Topham Chase: Nicholls set for Bouvreuil title boost

The jump trainers’ championship looks set to go down to the wire this season, with just £77,459 separating Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls at the time of writing. The battle lines have been drawn for what promises to be a fascinating few weeks between now and the end of the season and, with neither man holding a standout contender for the Grand National - Nicholls' Saphir du Rheu is seemingly the most fancied of the pair's eight combined entries at a general 20/1 - the chief supporting races at the Aintree Festival look set to be crucial in deciding the fate of the title. 

The £120,000 Topham Chase is one such contest and both trainers look set to be represented in the feature race over the National fences on Friday. Indeed, the duo are currently responsible for three of the first six in the betting and, with Henderson appearing to hold the stronger hand in the Graded races at the meeting, Nicholls will be relying heavily on one of his two runners delivering the goods here.

As de Mee can at least boast good form over the unique National fences, having finished seventh in this race 12 months ago, and appearing better than ever when winning the Grand Sefton here in December. He jumped soundly on the front end throughout that day and was always doing enough to hold off the challenge of the staying-on Seefood, despite carrying his head awkwardly under pressure. He looks sure to run well from just 7 lb higher in the weights here, with this likely to have been his target. 

The Ditcheat trainer is also responsible for Bouvreuil, who produced a career-best effort when third on his most recent outing in the Brown Advisory Plate at Cheltenham. He endured a troubled passage on the home turn that day, but kept on well once in the clear to get within seven and three-quarter lengths of the winner. He certainly showed enough to suggest he is capable of winning one of these big handicaps from his current mark and is one for the shortlist in a far weaker than race than when well-beaten in Grade 1s at this meeting for the last two years.

Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson won the Topham for the first time with Won't Be Gone Long in 1990 and is now the leading trainer in the history of the race, having won it on four further occasions in the intervening period. His three entries for the 2017 renewal include Gold Present, who ran well when second on his most recent outing in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap at Cheltenham and is favourite with several firms. He would appear to hold sound claims if arriving in the same form as last time, but that is far from guaranteed given his patchy profile to date (often a weak finisher).

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Go Conquer also features prominently in the betting, having run an excellent trial when fifth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. He impressed with a bold round of jumping from the front that day and only weakened when his early exertions began to tell close home. A similar performance would get him a long way now back in trip and he certainly deserves his place in the market, with the possibility of more to come after just eight starts over fences. O'Neill is also responsible for last year's winner Eastlake, but he will need a career-best to follow up from 10 lb higher in the weights, and that looks unlikely at the age of 11.

Seefood proved himself over these fences when second to the aforementioned As de Mee in the Grand Sefton, and is 6 lb better off with that rival at the weights here. He ran respectably when down the field back over hurdles at Doncaster last time and should strip fitter with that first run for three months under his belt. This represents a stronger race than he has been contesting of late, but he could yet have more to offer on just his seventh start for the Dr Richard Newland yard and makes more appeal than most from towards the foot of the handicap. The Harry Fry-trained pair Henryville, third in the Grand Sefton, and Thomas Brown are others to note.

The weights look set to rise by 3 lb at the next declaration stage, with top-weight Ballycasey considered an unlikely runner (won at Fairyhouse on Saturday). That would leave the selection, Bouvreuil, with 11 stone on his back, but big weights have proved no barrier to success in this race since changes were made to the National fences in 2013.

Indeed, Ma Filleule (2014) and Rajdhani Express (2015) were successful under 11-7 and 11-8, respectively, since the alterations, and Bouvreuil has shown enough of late to suggest he is capable of defying his current mark. The six-year-old can give a much-needed boost to trainer Paul Nicholls' championship aspirations, with Go Conquer and Seefood feared most of the remainder.

Recommendation:

Back Bouvreuil at 14/1 in the Topham Chase

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