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1 Gesskille 100/30F
2 Percussion 15/2
3 Frero Banbou 11/2
10 ran NR: Minella Trump Distances: 2l, 2¾l, 1¼l
Time: 5m 46.19s (slow by 26.19s)
Redemption!
— Aintree Racecourse (@AintreeRaces) November 11, 2023
Gesskille was beaten a nose in the 2022 Grand Sefton Chase but he's made amends with a brilliant performance 12 months later despite having to deal with a loose horse late on.
Well done @G_G_Racing and Henry Brooke.@BoyleSports pic.twitter.com/8ibwx77Djk
Trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, Gesskille was beaten a nose by Al Dancer in this race 12 months ago before again having to settle for second in the Becher Chase a month later.
This time, Henry Brooke bounced out the seven-year-old and never missed a beat as he once again showed his love for the unique test the famous spruce presents.
At the elbow Gesskille held a narrow advantage over last year’s third Percussion and Laura Morgan’s charge was unable to reel in the 100-30 favourite, who kept on stoutly for a two-length victory.
Greenall said: “Courses like here and Auteuil seem to suit him – just the once round; he seems to get a bit sick of a tighter track and not enjoy it so much.
“He was quite sour when we first got him – he’s by Network and they can be a bit tricky, and they start racing quite young in France, and he likes something to brighten him up, like these fences.
“After finishing agonisingly close last year, winning this is more like a relief, really. The blinkers have definitely improved him. He needs to go up a bit more in the handicap to get into the Grand National, but he could be a contender.”
Grand Sefton Handicap Chase
£100,000 guaranteed, 6yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 2
10 ran
Going: Heavy, Soft in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Gesskille 7 11-7 Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Henry Brooke 100/30F
2 2 Percussion 8 10-11 L J Morgan Gavin Sheehan 15/2
3 2¾ Frero Banbou 8 11-2 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 11/2
4 1¼ Nassalam 6 11-11 Gary Moore Caoilin Quinn 7/1
5 nse Fantastic Lady 8 12-0 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 4/1
6 34 Yccs Portocervo 8 10-10 Dr Richard Newland Sam Twiston-Davies 22/1
7 4 Ganapathi 7 11-0 2 R Mike Smith Sean Bowen 80/1
8 17 Cooper's Cross 8 11-5 Stuart Coltherd Sam Coltherd 11/1
9 11 Born By The Sea 9 11-9 Paul John Gilligan Phillip Enright 20/1
UR
Half Shot 9 10-5 Iain Jardine Sean Quinlan 6/1
NR 2 Minella Trump 9 12-0 Donald McCain NON RUNNER
