May 16 / 18.55 Aintree

18.55

Good

Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £12253.5
  • 3m 0f 210y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 632U6- D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Drew a blank and was unable to replicate his best form last season but went close off much reduced mark in series final at Warwick (3m, good) in March; probably not ideally suited by the soft ground when slightly below that form at Bangor last month and can play a major role here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Sep 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

16:30 Warwick

Sail Away

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won well off 4lb lower at Aintree in May (3m1f, good) and a 4lb higher mark doesn't look too damaging; strongly considered as fitness is unlikely to be an issue given his yard.

2/1

Form: 1P152- D

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Dual 3m chase winner since cheekpieces were added in December and posted sound effort when second of four at Carlisle (3m, good) last month; up in grade and 1lb out of the weights for this first run in blinkers but still considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:25 Newcastle

Finn Lough

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won two 3m handicap chases on good to soft last season; slow to find his form this term, but good run at Musselburgh last time (2m7f, soft); chance.

11/4

2nd

5

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 4

16:20 Musselburgh

Finn Lough

11st 4lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Has a slight question mark over current form but a revival would put him in the picture; gained most recent win off 1lb higher last February.

12/1

Form: PPP/P- D

Last run: 163 days

W: 10st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on final three starts for David Pipe in 2023-24 season but, following a layoff, was in process of running well for new stable before chance-ending jumping error in home straight at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) in December; not seen again since and not sure to be ideally suited by the faster ground here but remains well handicapped on old form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Only The Bold

10st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Jamie Snowden

Staged a major revival last May/June and finished well for close third in veterans' event at Sandown (3m) in November, but not so good on latest start; pulled up on both attempts at about 3m5f/3m6f, admittedly two winters back but a stronger promise of stamina would be preferred.

18/1

1st

10

29th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 2

14:00 Uttoxeter

Only The Bold

10st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Would probably prefer slower ground and he got outpaced before running on to finish third over 3m1f at Aintree the final time (good; second run for this yard); looks vulnerable for win purposes and he's 1lb wrong at the weights.

16/1

3rd

4

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

Only The Bold

10st 11lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Pulled up on final three starts for David Pipe in 2023-24 season but, following a layoff, was in process of running well for new stable before chance-ending jumping error in home straight at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) in December; not seen again since and not sure to be ideally suited by the faster ground here but remains well handicapped on old form.

6/1

OUR TIP

11/4

Form: 14222-

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
No longer the force of old and not always a fluent jumper but won two chases in November (2m7f/2m6f) and was runner-up in three small-field races towards end of last season; suited by good ground and will probably give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

The Wolf

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

No longer the force of old and not always a fluent jumper but won two chases in November (2m7f/2m6f) and was runner-up in three small-field races towards end of last season; suited by good ground and will probably give another good account.

11/4

4th

3

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

The Wolf

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

No longer the force of old and not always a fluent jumper but won two chases in November (2m7f/2m6f) and was runner-up in three small-field races towards end of last season; suited by good ground and will probably give another good account.

11/4

2nd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 3

18:08 Huntingdon

The Wolf

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Olly Murphy

Veteran who has been running well, finishing second to an improver at Kempton (3m, good) before another sound effort at Stratford; solid claims.

7/4

Form: 423P0-

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Smart mare who ended 2023-24 season in career-best form, winning Sandown Grade 2 (2m6f, good); not much went to plan last term but she was going well until bad jumping error knocked the stuffing out of her in last month's Topham over the big fences here and she remains well handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

Fantastic Lady

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Smart mare who ended 2023-24 season in career-best form, winning Sandown Grade 2 (2m6f, good); not much went to plan last term but she was going well until bad jumping error knocked the stuffing out of her in last month's Topham over the big fences here and she remains well handicapped.

4/1

1

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

Fantastic Lady

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Smart mare who ended 2023-24 season in career-best form, winning Sandown Grade 2 (2m6f, good); not much went to plan last term but she was going well until bad jumping error knocked the stuffing out of her in last month's Topham over the big fences here and she remains well handicapped.

4/1

38

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Fantastic Lady

10st 3lb

T: Nicky Henderson

Pulled up in the 3m2f Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month in first-time cheekpieces, which leaves her stamina beyond 3m unproven, although it was not the trip which accounted for her poor show there (following two solid efforts); second over these fences in the 2023 Topham, sixth in it last year and she's due to have another crack at that race on Friday.

80/1

Form: 1PP31-

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Three chase wins for the Pogson stable last season, the latest in two-runner Fakenham claimer (2m5f, good) last month; subsequetly joined Max Young for £5,000; has considerably more on his plate in this good-quality handicap; tries a new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Stormin Crossgales

11st 7lb

J: Miss Clara Brewitt

T: Max Young

Four chase wins last season and he's well handicapped on his best form; however, he's struggled this term; cheekpieces go on.

66/1

5

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

15:45 Haydock

Stormin Crossgales

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Max Young

Four chase wins last season and well handicapped on his best form; however, pulled up on first two runs this term and 200-1 when unseating early at Ludlow last month; plenty to prove.

100/1

3

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:35 Fakenham

Stormin Crossgales

11st 11lb

J: David Noonan

T: Max Young

Signed off for the Pogson stable with victory in a two-runner claimer over C&D and then joined Max Young for £5,000; it was a good-quality handicap in which he struggled at Aintree and this is easier.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.90
Straight Forecast £9.16
Trifecta £39.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

The Wolf

The Guardian:

Finn Lough

SPOTLIGHT:

Sail Away

Telegraph:

Fantastic Lady

Daily Mail:

Finn Lough

The Star:

Finn Lough

POSTDATA:

Sail Away

The Sun:

Sail Away

TOPSPEED:

The Wolf

The Times:

The Wolf

D Express:

The Wolf

Daily Mirror:

The Wolf

Daily Record:

The Wolf