Andrews expects Aintree experience to aid Latenightpass

Gina Andrews is banking on course experience proving the decisive factor for Latenightpass in the BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

Now an 11-year-old and back in the care of Andrews’ husband Tom Ellis after a brief spell with his brother-in-law Dan Skelton, Latenightpass makes his seasonal reappearance over what is arguably his ideal course and distance.

Last seen in the Grand National when he failed to stay the four-and-a-quarter-mile trip, he has made three other appearances over the famous birch fences.

He won the 2022 Foxhunters’ having finished second a year earlier and went on to run another brave race in the 2023 edition, when fading into fourth on the run-in.

Ellis and Andrews have dominated the point-to-point circuit in Britain and are now aiming to make their mark against the professionals.

“It’s the first time he’s run in the Grand Sefton but obviously we know he goes well round the course,” said Andrews.

“This two-mile-five trip will definitely suit him more than the National trip and we’re really looking forward to running him.

“He’s had another very small wind op in the off-season, it’s not uncommon and was nothing major.

“As Tom hasn’t always had a full licence, we obviously weren’t able to run him in races like this before. He’s usually been point-to-pointing but now we have a licence, this seemed the obvious thing to do.

“He’s fully tuned up for this, definitely, and we can’t wait.”

Laura Morgan’s Percussion is another with solid course form having finished second in the corresponding race 12 months ago and third in the Becher Chase a month later, as well as being placed in both races in 2022.

The Venetia Williams-trained Frero Banbou was third last year and is back off a 3lb lower mark, while Harper’s Brook has his first run for Skelton having left Ben Pauling.

In-form David Pipe runs King Turgeon, while the sole runner from Ireland is Philip Rothwell’s bottom weight Galon De Vauzelle.

Paul Nicholls is represented by Outlaw Peter, who has Freddie Gingell taking off 3lb.

“He’s a thoroughly likeable individual, one of my favourites and took to fences really well last season,” Nicholls told Betfair. “He goes good fresh and I always thought the Grand Sefton over the National fences would be a race to suit him.

“He looks to have a nice chance in a competitive renewal and should give Freddie Gingell a great introduction to these fences.”