November 09 / 14.05 Aintree

14.05

Good

BoyleSports Choose Wisely Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 1m 7f 176y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
ITV
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BoyleSports Choose Wisely Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2331-1 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Made it 2-5 over hurdles when winning Ffos Las handicap (2m4f, good to soft) in April and this point winner improved for the switch to chasing when following up over today's C&D (good) a fortnight ago; a 4lb rise isn't harsh and this 6yo could have lots more to offer over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

36

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Imperial Saint

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Novice campaign last season went well, notably over the conventional fences here where he registered three handicap wins (2m/2m4f) and was second at this meeting (3m1f); resumed progress with a win at Haydock (3m1f) this January but badly hampered at the Cheltenham Festival; this trip is a big step into the unknown but he needs a second look.

50/1

8th

11

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Imperial Saint

11st 1lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Progressive novice last season, winning three handicaps at Aintree (2m/2m4f, good/good to soft) and posting a good third here (2m4f, soft); won at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) in January when back up in trip and he's unexposed over staying distances; up 3lb for that neck victory; could go well.

20/1

1st

6

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Imperial Saint

10st 10lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Three wins at Aintree (2m/2m4f, good/good to soft) last season and second there (3m1f, good) in April; current mark shouldn't be beyond him if he's at his best but that hasn't been the case on his two outings this term.

12/1

11/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: -33132 D

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Won at Newton Abbot (2m, good) in July and continued in pretty good heart the next twice, most recently second of three to a well-handicapped winner at Newton Abbot (2m, soft) in September; this is tougher, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Magistrato

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Deborah Cole

Ended last year in excellent form over fences, with latest fourth coming behind the seriously progressive Thistle Ask; whereas he's 5-18 in that discipline and only 1-13 over hurdles, he's probably a better horse now than when last seen in this discipline; 5lb lower than his chase mark; front runs.

20/1

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Magistrato

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Front-runner who can be tough to reel in on his day and has left his rivals trailing in completing a hat-trick in small fields at about 2m4f (latest in a match); has gone up a collective 20lb but he loves this good ground and looks sure to make a bold bid.

7/2

4th

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Magistrato

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Front-runner who can be tough to reel in on his day and has left his rivals trailing in completing a hat-trick in small fields at about 2m4f (latest in a match); has gone up a collective 20lb but he loves this good ground and looks sure to make a bold bid.

7/2

20/1

  • Place: £5.20

Form: P79-25 D

Last run: 111 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row in early 2023 and returned to form when second at Worcester (2m, good) this June; however, he was well beaten at Stratford the following month and is back to having plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

Calgary Tiger

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: William de Best-Turner

Front-runner who hasn't offered a great deal since returning from nearly a year out and it's seldom easy for veterans to rediscover their form; however, this is a much easier race than he's accustomed to.

9/4

5th

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:15 Newcastle

Calgary Tiger

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Price

T: William de Best-Turner

Free-going nature; no win since landing a Class 3 at Newbury (2m, 13-8 joint-favourite) in March 2023; fell at Cheltenham (80-1) on penultimate start and was equally out of his depth in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas; this is more realistic.

12/1

3rd

6

6th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

13:23 Sandown

Calgary Tiger

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: William de Best-Turner

led, joined 2 out, headed before last, weakened and lost second final 110yds

12/1

Form: 1-2154 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Two chase wins (2m, good/good to soft) in the first half of this year and two respectable efforts over hurdles/fences last month, finishing fourth at Cheltenham (2m, good) latest; today's return to a less-demanding track could help and his trainer won this in 2015 and 2020; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

31st May 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:37 Fakenham

Coastguard Station

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Henry Oliver

Good-ground specialist who was a course winner in 2024 and returns here after two good efforts this spring, the latter a close fourth at Aintree (2m4f, good) 16 days ago; respected.

3/1

4th

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Coastguard Station

11st 7lb

J: David Noonan

T: Henry Oliver

Enjoys good ground; bumped into the enigmatic Numitor on a good day at Hereford last month (2m5f) but this 10yo also struggles with his consistency; he's capable but risky enough.

10/1

2nd

3

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

18:00 Hereford

Coastguard Station

11st 1lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Henry Oliver

Enjoys good ground on which he beat the useful Mahons Glory by 8l at Market Rasen in September (2m5f); tailed off since then on either side of a 140-day break but those were strong handicaps; respected.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: -04436 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Didn't run badly on two consecutive outings at Stratford in August and September and continues to drop down the weights, but he was tailed off at Kelso a fortnight ago and others arrive with less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:32 Warwick

El Borracho

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Versaatile 10yo with 15 wins on his CV; not firing on all cylinders this season, the last twice over fences, but has dropped to a dangerous hurdle mark and will appreciate this ease in grade.

11/2

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:32 Warwick

El Borracho

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Versaatile 10yo with 15 wins on his CV; not firing on all cylinders this season, the last twice over fences, but has dropped to a dangerous hurdle mark and will appreciate this ease in grade.

11/2

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:32 Warwick

El Borracho

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Versaatile 10yo with 15 wins on his CV; not firing on all cylinders this season, the last twice over fences, but has dropped to a dangerous hurdle mark and will appreciate this ease in grade.

11/2

Form: 414513 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
10yo who made it 2-5 for this yard (wins over 2m/2m1f on good/yielding) when scoring by 18l at Killarney last month; gave it another good shot from the front when third to rejuvenated winner at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) last time; front-runners often thrive on the chase course here; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Sep 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 48y

19:00 Ballinrobe

Jack Holiday

11st 10lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: D M Christie

Veteran 4-time chase winner; ran with credit over timber at Sligo in July but lacklustre efforts twice, including back over fences last month; still above highest winning mark and easy to look elsewhere.

16/1

9

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 0y

19:37 Killarney

Jack Holiday

10st 8lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: D M Christie

One of his four chase wins came over C&D; mixed form over hurdles and fences this season but has a shout if back to his best.

9/1

11

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 160y

13:50 Galway

Jack Holiday

10st 10lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: D M Christie

Veteran six-time winner; Veteran is rated 10lb lower than over fences; second at Sligo last time gives him a slight edge over Pahlavi; this looks like a stronger race.

14/1

Form: 22F11-

Last run: 231 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Built upon promise of first three chase starts (including on good to soft; unraced on softer) to win at Lingfield (2m6f, heavy) in March, and followed up at Bangor (2m1f, soft) 18 days later; this unexposed half-brother to the yard's smart Cepage could continue to progress this term; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

26

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Hunter Legend

10st 9lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Reserve; Venetia Williams and Lucy Turner combined to win this at 40-1 in 2022 and this fellow was in pretty good heart over 3m this winter; however, today's stiffer test of stamina poses a question and he was soundly beaten at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last time; wears first-time cheekpieces.

25/1

5th

8

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Hunter Legend

10st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Has posted consistent efforts over 3m of late but gives the impression he ideally needs a drop back in trip, especially when conditions are testing; yet to win beyond an extended 2m6f.

14/1

2nd

6

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Hunter Legend

10st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Has done his winning at up to 2m6f; not disgraced over 3m the last twice but gives the impression he ideally needs a drop back in distance, at least when conditions are testing; strong suspicion he's going to be outstayed.

10/1

Form: -50253 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
He's performed okay on his last two runs and his mark continues to fall, but this 10yo needs to produce something extra if he's to exploit it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Grey Diamond

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Dual winner over fences but last success was three years ago; his mark continues to fall but he doesn't look ready to take advantage.

12/1

8th

9

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

15:45 Haydock

Grey Diamond

10st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

C&D winner whose mark continues to fall and he was an encouraging third at Bangor in November following a break; however, this inconsistent 12yo is winless since March 2023 and others arrive with more pressing claims.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.90
Straight Forecast £8.40
Tricast £103.26
Trifecta £69.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Imperial Saint

The Times:

Hunter Legend

TOPSPEED:

Magistrato

Daily Mirror:

El Borracho

RP RATINGS:

Imperial Saint

POSTDATA:

Imperial Saint

WEST COUNTRY:

Imperial Saint

The Guardian:

Imperial Saint

The Sun:

Imperial Saint

The Star:

Imperial Saint

Telegraph:

Hunter Legend

Daily Mail:

Hunter Legend

D Express:

Hunter Legend

Daily Record:

Hunter Legend