William Hill Grand Sefton Chase: five to note and a 33-1 tip

Trainer: Tom Lacey. RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.9. Odds: 33-1. 

This bold jumper appeals as the type to take well to the demands of Aintree, looking a big price to at least make the frame. 

He generally races up near the pace, which can be at an advantage over the National fences nowadays, and his lack of a recent run is not a big concern, given that he usually goes well fresh. 

Nocte Volatus was a game winner first time up at Chepstow last season and was again declared to run at that meeting last month, only to be withdrawn because of the fast ground. 

The ten-year-old followed up that Chepstow success with solid runs in defeat at Ascot and Market Rasen last term, especially on the latter occasions when chasing home the well-handicapped The Flier Begley, who has since won more two more races and is now rated 15lb higher in the ratings. 

By contrast, Nocte Volatus is only 1lb higher and just about everything that Lacey has run since the end of September has either won or run well. 

Lacey has claimed off Nocte Volatus in the past and it will be interesting to see if he again adopts that tactic. Six winners of the Grand Seftion have been ridden by conditionals since 2004, at odds ranging between 7-1 and 66-1. 

Trainer: Venetia Williams. RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.8. Odds: 16-1. 

There’s a general belief that Venetia Williams-trained runners need deep ground to excel but Williams’ record in November, when conditions are rarely heavy, stands close inspection. In the past six seasons, she’s had 58 winners from 266 runners; a strike-rate of almost 22 per cent. 

Her first runner this month, Djelo, landed the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday (on good going) and do not discount Frero Banbou potentially making it third time lucky in this contest. 

He was a fine third off a mark of 133 two years ago, and ran well for a long way off 130 before fading to be sixth last year, trading at just over 2-1 in-running after hitting the front two out but shaping as if maybe needing the run. 

The ten-year-old seemed to confirm that when landing the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle next time, fending off The Changing Man after a great tussle. The pair pulled 16 lengths clear and the runner-up is now rated 12lb higher, probably more once the assessor weighs up his fine run at Ascot last Saturday. 

Frero Banbou also ran well at Kempton over Christmas, but the rest of his campaign fizzled out, including at a time when his stable’s form dipped. On the plus side, he’s slipped back to a mark of 130, so he’s only 3lb higher than when scoring at Newcastle. 

Trainer: Jonjo & AJ O’Neill. RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.1. Odds: 8-1. 

Jonjo O’Neill and JP McManus teamed up to win the Grand Sefton with Dark Room in 2003, when the race was revived after a 38-year absence. The pair have since had little joy in the race, with their last runner in it together, Time To Get Up trailing home last of 11 finishers in 2020. 

It will be disappointing if Johnnywho does not make more of an impact for them as the second-season chaser looks to have all the attributes to go well. 

The eight-year-old will be having his first run for almost seven months, but he’s won first time out for the past two seasons and the stable’s most recent winners have overcome similar absences. 

Johnnywho tanked through last season’s Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham only to be edged out in the closing stages, and he also ran well in the Irish Grand National the following month before fading to finish fifth. 

O’Neill suggested in a recent Racing TV Stable Tour that Johnnywho might be a Grand National horse, but he doesn’t look slow and this 2m 5f test, on likely softish ground, promises to suit. He is 6lb higher in the ratings than at The Festival, but that looks fair enough as he pulled 11 lengths clear of the third home. 

The one negative is that the weights have gone up 8lb after Monday’s confirmations, so Johnnywho will have to lump 12st. 

Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero. RaceiQ Jump Index: 6.8. Odds: 9-1. 

Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero are responsible for the ante-post favourite in White Rhino, but it’s a concern that he bled when pulled up on his final start last term, having previously unshipped his rider early on in the Kauto Star at Kempton. 

Gaboriot does not have White Rhino’s potential but he’s 3lb lower than when a close third in last year’s contest, when also having his first run of the campaign. 

In addition, ground conditions may be a little slower than 12 months ago with rain forecast throughout the week, and that should help a horse with winning form over as far as 4m on his CV. 

The nine-year-old didn’t build on his Aintree run in three subsequent races last term but his record fresh is encouraging. This may be the time to catch him, and he’s running from the right end of the handicap. 

Trainer: Jamie Snowden. RaceiQ Jump Index: 7.6. Odds: 14-1. 

I’m sure this horse has races in him off a mark of 144, but beware backing him ante-post because he’s also engaged in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last this week, plus the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday week. 

Just keep an eye on him wherever he shows up because he was a graded novice hurdler and graded novice chaser before going into Open company last term and running much better than the bare form suggests when down the field in the Coral Gold Trophy. 

He was bang in the mix three out at Newbury but palpably did not stay after racing a bit too keenly. 

The chestnut gelding dropped back in trip at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day but fell four out. To rub salt in the wound, he suffered an infection to his back foot and spent three weeks at the vets, which cut short his season. 

Perhaps his extended break be a blessing in disguise. He’s slipped to a mark of 144, which is 4lb lower than at Newbury, and is generally a sound jumper. It will be a case of the more rain the better as he seems well served by testing conditions.