It's time to find out if Shan Blue is the best-handicapped chaser in Britain

Saturday: 4.15 Aintree
Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 3m1f | 5yo | ITV/RTV

Only 11 jumpers in training have produced a better Racing Post Rating this season than Shan Blue did in the Charlie Hall Chase yet Dan Skelton's runner is able to make his handicap debut off a mark of 148.

Our handicappers would admit to an element of estimated guesswork with Shan Blue's 169 figure at Wetherby as he fell three out. However, such an assessment is justifiable.

He was 20 lengths clear and in the process of producing a performance befitting of a cast-iron King George candidate, but put in a short one and paid the price.

Shan Blue has never convinced at Cheltenham, so his below-par effort in the Ryanair on soft ground last time is forgiven and the flatter track at Aintree will suit.

Some questioned Skelton's decision to endanger his star chaser's official rating by targeting a Grade 1 at the festival instead, but common sense has prevailed at Aintree with the figure remaining unchanged.

The value of keeping out of trouble in this 17-runner field will not be lost on his rider as there are few better-handicapped horses around.

Oscar Elite (orange silks, left of picture) was just run out of it by Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap at CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The market underestimated Oscar Elite in the Ultima Handicap Chase, but he hasn't been missed here and his position towards the top of the market is merited.

Oscar Elite simply turns it on in the spring. He placed in Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree last season after showing little beforehand and produced an excellent effort from 4lb out of the weights last time after a disappointing start over fences.

The seven-year-old is weighted to go close off only 2lb higher, but it is a concern he has finished two of his last three races with a bloody nose. Once that underlying issue is resolved, we could be looking at a future Ladbrokes Trophy contender.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Skelton believes Shan Blue is ready to exploit 'attractive' mark

Dan Skelton went for Grade 1 glory in the Ryanair with Shan Blue and while it did not come off on that occasion, that shows what the trainer thinks last season's Kauto Star winner is capable of.

Skelton is also hopeful that, in addition to a mark which may underestimate his raw talent, a light campaign forced on him by his fall in the Charlie Hall means Shan Blue will not suffer the effects of trying to back up from Cheltenham in the way some horses have this week.

Skelton said: "He hasn't had a busy season after falling at Wetherby. His mark wasn't affected, which gives him a chance to run of this mark, which looks very attractive.

"Cheltenham didn't work out for him for whatever reason, but it hasn't worked out there a couple of times now. If he puts up the Wetherby run he'll be very hard to beat."

What they say

Kim Bailey, trainer of Espoir De Romay
Kelso was a week too soon for him but we knew that, this has always been the plan and we needed to get a run into him beforehand. He's capable of running a big race but he didn't complete last year so we don't know what would have happened.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer to Colin, trainer of Oscar Elite and Killer Kane
Oscar Elite ran a blinder at Cheltenham – I thought he was going to win two out. He's gone up to 140 but hopefully he can handle that. He went well here last year when he was third in the Sefton Novice Hurdle and is a horse who comes right at this time of year. Killer Kane is very much on the upgrade. He loves a bit of decent ground and good to soft will suit him. He's a novice first time in the deep end, but he's really clicked on his last couple of runs. On his Cheltenham form Oscar Elite is probably the one of the two, but Killer Kane isn't a million miles behind him.

Tea Clipper ran well to be fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham and is one of two chances for trainer Tom LaceyCredit: Steve Davies

Tom Lacey, trainer of Tea Clipper and Adrimel
You'd like to think Tea Clipper has a good chance but he is a horse who bounced from Cheltenham to Aintree last year and runs well fresh. We haven't done a whole lot with him since Cheltenham, we just kept him ticking over and he had a little blow on Tuesday. We'll go there and believe in the horse rather than trying to find out at home. The ground drying out has forced our hands into stepping up in trip with Adrimel. We've put a visor on instead of blinkers and he clearly has the of ability but it's a question of how ground dependent he is. It will be interesting to see how he performs over the three miles.

Chris Honour, trainer of Grumpy Charley
It was a standing start in the Ultima and two horses ran straight across him. He'd never been behind a wall of horses like that and it just all went wrong. He's showing all the right signs at home. It sort of burst my bubble a bit because going into Cheltenham he felt amazing and I couldn't see how he'd run a bad race. If he jumps well and gets a nice position over the first few fences then I'd be very hopeful he'll run a really nice race.

Christian Williams, trainer of Cap Du Nord
It looks a tough race for him but we're looking forward to running him and seeing if he can back up his win at Kempton last time.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of The Hollow Ginge
He was balloted out of the National so we can run in this. He needs to improve a bit but he's in good form.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Saturday's Aintree previews:

2.25 Aintree: can Three Stripe Life take advantage of a golden Grade 1 opportunity?

3.00 Aintree: 'Nothing's given me any concern' – Edwardstone in line to join star-studded list

3.35 Aintree: can Flooring Porter follow in footsteps of the greats and complete the double?

5.15 Aintree: 'She's entitled to be the price she is' – Coleman excited by Snow Leopardess

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