Horse Power: Outlaw Peter can win the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree

OUTLAW PETER can win the Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.40pm) at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.

Paul Nicholls’ eight-year-old can make a winning debut over the famous Randox Grand National fences and land the feature contest at Aintree. Outlaw Peter, a three-time winner over hurdles, took to chasing in good style – winning on his debut over 2m5f in testing conditions at Newton Abbot in September 2023. Despite being pulled up on his second start over the bigger obstacles he was much more consistent in his five starts for the rest of last season.

He won twice at Kempton and Ayr in March and April respectively and also finished second, third and runner-up again in his other three starts at Kempton, Musselburgh and Sandown. That second to Martator – who franked the form with another victory on his seasonal return at Ascot last weekend – was another good run, despite being seven lengths adrift at the line.

Outlaw Peter’s style of running and good jumping look made for the Grand National fences. He has generally been prominent in his races, which has been an advantage in this 2m4f Aintree contest. Outlaw Peter should enjoy the good ground and also the unique challenge of the Aintree obstacles. He has had a long break since his last start at the end of April and although some of the Nicholls’ runners have needed their first run this season, he looks more than capable of making a winning return to action.

The Grand Sefton looks a typically-competitive contest and a number of horses with good form over the Aintree obstacles should run a big race. Last year’s second and third – Laura Morgan’s Percussion and the Venetia Williams-trained Frero Banbou – should both go well again, while course and distance scorer Latenightpass – from the Tom Ellis stable – is another with a chance. Gary and Josh Moore’s top weight Authorized Art – who was second in the Galway Plate when trained by Willie Mullins – also has the class and ability to feature. But Outlaw Peter may just keep them all at bay to triumph.

Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain landed the feature Old Roan Chase with Minella Drama at the last Aintree meeting and CAMARRATE can give him another ‘home’ win in the Boylesports Extra Places Everyday Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier) (3.15pm). The Grand National-winning handler looks to have an interesting young hurdler in Camarrate and the four-year-old can bring up a hat-trick of victories over the smaller obstacles. A winner on the Flat when trained by Grant Tuer, Camarrate got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles with a decent win at Fakenham in April. The gelded son of Gleneagles followed up at Sedgefield the following month. And he can return to action at Aintree and make it three-in-a-row before potentially stepping up in grade afterwards.

Laura Morgan’s BOLD ENDEAVOUR may return to form with victory in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.30pm). The eight-year-old, who has wins over both hurdles and fences, has mainly been campaigned over the smaller obstacles for the past couple of seasons. Although he hasn’t won since a chase success at Doncaster in December 2022, he has run some fine races in defeat in top contests. He was fifth in the 2023 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival and fourth in the Pertemps Final back at Prestbury Park in March this year. He wasn’t a factor at Aintree’s Grand National meeting and in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on his last two starts in the spring. But he looks to be back down to a decent mark and with the three-mile trip and decent ground to his liking, Bold Endeavour may bounce back with victory on his return to action.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Naunton stable has been among the winners in the early weeks of the season and the dual Grand National-winning handler may grab a double in the first two races at Aintree with GLYNN BRAE in the opener, the Boylesports Daily Money Back Meetings EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) (12.20pm); and UNCLE BERT in the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (12.55pm). Glyn Brae won a Leopardstown bumper on his racecourse debut in March when trained in Ireland by Stuart Crawford. And he followed up with another taking success on his first start for Twiston-Davies at Stratford last month. He looks to be a progressive four-year-old hurdler and can make it three wins from three starts. Uncle Bert was pulled up at Carlisle last month on his second start over the bigger obstacles. He was a decent hurdler and is worth another go to see if he can make into a decent chaser.

Others who can win at the home of the Grand National are Phillip Hobbs and Jonathan White’s IMPERIAL SAINT– who scored over course and distance on his chasing debut at Aintree last month – in the Boylesports Choose Wisely Handicap Chase (2.05pm); and the Martin Dunne-trained FRAN THE MAN in the finale, the Boylesports Lengthen The Odds ‘Junior’ National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (3.50pm).

On the final day of the Flat season at Doncaster Ed Bethell’s MINSTREL KNIGHT can bring up a hat-trick of victories in the Virgin Bet November Handicap (3.45pm) following back-to-back successes at Haydock and York over the past two months.

Ed Walker’s TEN BOB TONY can win the Listed Livescore Bet Wentworth Stakes (1.20pm). While others who may score on Town Moor are the Richard Fahey-trained STRIKE RED – a winner at York last month – in the Dransfields CIU National Charity Handicap (2.35pm); Mick Appleby’s NAD ALSHIBA GREEN in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Nursery Handicap (2pm); and recent Newbury second DANIELLE – from the John and Thady Gosden stable – in the Listed Virgin Bet Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (3.10pm).

Back over the jumps at Wincanton Paul Nicholls’ RUBAUD – who was a smooth winner on his seasonal return at Kempton last month – can land back-to-back victories in the Grade Two Elite Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.55pm).

Others who can win at Wincanton are Karl Burke’s SOUL ICON in the Grade Two Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (2.23pm); the Joe Tizzard-trained The Changing Man in the 63rd Badger Beer Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.30pm); another Nicholls’ course and distance winner LARCHMONT LASS in the Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.45pm); and Twiston-Davies’ hat-trick-seeking TEDLEY in the EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) (1.09pm).

Wright Ones

AINTREE

12.20pm Glynn Brae
12.55pm Uncle Bert
1.30pm Bold Endeavour
2.05pm Imperial Saint
2.40pm Outlaw Peter (NAP)
3.15pm Camarrate
3.50pm Fran The Man

DONCASTER

11.45pm Temper Trap
12.15pm Beauty Choice
12.50pm So Darn Hot
1.20pm Ten Bob Tony
2pm Nad Alshiba Green
2.35pm Strike Red
3.10pm Danielle
3.45pm Minstrel Knight

WINCANTON

12.35pm Sorceleur
1.09pm Tedley
1.45pm Larchmont Lass
2.23pm Soul Icon
2.55pm Rubaud
3.30pm The Changing Man
4.05pm Swingin Safari

KELSO

11.10am Dedicated Hero
11.38am Bollingerandkrug
12.07pm The Navigator
12.42pm Red Happy
1.15pm Marty Mcfly
1.52pm Beyond The Verge

CHELMSFORD CITY

4.30pm Royal Alliance
5pm Aspire To Glory
5.30pm Just Ten High
6pm Camera Shy
6.30pm Tequila Rose
7pm Startling
7.30pm Blind Beggar
8pm Hunters Run
8.30pm Penzance

SUNDAY'S NAP: Certainly Red (Sandown 3.25pm)