The essential punting pointers and trainer quotes for the Topham Chase

4.05 Aintree
Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National fences) | 2m5f, 5yo+ | ITV/RTV

Punting pointers

Nicky Henderson has landed three of the last five runnings of this race over the National fences and Cheltenham Festival second Janika heads a four-pronged attack for the Seven Barrows trainer.

Janika has finished runner-up on three starts for Henderson since joining from Guy Cherel, most recently when behind Siruh Du Lac in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate, for which he is up 6lb.

Last year’s fourth Kilcrea Vale, 2017 fourth O O Seven and Divine Spear complete the team with Henderson seeking a sixth victory.

Henderson said: “Janika jumps very well and has run three fantastic races. He has top weight but brings good form.

Nicky Henderson: will he be smiling after his four-pronged attack in an effort to land his fourth victory in the last six years?Credit: Edward Whitaker

“O O Seven loved it here two years ago, hated the ground last year, but the blinkers helped him at Cheltenham and this is his trip.

“Divine Spear is a big, strong horse and pleased me in the last few weeks and I'm happy Kilcrea Vale made the cut as he's been placed before.”

Top four finishers for Nicky Henderson in the Topham since 2013

2013 1st Triolo D’Alene
2014 1st Ma Filleule
2015 1st Rajdhani Express, 4th Hunt Ball
2017 4th O O Seven
2018 4th Kilcrea Vale

Two live hopes

Ballyhill has halved in price to 12-1 in the last ten days but Nigel Twiston-Davies cannot split his two runners with former Manifesto Novices’ Chase winner Flying Angel another likely candidate.

The progressive profile of Ballyhill catches the eye and he drops in class after finishing third in the Denman Chase, while Flying Angel was fifth in the Ultima last time.

Twiston-Davies said: “They're good horses who jump well and won't mind the good to soft ground. Flying Angel won his Grade 1 at Aintree and has experience of the National fences.

“Ballyhill has won over the regulation course and schooled over our National fences. They're exciting and I couldn't split them.”

What they say

Tom George, trainer of Activial and Double Shuffle
I was happy with Activial at Cheltenham – he's a flamboyant jumper and hopefully should take to the fences. We know Double Shuffle likes these fences and the drop in distance and class should suit.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Sub Lieutentant
He was disappointing at Cheltenham and we're just hoping the different fences might ignite him.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of San Benedeto and Adrien Du Pont
San Benedeto always comes good in the spring, the form of his last run has worked out and he should run well if taking to the fences. Adrien Du Pont was a bit unlucky at Kempton and I've always thought this race would suit him.

Willie Mulllins, trainer of Cadmium and Polidam
A lot will depend on how Cadmium takes to the fences – if he does he could be thereabouts. Polidam finished ninth last year and showed signs of a return to form at Clonmel.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Peregrine Run
We were delighted with his last run and he's in the form of his life. Hopefully, they won't get much rain.

Amy Murphy, trainer of Mercian Prince
This has been the main target for him – he likes the fences and arrives in good form. He had a hefty hike for winning at Kempton and is running off a near career-high mark, so needs to produce a career best.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Woods Well
He came back to form when winning last time and if he takes to the fences is capable of being competitive.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Born Survivor
He's schooled over National fences at home every other day for three weeks and seemed to take to them but he was jumping the fences with three horses around him, not 29!

Harry Whittington, trainer of Bigmartre
He started this season quite high in the handicap but he's crept down to a mark he can be competitive off. We schooled him over one of the fences a couple of weeks ago and he took to it really well.

Paul Henderson, trainer of Doitforthevillage
He schooled very well over the fences at Lambourn and I’ve had this race in mind for a while. He’s a good, quick jumper, the race will suit him and he should run a nice race.

Sandy Thomson, trainer of Dimple
He’s had problems but done well this season and I’m very happy with him. He was over the top at Newcastle but has had a nice break and this will tell us more about how good he is.

Jimmy Moffatt, trainer of Highland Lodge
He'll be a strong stayer in this and was unlucky when hampered in the Becher. He's in great nick and I'm looking forward to it.

Ross O’Sullivan, trainer of Call It Magic
He took to the fences well in the Becher and we're really looking forward to running him. The ground should be fine, although the more ease the better.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Equus Secretus
He jumps brilliantly, the trip is right and I’ve always thought he’d be a National type in the future, so I thought I’d give him the chance. He couldn’t have schooled any better.

Spotlight verdict

Janika has rock-solid form over regulation fences this year but Ballyhill has a healthy pull in the weights for a promising third behind him at Cheltenham in January and skipping the Cheltenham Festival could turn out to be a blessing. Call It Magic looks interesting at this shorter trip having given such a bold show over these fences in the Becher in December while Kilcrea Vale and Forest Des Aigles are others to have shown some recent flair round here. The Nicholls pair Adrien Du Pont and San Benedeto are others to consider, while Indian Temple could go well at a price.

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