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Red Rum Handicap Chase preview

It wouldn't be the Aintree Grand National Festival without a race in honour of Red Rum. Kieran Kenneally, @kierankenneally runs through the card.

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Red Rum Handicap Chase

Whenever I look at races at Aintree the first thing I look for is a fresh horse or one that might have been laid out for a race. In the Silver Cross Red Rum Handicap Arnaud ticks all the boxes!

Arnaud hasn't raced for 68 days and this exuberant jumper brings excellent form into the race. Second to Valdez last time out, the winner that day has since gone on to run an excellent close up 5th in the Arkle at Cheltenham to give the form a mighty boost. Arnaud has also beaten Rebel Fitz over fences and that horse has won six races since that defeat including a Grade 3 Chase. Those two pieces of form give Arnaud an outstanding chance back in handicap company and this young chaser still has plenty of improvement left in him.

Claret Cloak was a good third in the Grand Annual and along with Sound Investment they have some Class 3 wins to their name. Linking their form through horses like Next Sensation, Grandouet and Valdez suggests to me they may have a bit to find on the selection.

Oiseau de Nuit may pose a bigger danger. The winner of this race last year has some excellent form this term behind Sire de Grugy. He would have a fair chance if running to his best form but his age and his falling at Cheltenham slightly put me off.

Off The Ground doesn't strike me as a horse who will appreciate a drop in trip.

Dare Me, Anquetta and Changing The Guard are all held by Claret Cloak on Cheltenham running.

Of the horses behind Claret Cloak that day, Astracad is a bit interesting. If you look back far enough this horse has some interesting form and he has a habit of beating Oiseau de Nuit most times they meet.

Kings Grey seems fully exposed and is held by Off The Ground.

Anay Turge is interesting back over fences but may struggle at the weights.

Turn Over Sivola has never won a chase but keeps going up in the weights. On a line through Next Sensation he's not good enough.

Parsnip Pete is well held by Astracad.

Gus Macrae has been out of form for a while.

Last Shot looks out of his class and is not the choice of the stable jockey.

There is one piece of form behind Far West that makes Bullet Street interesting to me and this young horse may be worth a bit of each way interest off a low weight.

Selections:

1. Arnaud 6/1
2. Astracad 16/1
3. Bullet Street 25/1

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