Alan King hoping long-term planning can pay off with Senior Citizen in Topham

4.05 Aintree
Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 2m5f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

While multiple winners of the Grand National are a once-in-a-generation event, there were two such occurrences in the Topham during the 2010s.

There are no former winners in the field this year, but that history tells us something about the nature of the Topham. A smaller field, in which horses rated as low as 125 can get in, opens up the floor to more progressive sorts but it still seems that course form is strong currency.

That is partly why Livelovelaugh was put in as favourite. Even in a steadily-run Grand National in 2019, he failed to stay but he plainly took to the course and crossed the Melling Road for the last time up with the first three finishers. The Topham has probably been on his radar ever since, for all he has had to wait a year longer than expected.

There being no Topham or Grand National in 2020 means that the latest Grand Sefton in December is the most common place to have gained course form. Modus and Senior Citizen, in particular, caught the eye that day. However, these days there is a wider margin for error when guessing which horses will take to the spruce fences, so it is advised to treat Aintree experience as firm evidence rather than a prerequisite.

Senior Citizen: caught the eye in the Grand Sefton over the National fences in DecemberCredit: Edward Whitaker

Storm Control and Ibleo seem highly likely to take to the course. There is a temptation to say something similar about My Way, although it is hard enough to predict him from one day to the next.

Nicky Henderson might never have won the National, but he won three Tophams in a row from 2013 to 2015. Of his four on Friday, Precious Cargo and Morning Vicar make most appeal, while Caribean Boy caught the eye at Cheltenham.

What Livelovelaugh, Storm Control and My Way share, along with others in the field, is positive tactics. Winners rarely start a long way back on the National course and to race in the front rank is to play the percentages. Tactical plans can soon go out of the window at Aintree, but punters would still do well to at least consider them.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Magic Saint, Modus and My Way
Magic Saint is bred to stay and we thought we'd try him over a trip. Bar the fact he's handicapped right to his limit, I think he could go well. Since Modus ran in the Grand Sefton in December, we've kept him right for this race. He's always good when fresh and hopefully he runs well. My Way will certainly jump nicely but he's on a stiff-enough mark. The fences could bring him alive.

Kim Bailey, trainer of Two For Gold
He's had a very good season and has every chance. The owners are keen to have a runner in the National next season, so this is an ideal opportunity to find out how he copes with the fences. He is a good jumper but he is also very brave, which is a bit of a worry. We schooled him over some National fences and they made absolutely no difference to him. He still charged straight at them.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Precious Cargo, Caribean Boy, Lust For Glory and Morning Vicar
Anything can happen so you might as well run a few and they're all entitled to take their chance. Caribean Boy ran a good race at Cheltenham and just missed the break – if he can get up there he'll be dangerous. Precious Cargo is a lovely big horse, he should come on for Warwick. He ran very well for a long way and just got tired going to the last. Lust For Glory was very good practising over these fences and Sam Waley-Cohen is the man. Morning Vicar didn't get the trip in the Kim Muir, he was running away coming down the hill but just didn't get home, so two miles five and lots of jumping should suit.

Morning Vicar: a drop in trip should suit according to trainer Nicky HendersonCredit: Getty Images

Alex Hales, trainer of Huntsman Son
We wanted to run him over the fences in the Grand Sefton but the ground went against us. I was then wrong to run him at Cheltenham in December, but he ran a good race back there at the festival. Traffic didn't help him on that occasion, but I don't think we need to ride him as cold in the Topham, in which they can get away from you.

Liam Cusack, trainer of Snugsborough Hall
He seems to be in very good form and we just hope he takes to the fences well. He’s normally a good jumper. Nice spring ground brings out the best in him.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Dunvegan
I’m hoping he'll appreciate the nicer ground and if he takes to the fences he’ll have to have a good chance. We haven’t schooled them over these fences but he's a good jumper and I'm confident he will take to them. If he could throw down his first run of the season, that’ll do me. He won’t be far away if he can do that.

Sue Smith, trainer of Ravenhill Road
He won at Doncaster last time and has come out of the race really well. It's his first time over the fences, but we schooled him over similar ones at home. He seems to be in terrific form, it's the right trip and he doesn't seem to mind faster ground.

Alan King, trainer of Senior Citizen
The Topham has been the plan all season and he could run a big race. He ran really well over the fences in the Grand Sefton on ground too soft for him last December. His jumping was super and he travelled strongly for most of the way then failed to get home having been second at the last fence. He shaped encouragingly at Newbury on his return from a winter break and has been in good form at home since. The forecast looks favourable and I just hope they don't over water the track as he's a proper good-ground horse.
Reporting by Brian Sheerin

Read more previews for day two at Aintree:

2.20 Aintree: exciting novice hurdler Dusart bidding to buck the trends for Nicky Henderson

2.50 Aintree: can Cheltenham star Chantry House back up Marsh form over longer trip?

3.25 Aintree: fit and fresh Politologue 'raring to go' after Cheltenham disappointment

Graeme Rodway on why Politologue is a dual champion in all but name (Members' Club)

4.40 Aintree: Bravemansgame bids to add another Grade 1 on first try over three miles

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