Betway Grand Sefton Chase
Handicap Chase, Aintree 15:15
£64,000 added,
6yo plus,
2m 5f 19y, Class 2  
Saturday 6th November 2021

1 Mac Tottie 20/1
2 Senior Citizen 9/2
3 Manwell 40/1
3 ran NR: Five Star Getaway
Distances: 1l, 12l, 1¼l Time: 5m 33.75s (slow by 12.75s)

Welsh trainer Peter Bowen has saddled four winners of the Topham Chase at the National meeting, with Dunbrody Millar’s 2007 triumph followed by the popular Always Waining’s hat-trick between 2010 and 2012.

Bowen also came close to winning the big one in 2007, with Mckelvey beaten three-quarters of a length by Silver Birch – and in Mac Tottie, he believes he has another contender for the Aintree spectacular.

A well-beaten last of four on his seasonal reappearance at Fontwell early last month, the eight-year-old appeared invigorated by the switch to the National fences, jumping well throughout for the trainer’s son James.

The well-fancied Senior Citizen loomed up looking a big danger on the run-in, but 20-1 shot Mac Tottie dug deep to see him off by a length – with Manwell a further 12 lengths behind in third.

“That was good. It’s the fifth time we’ve won round those fences – it’s been a lucky place for us,” said the winning trainer.

“I have no idea why they seem to take to it. We do a lot of loose schooling, and they seem to find their own way from there.”

Trainers Quotes

Bowen added: “We just missed out in the National with Mckelvey, and hopefully this will end up being a National horse – I think he’ll stay.

“He came here in good form. Things didn’t go quite right for him last time, because he lost a shoe and didn’t really stride out after that.

“He could come back here for the Becher Chase next month, but we’ll see how he is and speak to the owners.”

The winner rider was thrilled to claim his first victory over the National fences, adding his name to the roll of honour in a race his brother Sean has won twice for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

“It’s unbelievable. To do it for my dad makes it extra special,” he said.

“I didn’t miss one fence. He’s only small, but he’s so neat and has got loads of scope.

“I got to the front way too soon, but the loose horse helped me out for a little while, and he probably kept a little bit up his sleeve.

“I’d ride any of dads’ horses over a National fence. It’s nice to come here and have the confidence in them to go and jump.”

FormRatings

Grand Sefton Handicap Chase
£64,000 added, 6yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 2
13 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1      Mac Tottie 8 11-1 Peter Bowen James Bowen 20/1
2 1 Senior Citizen 8 11-5 Alan King A P Heskin 9/2
3 12 Manwell 11 10-0 Sam England Jonathan England 40/1
4 1¼ Via Dolorosa 9 10-12 1 David Pipe David Noonan 40/1
5 17 Cat Tiger 7 11-0 Paul Nicholls Mr David Maxwell 3/1F
6 2¼ Hogan's Height 10 11-4 Jamie Snowden Page Fuller
7 9 Thomas Macdonagh 8 10-10 Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 11/2
8 2 Francky Du Berlais 8 11-11 Peter Bowen Sean Bowen 22/1
9 2½ Sir Jack Yeats 10 10-6 Richard Spencer James Best 14/1
10 12 Al Roc 10 11-8 Dr Richard Newland Sam Twiston-Davies 40/1
11 35 Time To Get Up 8 11-10 Jonjo O'Neill Tom Scudamore 8/1
PU The West's Awake 10 11-11 E J O'Grady Phillip Enright 20/1
UR Spyglass Hill 8 11-12 Henry De Bromhead Hugh Morgan 10/1
NR 12 Five Star Getaway 7 10-10 Christian Williams NON RUNNER

FormRatings