Another McCoy Favourite In Red Rum Handicap Chase

The Grade Three Red Rum Handicap Chase is the penultimate race on tomorrow`s opening day of Aintree`s Grand National meeting. The betting for the two mile event is currently headed by the Grand Annual placed Ned Buntline, the charge of Noel Meade and mount of AP McCoy. In order to pick up tomorrow`s title he will have to get the better of the winner of that Festival race, Next Sensation who is among the top weights in the 16f handicap.

JP McManus` Ned Buntline finished the Grand Annual six lengths behind Next Sensation in fourth when the 4/1 joint-favourite. The seven-year-old was, on that occasion, just a pound worse off than the eventual winner but will be a full 9lbs to the good of the 151 rated mount this time round.

That appearance was his third in a big field handicap chase in what is only his second season over fences. In his first two, he finished second in the 2014 renewal of the Grand Annual before grabbing fourth in a Grade C Punchestown event over 2m. It is obvious that this is a horse who relishes the hustle and bustle of such tumultuous outings and should be at home in the 17-strong field tomorrow.

Indeed, whilst the County Meath Charge is relatively lightly raced compared to some of his key rivals, his experience over this 2m distance will also stand him in good stead. Whether or not the conditions, which are said to be good-to-soft, will be just soft enough for him remains to be seen, his three wins coming on soft and soft-heavy terrain.

Bet365 and a number of other bookmaking establishments have installed Ned Buntline at a price of 7/1.

What of Next Sensation then? This Mark Blandford-owned charge is a much trickier proposition to assess having failed to make an impression on any of his three previous races before claiming the Festival big one.

That was the horse`s first graded win after finishing fourth, and just over two lengths behind Ned Buntline, in the same race in the previous year. His success at Cheltenham has been duly noted by the handicapper and finds himself up in the weights as a result.

Conditions should be no problem for this son of Brian Boru who can be picked up at 8/1 at a number of bookies. Next in the betting is Royal Regatta who has course experience over his two nearest market rivals after having taken a 20f hurdles race as a novice. The King`s Theatre-sired seven-year-old has had a long old season, being seen on six occasions but has adapted superbly, picking up two wins and two places.

Unlike his opposition, however, Royal Regatta has not been aimed at this specific 2m trip, having been sent over 20f as a hurdler last season. Both this new discipline of chasing and the new trip has suited him well and should be well in with a clear ride here.

Betfair have the best price of 9/1 on Royal Regatta taking his first graded race in the Grade Three Red Rum Handicap Chase.

Claret Cloak is the top weight here following two place finishes at Grade Three level. The horse managed to cope well with this albatross last time out, finishing second and only a quarter-of-a-length behind winner Ulck Du Lin in Ascot`s listed 17f chase.

Whilst the ground might be too slow for him, the suitability of Claret Cloak to 2m handicaps means that the eight-year-old is available at 10/1 at bet365 and Betvictor.

Elsewhere, Tom George`s Parsnip Pete, last season`s winner of this race, is available at 14/1 with most bookmakers whilst Dresden could be the best of rest, also available at 14/1.

Go To bet365

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08/04/2015     © Frixo 2024