'He's perfect for the track' - Maxwell excited by Cat Tiger ride in Grand Sefton

Saturday: 2.15 Aintree
Betway Grand Sefton Handicap Chase | 2m5f | 6yo+ | ITV4/RTV

David Maxwell hopes a recent workout with Champion Chase winner Frodon points to a big chance for stablemate Cat Tiger when he returns to Aintree on Saturday.

The owner finished third on him in the Foxhunters' Chase over the National fences in April and thinks he could be well treated on this switch to handicap company, seven days after his galloping companion at Paul Nicholls' yard triumphed in Grade 1 company at Down Royal.

"You'd have to say you like his handicap mark," Maxwell said. "I did a piece of work on him with Frodon in Lambourn the other day. I'm 11 stone and I bet Bryony [Frost] is less than ten stone but we worked over a mile and he sat on Frodon's girths the whole way up.

"Frodon won in Ireland and he's rated 167, Cat Tiger is off 134 here – draw your own conclusions!"

Cat Tiger led from the second-last fence until the Elbow in the Foxhunters' and Maxwell said: "He's a great spin round there, he's a perfect horse for that track. He's not over big but he's very brave.

"If he wins, he's probably screwed for hunter chasing for the next couple of seasons but we'll have won the Grand Sefton and that would be amazing."

Time To Get Up and Jonjo O'Neill Jr wing a fence in the Midlands NationalCredit: Mike Egerton (Getty Images)

Time To Get Up, who was third in a novice handicap chase on the Mildmay Course at this meeting last year, is having a sighter for the Randox Grand National.

He is one of the market leaders for next April's showpiece, having won the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in March, and trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "He's in grand form and we're giving him a try over the fences to see how it works out for him.

"You'd hope he'd take to it, he's a fine, big horse and he's done everything okay up to now, but you never really know."

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Spyglass Hill
He ran well in the Munster National and we just thought that maybe the drop back in trip might suit him. Hugh [Morgan] gets a great tune out of him and it's an excellent opportunity for him.

Peter Bowen, trainer of Francky Du Berlais & Mac Tottie
I'm hopeful for them as long as they take to the fences. Francky Du Berlais should do, he's a good jumper. He's been running well and he just needed the race last time. Mac Tottie lost a shoe last time but he's in good form now.

Edward O'Grady, trainer of The West's Awake
I have intended to run him in this race for the last two years but each time he's done something silly to himself like getting cast, ruling himself out. I hope he'll enjoy this. He might have been a little out of his comfort zone early on last time at Cork but when he got into a rhythm I thought he ran super, particularly when it was over shorter than he'd ideally like.

Richard Newland, trainer of Al Roc
He was bought as a potential Grand National horse but I think he would struggle to see out the trip on what he's done. It didn't happen for him last year for various reasons, but having him right now we thought we'd give him a shot at these fences. He's got a lot to prove.

Alan King, trainer of Senior Citizen
This has always been his autumn target and I was delighted with his smooth win at Market Rasen. He's run very well over the National fences before, in this and the Topham. He just doesn't want really soft ground as he doesn't quite get home so I'm hoping conditions will be okay for him.

Hogan's Height won the Grand Sefton Chase in 2019Credit: Grossick Racing (racingpost.com/photos)

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Hogan's Height and Thomas Macdonagh
Hogan's Height won this off 134 two years ago and he's off 138 this time. He hasn't quite got the fresh legs of an eight-year-old and he'd have to run a career-best to win but he's in great form and doesn't know he's ten. Thomas Macdonagh has a good chance. Some of his novice chase form was very good, he's 6lb better off over fences than hurdles, he jumps well, two and half miles is his trip and the softer the ground the better.

Christian Williams, trainer of Five Star Getaway
Our horses are improving for their first run so it's all systems go after his reappearance at Chepstow. This has always been his target and we're not worried about him handling the National fences.

Read Saturday's previews . . .

Keith Melrose: spot the trendsetters in new-look Grand Sefton Chase (Members' Club)

Will First Light give the Gosdens another November Handicap as Flat season ends?

'He's had a brilliant summer' - who could be primed for a big Badger Beer run?

Versatile Sceau Royal looks very much the one to beat in Elite Hurdle

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