The Early Bird: selections for the Grand Sefton and Badger Beer

Latenightpass has a cracking record over the Grand National fences and he looks a decent ante-post wager, at the 10-1 offered by bet365 and Betfred, to land the Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase on Saturday. 

The big spruce obstacles at Aintree do not present the challenges that they once did, but they still yield specialists and there can be little doubt that the Tom Ellis-trained 11-year-old comes alive over them. 

He finished 214 in three successive editions of the Foxhunters’ between 2021-23, run over the same course and distance as the Sefton, before this year being given his chance in the Grand National itself. 

Latenightpass gave another exhibition of leaping under regular rider Gina Andrews and was still contesting the lead at the last of the 30 fences. However, stamina was a question mark heading into the race, especially given the prevailing soft ground, and he faded to finish 12th, ending up being beaten a misleading 36 lengths. 

He moved through 95 per cent of the race as if a mark of 149 was not beyond him, only to be betrayed by his lack of staying power. On the plus side, the handicapper took that late surrender at face value and has eased Latenightpass 2lb in the ratings. 

I’d usually be wary of backing an 11-year-old in a competitive handicap chase such as this, but this prolific point-to-point performer remains low mileage under Rules (only nine runs), goes well fresh and has a stack of form on good going and faster. And there is no question he faces lesser opposition than in the National, when he was up against a plethora of top-class rivals in an edition where 21 runners completed and there were few, if any, hard-luck stories. 

I’m also going to have a saver on Eldorado Allen, quoted at 12/1 by Betfair and Paddy Power. He also showed up for a long way in the latest renewal of the Grand National after taking superbly to the course - the RaceiQ data reveals he gained 13 lengths with his jumping with only one other horse (Meetingofthewaters) quicker through the air - before predictably running out of puff. 

The grey has not won for a while, but the former Haldon Gold Cup/Denman Chase winner represents a stable in fine form and he’s slipped to a handy mark, being 4lb lower than when making the frame in the Coral Gold Cup last season. 

His record when fresh stands close inspection and he seems to be effective on all types of ground. Everything looks in place for a big run. 

Joe Tizzard, the trainer of Eldorado Allen, also has an outstanding candidate in the 63rd Badger Beer Handicap Chase in the shape of The Changing Man, pictured above. He’s a general 5/1 but I can see him going off much shorter. 

The seven-year-old split Stay Away Fay and Grey Dawning on his return/chasing debut at Exeter last season and was then travelling strongly in a Grade Two contest at Sandown when blundering away his rider in the latter stages. 

His other three races didn’t go to plan, although he did sign off with a better effort when runner-up in a handicap at Uttoxeter. 

Every inch a chaser on looks, he really should be able to exploit a mark of 130 given that initial Exeter run plus his efforts over hurdles including being beaten only five lengths in the 2023 Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. The stable’s runaway winner of the Badger Beer in 2016, Gentleman Joe, ran off the same rating. 

Team Tizzard had another double at Plumpton on Monday and has had 16 winners from only 72 runners since August. The yard seems in better form than for some time. 

And we know The Changing Man can go well fresh because in addition to his cracking return run last season, he also won first time up the campaign before. He’s also shown his form on a range of ground, scoring on good going at Stratford in the spring of 2022. 

Also, if Al Dancer stands his ground, he’s going to have a lovely low weight to shoulder. Brendan Powell has already been pencilled in for the ride.