'He’s in very good form, has a great record fresh and knows how to win' - analysis and key quotes for the Grand Sefton

Races over the Grand National fences remain one of the cornerstones of the jumps season and the Grand Sefton is the first of two early-season treats at Aintree.

While some may point to the National fences providing less of a challenge for runners than in previous years, sound jumping remains a pivotal asset. Rhythm is everything on this track and particularly in the Grand Sefton where the pace is naturally hotter than marathons like next month’s Becher.

The unique nature of the National fences can create course specialists and the adaptable Percussion is the main one in this race. The nine-year-old has finished second and third in the last two Grand Seftons before being placed in the Becher four weeks later on two occasions. His consistency at Aintree makes him an understandable pick for Placepot players.

Percussion is prominent in the early market with Frero Banbou, who finished on his coat-tails in the 2023 race. He benefits from a 4lb pull this time, but seldom wins and is 0-16 in the last 34 months.

Richmond Lake on his way to success over Aintree's Mildmay courseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Three others in the line-up ran at the National meeting in April. Latenightpass failed to stay when 12th in the big one. That was unsurprising for one with form figures of 214 in the Foxhunters', a race Gaboriot unseated his amateur rider at the Canal Turn, while Richmond Lake was given a sighter of these fences when tenth in the Topham.

Perhaps Richmond Lake’s success on atrocious ground at the December meeting simply bottomed him out for the rest of the season and he is back on that winning mark for his return.

The prices may underestimate him and the same applies to topweight Authorized Art. His class, prominent racing style, proficient jumping, good-ground preference, talented conditional rider and encouraging warm-up spin on his stable debut for Gary and Josh Moore, are plausible reasons to expect an enjoyable first taste of the National fences.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

'We have always felt he was a doubtful stayer'

Latenightpass developed an affinity with the National course over the span of three excellent performances in the Foxhunters' Chase for amateur riders, capped with victory in 2022.

The National itself became the target for the Ellis family, and they were rewarded with a bold show before the tank began to empty in the closing stages.

Since then trainer Tom Ellis, who took out a full licence to prepare Latenightpass for the National, has given the 11-year-old plenty of time to recover, as well as having the gelding's wind checked over.

Latenightpass and Gina Andrews winning the 2022 Foxhunters' ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"We felt at the backend of last year he was just making a bit of a whistle, so it was good to tidy up his wind going into this season," said Ellis, whose wife Gina Andrews has been the horse's ever-present rider throughout Latenightpass' pointing and rules career. " It seems to have done the trick at home, so if it ekes out a bit of improvement, happy days."

After his horse ran so well for so long in the National, Ellis is relishing a return to this intermediate distance of 2m5f.

"He’s won round there over this trip but that was in a Foxhunter, not a handicap," said Ellis. "We have always felt he was a doubtful stayer, and I was concerned about running him in a cross-country over three miles six, let alone the National over four and a quarter.

"I’m actually a lot happier running him over this trip rather than one of those extended tests."

What they say

Olly Murphy, trainer of Sure Touch
He’s certainly got an appetite for winning. Touch wood, his jumping is his forte, so hopefully he’ll get in a good rhythm round there. He’s in very good form, has a great record fresh and he knows how to win. It’s a competitive handicap and he’s got to jump round, but I wouldn’t swap him. He’s in really good form and we’re excited about running him.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Harper’s Brook
He’s a bit of a rascal. Everyone knows him, probably as well as I do, and I’ve just got him fit. We’ll see what interest the fences bring out of him.

Idalko Bihoue: has schooled well over National-style fencesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Willy Twiston-Davies, assistant trainer of Idalko Bihoue
He runs very well fresh and is a naturally talented horse. We’re hopeful of a very big run from him. We schooled him over some National fences and he jumped them very well. He looks to have a great chance.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Frero Banbou
He ran well in the race last year. It’s a bigger field this time but he seems in good order and we’re hopeful of a good run.

Oliver Greenall, trainer of Gaboriot
He seems in great form. Last year was about building confidence because when he came from France he lost his way a bit. He seems to have really come on and built on every run. He won on soft but I think he actually prefers good ground, so that will suit him well. He jumped the fences well in the Topham and he just got a little but unsighted at the Canal Turn. He left his backend a little bit and didn’t give Harry much chance but I think he should be fine this time round.

Gaboriot will bid to give trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero back-to-back wins in the Grand SeftonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

David Pipe, trainer of King Turgeon
He bolted up at Chepstow and has got a low weight. We have schooled him over our National fences at home and he jumps them very well.

Philip Rothwell, trainer of Galon De Vauzelle
He was good at Listowel but he's gone up plenty for it, gone up 7lb for losing the claimer off his back and is 4lb out of the handicap, so it will be tough. However, he's very good at jumping the fences at home. If he ran well and placed, it could drag him into a Topham, so it would be good to get him experience over the fences.
Reporting by Scott Burton

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