Previously held on Becher Chase day in December, the Betway Grand Sefton takes up its new position in the race calendar and has attracted a strong confirmed field of 14. With a full crowd anticipated at Aintree for the first time since 2019, our experts preview the feature race. Check it out below, alongside an exclusive offer from William Hill of Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
TIME TO GET UP 4/1
Jonjo O’Neil has started this campaign in tremendous form, operating at an above 20% strike rate in the last two weeks. Despite last tasting success in the Grand Sefton back in 2003 with Dark Room for J. P. McManus, Jonjo O’Neil will be hoping that Midlands National winner Time To Get Up can carry the famous green and gold silks to yet another big race victory. Time To Get Up has relished being sent up in trip by connections, showing his aptitude for the trip when taking the Midlands National. With stamina assured and a liking for most types of ground, jockey Tom Scudamore may decide to make a bold bid for glory over the National fences.
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SENIOR CITIZEN 6/1
Trainer Alan King will be keen on the chances of the eight-year-old Senior Citizen, who clearly has a liking for Aintree.
On his first start over the National fences in last years renewal, Senior Citizen jumped well in the main before ultimately finishing seventh. A return to the course and fences soon followed when running in the Randox Topham Chase in April, and it was a much-improved display to finish third in a race won by the much higher rated Livelovelaugh of Wille Mullins’.
With a recent win and confidence booster at Market Rasen, Alan King will be hoping third times the charm on the National course. Certainly, his ability to handle the fences will be his major asset as only three other horses in the field of fourteen have jumped them before.
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CAT TIGER 9/2
Paul Nicholls will be looking to win the Grand Sefton for the fourth time in eight years on Saturday and provide owner and rider David Maxwell with one of his biggest wins in the saddle. After winning at short odds at Leicester in a Hunters Chase, Cat Tiger was sent over the National fences for the first time. The seven-year-old looked to be a natural over the obstacles and only made one serious error four out.
A liking for the fences at Aintree is a big tick in Cat Tiger’s box but there are reservations of whether he has the true class edge to be competitive in a race of this nature. However, it would be folly to totally dismiss the eleven-time champion trainers only entry in the Saturday showpiece.
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HOGAN’S HEIGHT & THOMAS MACDONAGH 15/2 & 10/1
Jamie Snowden returns with previous winner Hogan’s Height who slammed his rivals into the ground in 2019 and interestingly runs Thomas Macdonagh who will be partnered by Gavin Sheehan.
Hogan’s Height has been beaten in races at Cheltenham and in the Grand National. However, both of those efforts are easily overlooked and after a recent spin over hurdles at Newton Abbot, Hogan’s Height will return on Saturday back at a grade where he can be competitive once again.
After a spell novice chasing it’s certainly interesting to see Thomas Macdonagh’s name declared among the entries. A horse that clearly possesses the ability, finishing behind future Betway Handicap Chase winner Happygolucky on chasing debut in October 2020.
An encouraging return to form when second at Haydock when last seen in March, Thomas Macdonagh will be returning from a break on Saturday and the positive jockey booking of Gavin Sheehan certainly catches the eye. Jamie Snowden’s yard has also slowly been ticking over this year operating at a healthy 27% strike rate currently which suggests that the majority of his horses are fit even at this early stage of the season.
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BIG RACE VERDICT
One of Saturday feature races and it’s a competitive renewal of the Grand Sefton in 2021. Cat Tiger will be popular after his recent course third, whilst both Jamie Snowden runners should be closely monitored in the market. It was around this time last season that both jockey Tom Scudamore and trainer Jonjo O’Neil combined with eight-year-old Cloth Cap in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury. The unexposed stayer TIME TO GET UP can provide the pair with another notable weekend winner as he tackles the National fences for the first time.
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