November 2025 20:25 The stable knows how to get a horse from A to B here with saddling Grand Nation winners. He was running a mighty race here in a class two chase only to make a blunder that put him back to third. If he did not make that error, we may have looked at a win to his name. This was thirteen days ago, and he has fitness on his side, with Patrick Wadge in the saddle, who can give the horse confidence in his jumping to be a danger to all.

Hard to say that this 12yo is well handicapped but he's still running with plenty of credit having finished 9th in competitive Punchestown handicap chase in May from a mark of 138. Memories are still fresh of him jumping the field silly to win the Plate handicap at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023 from a mark of 143 and he seems the sort that could take well to this discipline and could find a spark. I like a horse ridden prominently and a sound jumper, with Seddon ticking both boxes. Had a spin on the flat last month which will have blown away the cobwebs and he looks overpriced to me at 33/1.

Mount Tempest represents trainer Sophie Leech who has recorded a level stakes profit of +£49 with her chasers this season. Mount Tempest was in good form in September with a win at Worcester (50/1). Unsuited next time by fast ground at Chepstow, he can bounce back with the good to soft going more in his favour. Yet to win over this far but he has a stout pedigree and staying should not be a problem.