Red Rum Handicap Chase Betting Tips
Two miles is the trip on the Mildmay Course for the Red Rum Chase, a Premier Handicap event for formerly a Grade 3.
Fourteen of them are tasked with taking on 12 fences around Aintree on day one of the Grand National meeting, the total prize money here being £100,000 of which £56,000 goes the way of the winner.
We’ve checked out the ifs, buts and maybes, coming up with these six runners against the field:
Main Contenders
Dancing On My Own
Henry De Bromhead’s nine-year-old hasn’t been round the block too many times yet and so could have more to offer.
He ran extremely well behind The Last Day in this race in 2022, and though he has struggled a little in recent months he now comes fresh back to a race we know he handles and he could go well at a reasonable price.
Douglas Talking
Though well fancied in his own right, Douglas Talking is a confirmed front-runner who may just set things up nicely in this race.
Showing himself to be still on an upward curve, he was an easy winner at Ayr for Lucinda Russell and as we produce this piece, the money is flooding in for him at 11/2 down all rates towards 3/1.
He is facing sharp rises in the handicap weights, but clearly cannot be discounted.
Global Citizen
Another front-runner is Global Citizen and it is his presence alongside Douglas Talking that makes us think the race may just suit a couple of others over these two, who may compete.
A former Grand Annual winner, Global Citizen is tough and is on the same mark as when finishing third in the latest Grand Annual at Cheltenham.
Grey Diamond
Though he’s gone up 7lbs in the weights for Sam Thomas and Sam Twiston-Davies, Grey Diamond may somehow be advantaged by a recent fall.
Two runs ago at Sandown he was going well and in contention when coming down. He proved what form he was in next time when winning very nicely at Haydock, being eased down in the process.
Another win looks to be well within his wheelhouse in truth and he would have been higher in the weights had he stood up at Sandown Park.
Pay The Piper
The popular Hamiltons, though running a small operation, have consistently proven to be very popular and definitely capable.
Their Pay The Piper is creeping into form, perhaps at the best time as far as spring jumping is concerned. He won at Musselburgh a couple of months ago and was only narrowly beaten at Doncaster too.
The question as ever is the handicap mark, but for his part this eight-year-old is at his best and is bound to give a bold sight under jockey Danny McMenamin.
Third Time Lucki
Before the cash came for Douglas Talking, the money had been for this horse.
Third Time Lucky represents the Skeltons who have done so well in similar handicaps all season long. A winner three times over fences last term, he bounced back from some disappointments to win again at Sandown in February.
Since then, he has run fourth in the Grand Annual. What was noticeable is that they weren’t doing well from behind the pace that day, Third Time Lucki being the best of those who tried. So, with a couple of strong, in-form front-runners possibly setting this race up differently, he has a major chance.
Summary
Both of the aforementioned front-runners could stay on and win this race. In the case of Douglas Talking, he is arguably ahead of the handicapper regardless of running style and has a proper chance in his own right.
There is still the thought however that those two could set the race up for those wishing to close off a strong pace. Bear in mind also, that despite being though of as flat in nature, Aintree consistently takes some getting with many coming on strong late on.
Pay The Piper is one horse who could benefit, simply because he is in great form generally and looks sure to run his race, but the one that stands out in the likely race conditions is THIRD TIME LUCKI who gets the vote.
He was the best of those attempting to come off the pace in the Grand Annual, he may be stronger now and also has the race run to suit so rates as a solid selection for Dan and Harry Skelton.