The jumps season really kicks into gear this week and there are two Grade 2 contests at Aintree on Saturday.
The Grade 2 Molyneux and Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase are the feature races in Liverpool and Racing Post tipster Phill Anderson has provided selections and analysis for four of the races on the card.
Saturday's Aintree Lucky 15 tips
13:15 Aintree - Cossack Chach @ 28/1
13:45 Aintree - Alexei @ 8/15
14:25 Aintree - Talk To The Man @ 6/4
15:00 Aintree - Deep Cave @ 20/1
13:15 Aintree - Cossack Chach @ 28/1
Rider | Patrick Wadge |
Trainer | Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore |
Owner | Goldstar Promotions, A Wilding & S Sankey |
Age | 6 |
Overall Form | 971/P-34 |
Dan Skelton’s Kadastral has been all the rage for the 2m handicap chase on Aintree’s card and there’s no doubt the son of Cokoriko has bags of potential, but backing a chase debutant over the Mildmay fences comes with risks attached and he may be worth taking on.
One that’s been a little forgotten about in the market is Cossack Chach. He had some useful form over timber for Joseph O’Brien a couple of seasons ago and appeared to retain a good chunk of his old ability when making his stable debut for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore at Hexham in the summer.
He shaped like he needed his recent return outing at Perth when stopping quickly, and given that he’s back on a workable mark - now rated 119 having been 129 when coming over from Ireland - he could be worth chancing with a recent run under his belt.
Stats
- The yard have had five winners in the last fortnight
- Cossack Chach is 10lb below his mark from a year ago
- Cossack Chach’s previous chase win came on good ground over this sort of trip
13:45 Aintree - Alexei @ 8/15
Rider | Harry Cobden |
Trainer | Joe Tizzard |
Owner | Brocade Racing |
Age | 6 |
Overall Form | 113143- |
One favourite that does look worth chancing on Saturday afternoon is Alexei. Last season’s Kingwell Hurdle winner has to carry a penalty for that success but he looked like a Grade 1 performer in the making when fourth to Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle, an effort worth marking up given that he would have finished a lot closer without a bad mistake at the final flight.
His subsequent effort at this venue in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle was perfectly respectable, despite that trip probably stretching him a little, and the return to a speed test like this is expected to suit.
Even factoring in his penalty, the others will need to improve to beat him and the yard have had their horses ready first-time up this campaign, so fitness isn’t a major concern.
Stats
- Alexei is five from 11 over hurdles so far
- Joe Tizzard has a 30% strike-rate in the last fortnight
- Harry Cobden takes over in the saddle for the first time
14:25 Aintree - Talk To The Man @ 6/4
Rider | Harry Skelton |
Trainer | Dan Skelton |
Owner | Mrs Johnny de la Hey |
Age | 6 |
Overall Form | 54/11P-1 |
The Mildmay fences are no easy task for a novice chaser and therefore, Talk To The Man looks like an interesting runner in the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase after an assured round of jumping on his recent yard debut for Dan Skelton.
That was particularly impressive for a chase debut, beating a rival that was only narrowly denied in a Grade 1 last season, and there’s every chance he’s going to come on for the outing here.
Stats
- Talk To The Man is unbeaten over fences
- Dan Skelton has had 17 winners in the last fortnight
- Harry Skelton is riding at a 35% strike-rate in the last two weeks
- The owner won this with a six-year-old last season
15:00 Aintree - Deep Cave @ 20/1
Rider | Adam Wedge |
Trainer | Christian Williams |
Owner | Sue Howell |
Age | 8 |
Overall Form | 150P-67 |
Not many of the field in the Pertemps qualifier appear to have much in hand from their current marks but that can’t be said for Deep Cave.
He was in cracking form over fences at the beginning of last season, including a win from a 7lb higher mark than he runs off on Saturday, and while he’s not quite produced that level of form over timber in his career to date, his mark reflects that at least.
He was in the process of running a big race from a 3lb higher mark at Haydock at the back end of last season before a blunder cost him, and he was successful on his only previous start over this course and distance in April 2025.
Given that he should come on for his recent return at Chepstow, he looks worth chancing with fitness on side.
Stats
- Deep Cave won on his only previous start over course and distance
- Deep Cave is down to his lowest mark since an Aintree success in 2025
- All three of Deep Cave’s wins in Britain have come over this sort of distance.
Saturday's Aintree Lucky 15 tips
13:15 Aintree - Cossack Chach @ 28/1
13:45 Aintree - Alexei @ 8/15
14:25 Aintree - Talk To The Man @ 6/4
15:00 Aintree - Deep Cave @ 20/1
Tipster's Recent Winners
Phill Anderson signed off October with a 25/1 winner for bet365 thanks to O’Moore Park’s success at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting.
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