Jumping fans get their first taste of action over Aintree’s Grand National fences for the new campaign on Saturday, as the 2025 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase takes place at 2.40pm. Run over 2m 5f 19y, this contest can often be a starting point for those horses targeting Grand National glory later in their careers and this year’s renewal looks a hugely competitive affair. Steve Chambers previews the contest and picks out his 1-2-3 for the event…
Favourites
You immediately have to look at King Turgeon in the favourites section, as David Pipe’s grey was a comfortable three-and-a-quarter length winner over Vintage Fizz in this race last year. Jumping impressively, he was victorious off a mark of 125 in last year’s contest, but takes his chance off 137 in the 2025 running, so is going to be up against it. Last seen pulling up in the Ultima at Cheltenham, he’s one that will relish the return to Liverpool, but is going to face a stern test to replicate his win of 12 months ago.
White Rhino ended last season pulling up in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster, but the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained nine-year-old is better than that and could be best caught fresh. A winner on his first two starts last season, he’s one that will need to improve his jumping, but could be one that has more improvement over fences this term.
JP McManus has a long affiliation with Aintree and the National itself, and he will be looking to unearth the next Don’t Push It and Minella Times, who both carried the famous green and gold silks to victory in the National. The top-weighted Johnnywho will be the premier shot fired in this, and he could be one that has an abundance of talent that could excel on Merseyside. Second in the Kim Muir and fifth in the Irish Grand National, he continued to improve last season over fences, and if his jumping can continue to blossom then he could just prove to be the class act in this race. The trip may be a tad on the short side, but should they go a decent gallop then he could be finishing off with a rattle.
Down the field in the Topham over these fences back in April, Excello is back to have another crack for Nicky Henderson and he could be another well fancied runner, while Gaboriot will be the second shot fired by the Greenall and Guerriero gun and he was a decent third in this race 12 months ago, and now 3lbs lower has to be given a squeak.
The Field
Third in 2023 and sixth in 2024, Frero Banbou is hugely experienced around Aintree’s National course and his smooth jumping always sees him turn for home with a chance. However, the Venetia Williams-trained veteran has often struggled in the closing stages and with his legs ageing will need to find something.
A Grade 2 winning novice chaser, Colonel Harry may not have reached the dizzy heights expected by Jamie Snowden, but he still has the potential to make waves over fences and having not been seen since falling at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day he could be one that is of interest at double-figured prices.
Second in the Foxhunters over the track, Jet Plane is another that has shown his best form at Aintree and is the flagbearer for the team of Dan and Harry Skelton. Fifth on his return at Worcester, he’s sure to improve significantly for that outing and he has to be another given huge respect, as he looks to go one better than April.
Eleventh in the 2023 Grand National, Our Power is one of those that has struggled to get his head in front in recent times and now at the age of ten could be on the downgrade, while Seddon and Mahon’s Glory are another brace of runners worthy of a mention, and the former will be hoping to replicate his Cheltenham Festival win from a few seasons ago.
Verdict
A fascinating and hugely competitive renewal can go the way of JOHNNYWHO, who can prove to be a cut above his rivals in this contest and use the race as a springboard to potential Graded staying chasers in the second half of the season. Jet Plane has some excellent form around the track and can chase him home for team Skelton, while Colonel Harry can build on some early promise and bag third spot.
2025 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase Predicted 1-2-3
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