2023 Grand Sefton Chase Ante-Post Tip – DS
2023 Grand Sefton Chase Ante-Post Tip
Unfortunately, the stone bruise that our Melbourne Cup tip Alenquer suffered over the weekend scuppered his chances. It was clear after a couple of furlongs he wasn’t moving freely and by the end of the two miles, he was properly lame. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery. That’s the last big flat race we’ll be covering this year and the focus now switches fully to National Hunt racing. We endured a stinking start at Ascot and Wetherby last weekend, hopefully our 2023 Grand Sefton Chase ante-post tip at least completes the course!
2.45 Aintree – Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Last year we landed a decent place in the Grand Sefton with our ante-post selection Percussion. He is back to try again off a 5lbs lower mark but this time, he won’t get his preferred ground. They were reportedly pumping standing water off the Grand National course this week and with more rain forecast, it’s going to be pretty testing.
Another old friend of the blog, Born By The Sea, also takes his chance. He took to these fences very well in the Grand National but in my opinion, he would appreciate better ground. Yes, he has a couple of decent placed efforts on soft/heavy but his best efforts have come on ground with good in the description.
Huge Price
Quite a few of these would prefer good to soft ground but one at a huge price who should relish the muck is Ganapathi. This horse was placed in a Grade 2 hurdle on heavy when trained by Willie Mullins. He was 5th in a G1 novice at Leopardstown behind the likes of Gaillard Du Mesnil, Stattler and Gentlemansgame in February 2021 on soft/heavy so there is no doubt that he possesses plenty of ability.
He won two Novice chases on better ground for Mullins in May/June 2022 and then was third, 5l behind Visionarian, in a Galway Grade 3 Novice.The 7yo left Mullins a month later and he had wind surgery before his first start for his new trainer Patrick Neville. However, bar an 8L second to Nube Negra on his first run for his new yard, he became bitterly disappointing.
Mildly Encouraging
He was on the move again after finishing well down the field off 136 in the County Hurdle. Mike Smith was given the job of sparking him back to form and he had his first run for his new handler at Kelso early last month. He was well beaten over 17f on good ground but I thought he jumped very nicely and he should be able to travel more comfortably over 21f on much softer ground.
This son of Samum has career form figures of 11235 on ground with heavy in the description. He has won over 20f and both his chase wins have come going left handed. The assessor has given him a real chance, dropping him to 131, and on his best chase form that looks workable.
Ex Willie Mullins horses can often take time to come to hand after leaving his yard. Just ask Paul Nicholls. Sometimes they never recover their form but even though he was well beaten, I saw enough in this fella’s seasonal return to suggest that he may not be a lost cause.
If it does come up heavy, which looks likely, he won’t mind in the slightest. At odds of 40/1, hopefully Ganapathi can rediscover his mojo and run into the money. A small e/w interest is advised.
