You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident you’re betting with more than just gut instinct.
2027 Freebooter Handicap Chase Preview
Scheduled to take place in April of each year at the Aintree racecourse, the Premier Handicap Chase, which is registered as the 'Freebooter Handicap Chase', takes place during the Grand National meeting.
This premier handicap chase is open to runners aged five or older. It is run over a trip of three miles and one furlong, in which there will be a total of nineteen fences for the runners to contend with.
Freebooter Handicap Chase Information:
- Freebooter Handicap Chase Past Winners
- Freebooter Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics
- Freebooter Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics
Our dedicated Aintree tips page will not only bring you predictions from the OLBG racing tipsters for the upcoming card that includes the Freebooter Handicap Chase, but will also have predictions for each meeting at Aintree throughout the season, so be sure to head over there. We cover every race at the Aintree Grand National Meeting, and below you can find links to all of the races for each of Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2026
How competitive is the Freebooter Handicap Chase market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2021, when the race had an over-round of 118%. The race in 2019 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 136%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Freebooter Handicap Chase, the over-round has been 125%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £125 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2027 Freebooter Handicap Chase Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the Freebooter Handicap Chase Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Freebooter Handicap Chase races over the last 20 renewals:
- Cruz Control (6:17.60) in 2025
- From Dawn To Dusk (6:18.50) in 2010
- Duke Of Lucca (6:19.10) in 2015
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 20 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the Freebooter Handicap Chase next time out, then you would have backed a total of 3 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of +4.50. Remember to use the racing predictions along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2027 Freebooter Handicap Chase.
Over the last 20 renewals, it was Cruz Control, trained by Tom Lacey and ridden by Stan Sheppard, who set the fastest winning time in the Freebooter Handicap Chase. That runner won the race in a time of 6:17.60 in 2025. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Tom Lacey and jockey Richard Johnson with Thomas Patrick who set the slowest winning time; the race-winning time was 6:44.70 in the 2018 renewal.
What the expert says...
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
Freebooter Handicap Chase Past Winners
Here are the Freebooter Handicap Chase past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the race year, the winning horse, and the horse's age & weight. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Freebooter Handicap Chase are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 6:27.60 | Mr Hope Street (IRE) 8yo 10-13 4/1 | Harry Skelton Dan Skelton (GB) |
| 2025 6:17.60 | Cruz Control (FR) 8yo 10-11 10/1 | Stan Sheppard Tom Lacey (GB) |
| 2024 6:34.81 | Cruz Control (FR) 7yo 10-10 9/1 | Stan Sheppard Tom Lacey (GB) |
| 2023 6:20.08 | Midnight River (GB) 8yo 11-7 15/2 | Harry Skelton Dan Skelton (GB) |
| 2022 6:22.64 | Sam Brown (GB) 10yo 11-4 28/1 | Aidan Coleman Anthony Honeyball (GB) |
| 2021 6:28.70 | Happygolucky (IRE) 7yo 11-7 11/4F | David Bass Kim Bailey (GB) |
| 2019 6:21.10 | Kildisart (IRE) 7yo 11-12 8/1 | Daryl Jacob Ben Pauling (GB) |
| 2018 6:44.70 | Thomas Patrick (IRE) 6yo 10-10 3/1F | Richard Johnson Tom Lacey (GB) |
| 2017 6:23.60 | Sizing Codelco (IRE) 8yo 11-3 10/1 | Robbie Power Colin Tizzard (GB) |
| 2016 6:39.50 | Maggio (FR) 11yo 10-9 50/1 | James Reveley Patrick Griffin (IRE) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Freebooter Handicap Chase have been based:
- GB: 19 winners with an additional 44 placings from 276 runners
- IRE: 1 winner with an additional 5 placings from 23 runners
- FR: 0 winners with an additional 1 placing from 5 runners
Freebooter Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics
There are two leading trainers in the Freebooter Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals, with both Philip Hobbs and Tom Lacey, who have both won the race three times. Philip Hobbs winners have been with From Dawn To Dusk (2010) and Duke Of Lucca (2014 & 2015). Tom Lacey winners have been with Thomas Patrick (2018) and Cruz Control (2024 & 2025). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Freebooter Handicap Chase is Dan Skelton (2 wins). Multiple trainers have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the Freebooter Handicap Chase. Venetia Williams (0-17), Paul Nicholls (0-15), Nigel Twiston-Davies (0-12) and Peter Bowen (0-10) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.
Here are some of the top Freebooter Handicap Chase trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Hobbs | 15-3-6 | +16.50 | +11.51 |
| Tom Lacey | 8-3-4 | +17.00 | +10.39 |
| Dan Skelton | 9-2-6 | +4.50 | +6.01 |
| Evan Williams | 7-1-2 | +16.00 | +10.00 |
| Nicky Henderson | 7-1-3 | +14.00 | +13.13 |
| Anthony Honeyball | 6-1-3 | +23.00 | +16.81 |
| Tim Vaughan | 6-1-1 | +6.00 | +1.88 |
| Jonjo O'Neill | 6-1-2 | +4.00 | +2.63 |
| Ben Pauling | 6-1-2 | +3.00 | +2.00 |
| Patrick Griffin | 2-1-1 | +49.00 | +30.25 |
Freebooter Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics
There are two leading jockeys in the Freebooter Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals, with both Harry Skelton and Stan Sheppard, who have both won the race two times. Harry Skelton winners have been with Midnight River (2023) and Mr Hope Street (2026). Stan Sheppard winners have been with Cruz Control (2024 & 2025). There is one jockey who has not had the best of times in the Freebooter Handicap Chase; Sam Twiston-Davies has ridden 12 runners in the race without recording any wins.
Here are some of the top Freebooter Handicap Chase jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Skelton | 9-2-6 | +4.50 | +6.01 |
| Stan Sheppard | 4-2-2 | +17.00 | +9.88 |
| James Reveley | 5-1-2 | +46.00 | +30.25 |
| Dougie Costello | 3-1-1 | +9.00 | +4.88 |
| David Bass | 3-1-1 | +0.75 | -0.28 |
| Sam Twiston-Davies | 12-0-1 | -12.00 | -11.05 |
| Brian Hughes | 7-0-2 | -7.00 | -2.50 |
| Adam Wedge | 5-0-2 | -5.00 | +0.88 |
| Sean Bowen | 5-0-1 | -5.00 | -2.75 |
| Brendan Powell | 5-0-1 | -5.00 | -3.75 |
2027 Freebooter Handicap Chase Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): (4, PU), 1, F, PU, 4, 6, 3, 1, PU, 5, PU, 4, 1, 10, 1, 2, (4, F), 8, 2, 2
The percentage shown is the proportion of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well.
- 20 / 20 (81%) - Not in a G3/LST/Cl2-3 (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (85%) - Held an OR of 128+ (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Achieved an RPR of 130+ (Last 3)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Ran in 1 - 19 races (Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Achieved a TS of 55+ (Last Win)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Fewer than 5 wins (Chase)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Carried 126 - 161lbs (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Achieved a TS of 92+ (Season)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Achieved a TS of 79+ (Last 3)
- 19 / 20 (75%) - Within the first 11 of the market
- 19 / 20 (83%) - Placed within last 4 starts
- 19 / 20 (85%) - No bigger than 16/1 (Career Win)
- 18 / 20 (78%) - Achieved a TS of 122+ (Career)
- 18 / 20 (82%) - No more than +3yrs (Vs Min Age)
- 18 / 20 (86%) - Won within last 8 starts
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Aintree racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the Freebooter Handicap Chase. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Freebooter Handicap Chase by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
Freebooter Handicap Chase Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor, which has produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +60.25, is when runners had 1 start in the past 90 days.
❌ The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 1 career win with the jockey, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-55.
The course which has produced the most winners of the Freebooter Handicap Chase is Cheltenham; there have been a total of 11 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with male runners having produced a total of 20 winners from a total of 298 runners, while female runners have produced 0 winners from a total of 6 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Freebooter Handicap Chase:
- Milan (2 Wins)
- Saint Des Saints (2 Wins)
These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Freebooter Handicap Chase despite multiple attempts:
- Kayf Tara (0 Wins from 11 runners)
- Oscar (0 Wins from 8 runners)
- Presenting (0 Wins from 6 runners)
- Beneficial (0 Wins from 5 runners)
- Poliglote (0 Wins from 5 runners)
Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Maggio in 2016, winning for Patrick Griffin at odds of 50/1 under the guidance of James Reveley. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals, there have been 4 winning favourites in the race. Remember to use the best racing tipsters along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2027 Freebooter Handicap Chase.
Route to the Freebooter Handicap Chase
Many trainers target races as preparation for the Freebooter Handicap Chase. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2026 - Mr Hope Street Sandown - 4th of 5 (4/1) | Betfair Novices' Handicap Chase |
| 2025 - Cruz Control Wetherby - PU of 7 (11/4) | Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase |
| 2024 - Cruz Control Newcastle - 1st of 5 (6/5) | Guinness Microdraught Handicap Chase |
| 2023 - Midnight River Cheltenham - 11th of 23 (15/2) | Festival Plate |
| 2022 - Sam Brown Haydock - PU of 11 (6/1) | Haydock Grand National Trial |
| 2021 - Happygolucky Cheltenham - 2nd of 16 (10/3) | Ultima Handicap Chase |
| 2019 - Kildisart Cheltenham - 4th of 10 (9/1) | Discontinued Golden Miller |
| 2018 - Thomas Patrick Newbury - 1st of 8 (5/1) | Insure With Be Wiser Handicap Chase |
| 2017 - Sizing Codelco Cheltenham - 15th of 24 (14/1) | Festival Plate |
| 2016 - Maggio Kelso - 6th of 7 (33/1) | totepoolliveinfo.com Premier Chase |
Schedule for Thursday at the Aintree Grand National Meeting
The three-day Grand National meeting kicks off on Thursday with four Grade 1 events on the seven-race card, which features both the Aintree Hurdle and the Bowl Chase.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:45 Aintree Anniversary 4YO Juvenile Hurdle | Mange Tout (FR) 4yo - 5/1 | Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy |
| 14:20 Aintree Manifesto Novices Chase | Koktail Divin (FR) 6yo - 3/1 | Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe |
| 14:55 Aintree Bowl Chase | Jango Baie (FR) 7yo - 1/1 | Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville |
| 15:30 Aintree Foxhunters Chase | Barton Snow (IRE) 9yo - 7/4 | J J O'Shea Mr Henry Crow |
| 16:05 Aintree Aintree Hurdle | Brighterdaysahead (FR) 7yo - 13/8 | Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy |
| 16:40 Aintree Red Rum Handicap Chase | Ryans Rocket (IRE) 8yo - 14/1 | Fergal O'Brien Jonathan Burke |
| 17:15 Aintree Nickel Coin Mares Bumper | Nans Choice (IRE) 5yo - 9/2 | Dan Skelton Harry Skelton |
Schedule for Friday at the Aintree Grand National Meeting
Day 2 of the Grand National meeting is Ladies Day or Fabulous Friday, the highlights on the track being the Melling Chase, plus there is the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 13:45 Aintree National Meeting 2m4f Handicap Hurdle | Wellington Arch (GB) 7yo - 6/1 | Jonjo & A J O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr |
| 14:20 Aintree Mildmay Novices Chase | Gold Dancer (FR) 7yo - 100/30 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 14:55 Aintree Top Novices Hurdle | Storming George (IRE) 6yo - 16/1 | Neil King Jack Quinlan |
| 15:30 Aintree Melling Chase | Grey Dawning (IRE) 9yo - 5/1 | Dan Skelton Harry Skelton |
| 16:05 Aintree Topham Chase | Will The Wise (IRE) 7yo - 9/1 | Gavin Cromwell Conor Stone-Walsh |
| 16:40 Aintree Sefton Novices Hurdle | Zeus Power (GER) 5yo - 3/1 | Joseph Patrick O'Brien J J Slevin |
| 17:15 Aintree National Meeting 2m Handicap Hurdle | Laafi (FR) 6yo - 20/1 | William Durkan Patrick M O'Brien |
Schedule for Saturday at the Aintree Grand National Meeting
The Grand National is obviously the showpiece of the Aintree meeting, and day 3 also includes three Grade 1 events, the feature of those being the Liverpool Hurdle.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 12:45 Aintree Maghull Novices Chase | Mirabad (FR) 7yo - 50/1 | Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell |
| 13:20 Aintree National Meeting 3m Handicap Hurdle | Wade Out (IRE) 7yo - 18/1 | Olly Murphy Gavin Sheehan |
| 13:55 Aintree Mersey Novices Hurdle | Bossman Jack (GB) 6yo - 11/4 | Dan Skelton Harry Skelton |
| 14:30 Aintree Freebooter Handicap Chase | Mr Hope Street (IRE) 8yo - 4/1 | Dan Skelton Harry Skelton |
| 15:05 Aintree Liverpool Hurdle | Home By The Lee (IRE) 11yo - 5/1 | Joseph Patrick O'Brien J J Slevin |
| 16:00 Aintree Grand National | I Am Maximus (FR) 10yo - 9/2 | W P Mullins Paul Townend |
| 17:00 Aintree Champion Standard Open NH Flat Race | Forthfactor (IRE) 5yo - 10/1 | Dan Skelton Miss Heidi Palin |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Freebooter Handicap Chase Preview are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
Other Principal Races at the Aintree Racecourse
Here are some other notable races at the Aintree racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.
