We are back over the Grand National fences for the first time this season as 13 runners go head to head in the BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.

A field comprising first-timers over the national fences to horses who could go around here with their eyes closed. But whether you are a first-timer or regular, one thing is certain: We are in for a spectacular race.

Here, I give you my breakdown of all 13 runners with the BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase Runner By Runner Guide and the best online horse racing bookmaker to make your next horse racing bet a winning one.

Grand Sefton Handicap Chase runner by runner betting guide

Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into runners of the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.

9 Percussion

• Age: 9
• Weight: 10st 4lb
• Form: P42-42
• Rating: 129
• Jockey: Adam Wedge
• Trainer: L J Morgan

Percussion comes in here with form figures of 3323 over the national fences, and he was second in last season, running off one pound lower.

He has had enough chances to get his head in front over these fences, and I am more than willing to take him on for the win off his current mark.

He will run his races but will likely find one or two too good here today.

Has run his best races over these fences
Second in last years running
Yet to finish outside the top three over the National fences

Has had plenty of chances to win here
Not well treated

Star rating:

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2 Latenightpass

• Age: 11
• Weight: 11st 8lb
• Form: /2150-
• Rating: 147
• Jockey: Miss Gina Andrews
• Trainer: T Ellis

At the ripe age of 11, Latenightpass has come into his own over the past 12 months.

A former winner over the national fences back in 2022, Latenightpass, at the age of ten, found a new lease of life last season.

In November, a second place over the cross-country course at Cheltenham was followed by a win over the same course and distance in December.

He ran as well as could have been expected for an 11-year-old in the Grand National in April, but with sights set considerably lower today, there is every reason to believe that Latenightpass can get seriously involved.

In the form of his life when last seen
Should be primed for this

He’s not getting any younger
Looks a bit high in the weights

Star rating:

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8 Frero Banbou

• Age: 9
• Weight: 10st 5lb
• Form: 2P66P-
• Rating: 130
• Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
• Trainer: Venetia Williams

Frero Banbou was third in last season’s running, just over two lengths off Percussion. But since he has acquitted himself well in some top handicaps.

Third in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham, when finishing second to Shakem Up’arry at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and then was seven lengths behind the same rival in the TrustATrader Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

His defeat in the Topham may have been one race too many last season, but he does come in here with a good first-time-out record.

Trainer Venetia Williams is no stranger to having one ready to go for a big pot at the start of the season, as seen with Martator last week at Ascot.

Off a three-pound lower mark than when third in this last season’s renewal, Frero Banbou has a lot in his favour here today.

I can’t see him finishing outside the places.

Showed good form in top handicaps last season
Well treated on last season’s running

First run of the season

Star rating:

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4 Sure Touch

• Age: 8
• Weight: 11st 4lb
• Form: 3111-1
• Rating: 143
• Jockey: Sean Bowen
• Trainer: Olly Murphy

We talk about thriving horses, and Sure Touch is up there with the best of them at this level.

Having completed a four-timer when winning the Summer Plate at Market Rasen, Sure Touch is taking on the national fences for the first time today.

He has been put up another six pounds for that win, but you can not rule out further improvement here, especially if he takes to the national fences, which should be fine given how well he jumps conventional fences.

He is a very interesting runner who can play a big part in the finish if he takes to this unique challenge.

Won his last four
Should take well to the national fences

Needs another career-best

Star rating:

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12 King Turgeon

• Age: 6
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 652B-1
• Rating: 125
• Jockey: Jack Tudor
• Trainer: David Pipe

King Turgeon started looking exposed over fences until he bolted up on his seasonal return to Chepstow in October.

Off a mark of 118, King Turgon took apart the race at Chepstow to win by an eased down ten lengths.

That was a career-best for this David Piper runner and is a sign of things to come.

David Pipe knows what kind of horse is needed to win over these fences, and if King Turgeon can show that his Chepstow win was no fluke, then he could still be well treated here off 125.

He’s an interesting runner for a trainer coming back into form.

His trainer knows what type is needed to win over the national fences
A clear career best last time out

Needs to show he can back up his last run
This is the deepest race he has ever faced

Star rating:

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10 Gaboriot

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 31U-11
• Rating: 127
• Jockey: Henry Brooke
• Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Gaboriot didn’t look in love with the national fences when seen over them in the Foxhunters and duly unseated at the Canal Turn.

He did go on to win back-to-back hunter chases in May, but he will need to show that he has learnt a lot from his previous experience here if he has any hope of playing a significant role.

Good winning form in Hunter Chases
His trainer is in good form

Didn’t seem to take to the fences on his only visit here

Star rating:

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3 Outlaw Peter

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 5lb
• Form: 23112-
• Rating: 144
• Jockey: Freddie Gingell (3)
• Trainer: Paul Nicholls

If Paul Nicholls’ horse were showing much more first time up, I would have Outlaw Peter high on my shortlist for this.

He showed very progressive form last season, not finishing outside the top three in his five starts, including two wins.

Again, the slight worry of the Nicholls horses needing their first run is tempering my enthusiasm.

Progressive chaser

Trainers horses seem to need their first run of the season

Star rating:

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7 Idalko Bihoue

• Age: 6
• Weight: 10st 7lb
• Form: /F165-
• Rating: 132
• Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
• Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Idalko Bihoue, for reasons unknown, is somewhat of a cliffhorse for me.

The talent is there, but he has yet to put it all together.

A test like this has been known to suit the most quirky horses in the past, and if it does get his mind on the job, he can win a race like this. But that is a big if.

The percentage call is to avoid backing him beforehand and back him in running, depending on how he has taken to the fences.

Has the talent to play a significant role

Rarely puts it all together

Star rating:

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6 Harper’s Brook

• Age: 8
• Weight: 11st 0lb
• Form: /0210-
• Rating: 139
• Jockey: Kielan Woods
• Trainer: Dan Skelton

The definition of ‘pulling yourself up’ lies very much on the shoulders of Harper’s Brook.

He is known for his antics at the business end of a race where he, more often than not, thinks that he has done enough and pulls himself up.

Dan and Harry Skelton will have to work hard to iron out that issue, and you can expect him to be delivered as late as possible.

Has changed yard, which could be a positive

Pulls himself up

Star rating:

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5 Richmond Lake

• Age: 8
• Weight: 11st 3lb
• Form: 149F0-
• Rating: 142
• Jockey: Theo Gillard
• Trainer: Donald McCain

Richmond Lake comes in here with a decent strike rate over fences, winning four of his ten starts.

He put together back-to-back wins at the start of last season but finished the season with a whimper in the Topham behind Arizona Cardinal.

There is every chance that he was still feeling the effect of his Kelso fall at Aintree, and he wouldn’t be without an each-way chance back on his last winning mark.

Runs well fresh
Back on his last winning mark

Had a bad experience here in April

Star rating:

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1 Authorized Art

• Age: 9
• Weight: 12st 0lb
• Form: 4P-303
• Rating: 153
• Jockey: Caolin Quinn
• Trainer: Gary & Josh Moore

You rarely see a former Willie Mullins-trained horse improve for the switch of stables, and I doubt that will change here.

He does have race fitness on his side after a third over hurdles at Kempton, but burdened by a top weight of 12 stone, it’s hard to see Authorized Art having much, if anything, in hand off this mark.

But the fact that he hasn’t won since October of 2022 makes him an easy pass today.

Has run nice races in big handicaps when trained in Ireland

Must carry top weight
No win since 2022

Star rating:

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13 Galon De Vauzelle

• Age: 8
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: 6-PP71
• Rating: 127
• Jockey: Simon Torrens
• Trainer: Philip Rothwell

Having found his form again when running away with a handicap chase at Listowel, Galon De Vauzelle has been hit with a ten-pound raise in the weights in Ireland. And for just crossing the Irish Sea, the English handicapper has hit him with a further six pounds, making him 16 pounds higher than his win at Listowel.

That should be enough to stop him from winning today, but if he can creep away out the back, he could pick up the pieces and grab a place.

Comes in here off a career-best win

Has been hit with a 16lb rise in the weights

Star rating:

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11 Vintage Fizz

• Age: 7
• Weight: 10st 2lb
• Form: -32654
• Rating: 127
• Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
• Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe

Vintage Fizz has run well on the back of a break in the past, but he needs to take his form to a whole new level to get seriously involved here.

The ground will be in his favour, but this is a huge task for his first try over the national fences.

Runs well fresh

Needs a clear career best to get involved

Star rating:

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BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase Verdict

Our first sight of the national fences this season, and the one I see coming out on top today, is FRERO BANBOU.

Third in last season’s renewal off three pounds higher leaves him looking well treated. He ran big races in some top handicaps last season, and a return to that form would see him seriously involved in the finish.

Should Sure Touch bring his progress to the national fences, he can prove a danger as well as the veteran Latenightpass.

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