The second of three races over the Grand National fences this week is the Topham Handicap Chase. Run over a much shorter trip than Saturday’s big race, 18 fences are jumped over 2m5f.

Joe Napier previews the contest with a former winner tipped for glory, though maybe not the one most expected…

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Runners

Almost as many horses take part in the Topham as the Grand National nowadays. A full field of 30 is set to take to the famous track on Friday, with Madara and Will The Wise renewing acquaintances from the Plate Handicap Chase at Cheltenham where they were first and second. Dan Skelton’s charge sprinted away for glory that day and could remain ahead of the handicapper up 10lb, but the 8lb swing in favour of the runner-up makes things more interesting.

This is a very competitive field too, with last year’s winner Gentleman De Mee back for more. He is only 3lb higher than 12 months ago and peaks at this time of year, so has to be feared. He has won twice at this meeting in the past. Another former Topham winner is Bill Baxter, who was sixth in the Becher Chase this season and whose connections have surely had this in mind all season. Another spring horse, he is on a dangerous mark once again.

Both Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins have able deputies to their number ones. Boombawn has continued to slide down the handicap and is a Graded horse at his best. He is now below Madara in the handicap. Mullins’ lieutenant is Ile Atlantique, with Paul Townend aboard the Grade 2 winner. A mark of 153 is one he could defy at his best.

Excello ran well for a long way in this last year and is at the very bottom of the handicap off 10st 2lb. The in-form Prairie Wolf is also in the mix, last year’s runner-up Lisnamult Lad needs a second look despite disappointing this term and Croke Park drops in class to a mark of just 150. The former Grade 1 novice chaser is becoming a handicap winner in waiting, while Il Est Francais would make a mockery of this at his best, but he has not been close to that for a while.

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Racecard

16:05 Aintree

Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Going Good To Soft
Distance 2m 5f 19y
Class Class 1
Race Type Chase Turf
Surface Turf
Runners 27
Win Time 5m 20s

1st 10

Will The Wise W: 10st 11lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

9/1 (Won)

J: Conor Stone-Walsh T: Gavin Cromwell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 221402

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

2nd 4 1 tip

Ile Atlantique W: 11st 7lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

11/2

J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins

OR: — RPR: — Form: U-F328

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

3rd 7 2 tips

Madara W: 11st 4lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

7/2F

J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 42-521

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

4th 3 1 tip

Gentleman De Mee W: 11st 12lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

17/2

J: Mark Walsh T: W P Mullins

OR: — RPR: — Form: 14-463

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

5th 29

Indiana Jones W: 10st 2lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

100/1

J: Shane O’Callaghan T: M F Morris

OR: — RPR: — Form: 7-70P0

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

6th 19

Mahons Glory W: 10st 7lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

16/1

J: Lee Edwards T: Dylan Cunha

OR: — RPR: — Form: 224521

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

7th 17

OMoore Park W: 10st 8lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

25/1

J: Sean O’Keeffe T: W P Mullins

OR: — RPR: — Form: -20506

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

8th 8 2 tips

Boombawn OUR TIP W: 11st 0lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

18/1

J: Tristan Durrell T: Dan Skelton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 443809

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

9th 20

Lisnamult Lad W: 10st 6lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

22/1

J: Jordan Gainford T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

OR: — RPR: — Form: P52-FP

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

10th 21

Peaky Boy W: 10st 5lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

33/1

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

OR: — RPR: — Form: 133-F0

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

11th 30

Excello W: 10st 2lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

28/1

J: Nico de Boinville T: Nicky Henderson

OR: — RPR: — Form: 0-30F9

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

12th 11

Addragoole W: 10st 11lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

25/1

J: Sean Flanagan T: Gavin Cromwell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 214139

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

13th 18 1 tip

Booster Bob W: 10st 7lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

11/1

J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy

OR: — RPR: — Form: 31-15F

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

14th 16

Conflated W: 10st 8lb Age: 12 yo Gelding

50/1

J: James Bowen T: Gordon Elliott

OR: — RPR: — Form: 8P-439

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

15th 24

Pour Les Filles W: 10st 2lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

80/1

J: Dylan Johnston T: Mickey Bowen

OR: — RPR: — Form: 17P1P5

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

16th 13 3 tips

Coming Up Easy W: 10st 10lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

25/1

J: Darragh O’Keeffe T: Henry De Bromhead

OR: — RPR: — Form: 011-1P

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

17th 14 1 tip

Viroflay W: 10st 9lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

10/1

J: Miss Olive Nicholls T: Paul Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: -22212

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

18th 6

Croke Park W: 11st 4lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

25/1

J: Danny Gilligan T: Gordon Elliott

OR: — RPR: — Form: 7-3330

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 1

Il Est Francais W: 12st 0lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

18/1

J: Jonathan Burke T: Tom George

OR: — RPR: — Form: 61-3PP

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 2

Matata W: 11st 13lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

33/1

J: J J Slevin T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

OR: — RPR: — Form: 733155

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

F 5

Hitman W: 11st 7lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Freddie Gingell T: Paul Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: P7-13P

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

F 9

Eldorado Allen W: 10st 12lb Age: 12 yo Gelding

66/1

J: Brendan Powell T: Joe Tizzard

OR: — RPR: — Form: 5-1344

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

BD 12

Soul Icon W: 10st 10lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

20/1

J: Tom Bellamy T: Keiran Burke

OR: — RPR: — Form: 29-U45

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 22 2 tips

Bill Baxter W: 10st 4lb Age: 10 yo Gelding

20/1

J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Warren Greatrex

OR: — RPR: — Form: -12652

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 23 1 tip

Teddy Blue W: 10st 3lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

18/1

J: Paul O’Brien T: Harry Derham

OR: — RPR: — Form: -17531

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

F 27

The King Of Prs W: 10st 2lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

50/1

J: Daniel King T: Gavin Cromwell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 5B5947

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

BD 28

Primoz W: 10st 2lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

22/1

J: Derek Fox T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

OR: — RPR: — Form: 235631

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

Non-runners

Prairie Wolf, Theatre Native, Jipcot

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£100.30
Straight Forecast	£57.36
Tricast	£226.64
Trifecta	£634.50

Selections

Telegraph:

POSTDATA:

SPOTLIGHT:

LAMBOURN:

The Times:

D Express:

Daily Mail:

TOPSPEED:

Daily Mirror:

The Sun:

The Guardian:

Daily Record:

RP RATINGS:

The Star:

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Trends

None of the last ten favourites have been successful
Willie Mullins has won three of the last six renewals
The other seven of the previous ten winners have all been trained in Britain
Eight of the last nine winners have carried 11st 2lb or less

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Tips

A winner of this three years ago, Bill Baxter likes it here and ran a grand race in the Becher Chase over the longer 3m2f trip earlier this term. Back to a better distance, this is his time of year and he can win it again. Last year’s hero Gentleman De Mee is bang in the reckoning too for similar reasons. Madara is progressive enough that he could still be ahead of his mark while Excello is worth another go over this track.

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Result

4th 17/2

Madara

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Result

3rd 7/2F

Excello

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Result

11th 28/1

FAQs

When and where is the Topham Handicap Chase run?

The Topham Handicap Chase will take place at Aintree racecourse on Friday 10 April, 2026 at 4.05pm.

How can I watch the Topham Handicap Chase on Friday?

The Topham Handicap Chase is shown live on ITV at 4.05pm on Friday.

When were the Topham Handicap Chase tips published?

The tips for the Topham Handicap Chase were published at 1.36pm on Thursday 9 April.

Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.

Next Race Off

Topham Handicap Chase tips, odds, racecard & trends 2026: Top Billing can go to former winner

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Runners

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Racecard

16:05 Aintree

Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

+o+e Betting Returns

Selections

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Trends

2026 Topham Handicap Chase Tips

FAQs

When and where is the Topham Handicap Chase run?

How can I watch the Topham Handicap Chase on Friday?

When were the Topham Handicap Chase tips published?