Randox Topham Chase
Grade 3 Handicap,
Aintree 16:05
£150,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus,
2m 5f 19y, Class 1   
Friday 8th April 2022

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1 Mac Tottie 8/1
2 Batcio 25/1
3 Annamix 50/1
4 Francky Du Berlais 28/1
29 ran NR: Romain De Senam
Distances: 4¼l, 6l, 3¾l Time: 5m 22.89s (slow by 2.89s)

Successful in the Grand Sefton over the famous obstacles in November, Mac Tottie was back to to the exact same handicap mark and arrived travelling smoothly for Sean Bowen as the leaders crossed the Melling Road.

Trainer Peter Bowen was winning the race for the fifth time, having triumphed with Dunbrody Millar (2007) and Always Waining for three successive years from 2010-2012, but it was a first success for his son.

Sent off an 8-1 chance, Mac Tottie had a host of Irish raiders for company after long-time leader Janika had cried enough jumping the last.

Ted Walsh’s Batcio and Willie Mullins’ Annamix were still in there with a chance on the run-in, but Mac Tottie ran right through the line to win by four and a quarter lengths from Batcio. Bowen also saddled the fourth, Francky Du Berlais.

“I have to say, when dad wants to get one ready he really does the job. This is the fifth time he’s won it,” said the emotional winning rider.

“James (Bowen, brother) schooled him the other day and he was beaming, he was so pleased. I’m so lucky that I got on him. It’s unbelievable. I can’t talk.

“To do it for your family is just different. Riding for your family, you can’t put into words how much different it is, doing it for your mum and dad is just different.

“I nearly got brought down at the first, but he soon got into a rhythm and really came alive after the Canal Turn. He was running away, and has gone on to win really well.”

Trainers Quotes

Bowen senior said: “He loves those fences and loves that ground, so everything was just right for him.

“This has been the plan since the Grand Sefton really. He went off the boil a bit after he had that fall in the Becher, but he came back spot-on for today.

“I don’t know what it is about this place, but I love it anyway. That’s our fifth Topham and we could do with a National now!

“We loose school our horses at home and I think that helps them and makes them more accurate at their fences. This horse had a loose school session two days ago and was brilliant.”

Asked whether Mac Tottie could be a future Grand National contender, the trainer added: “If he gets the trip, that would be the question.

“We’ll have a look at what happens next year, maybe he’ll have a go at it.

“There’s no reason why he wouldn’t stay – he’s bred to. Fingers crossed.”

Walsh – who will saddle leading fancy Any Second Now in the National – said of Batcio: “He’s run great, right up to his mark and maybe above it.”

Annamix was ridden by Danny Mullins, who said: “He really took to the fences and they brought back that spark that was possibly missing in him earlier in the season.

“He enjoyed it, and I hope it might rejuvenate him as well as opening up some other options.”

Randox Health Topham Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
£150,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 5f 19y, Class 1
29 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Mac Tottie 9 10-0 Peter Bowen Sean Bowen 8/1
2 4¼ Batcio 10 10-0 T M Walsh Adam Wedge 25/1
3 6 Annamix 9 11-5 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 50/1
4 3¾ Francky Du Berlais 9 10-0 Peter Bowen Brendan Powell 28/1
5 2¼ Spiritofthegames 10 10-1 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 14/1
6 6 Pink Eyed Pedro 11 10-0 David Brace Connor Brace 25/1
7 2 Janika 9 10-8 Nicky Henderson Daryl Jacob 25/1
8 6½ Senior Citizen 9 10-8 Alan King A P Heskin 11/1
9 1¼ Palmers Hill 9 10-7 Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 18/1
10 5 Battleoverdoyen 9 11-8 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 33/1
11 ¾ Killer Clown 8 10-13 Emma Lavelle Tom Bellamy 20/1
12 ¾ Regal Encore 14 10-4 Anthony Honeyball Richie McLernon 66/1
13 ½ Riders Onthe Storm 9 10-5 Richard Hobson Kielan Woods 33/1
14 5½ Five Star Getaway 8 10-0 Christian Williams Nick Scholfield 11/1
15 9 Snugsborough Hall 11 10-7 Liam P Cusack E Walsh 33/1
16 3 Mister Coffey 7 10-6 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 5/1F
17 13 Via Dolorosa 10 10-2 David Pipe Tom Scudamore 33/1
18 7 Sizing Pottsie 8 11-6 Mrs John Harrington Robbie Power 28/1
BD Colorado Doc 11 10-0 David Brace Jack Tudor 40/1
BD Discordantly 8 10-8 Mrs John Harrington Sean O'Keeffe 33/1
FELL Morning Vicar 9 10-0 Nicky Henderson Sam Twiston-Davies 50/1
FELL Foxy Jacks 8 10-9 M F Morris Jonathan Moore 20/1
PU Mister Whitaker 10 10-0 Donald McCain Brian Hughes 50/1
PU Royal Rendezvous 10 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 8/1
PU Windsor Avenue 10 11-1 Brian Ellison Sean Quinlan 50/1
PU Tamaroc Du Mathan 7 10-7 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 28/1
UR Cobolobo 10 10-0 Jonjo O'Neill William Kennedy 80/1
UR Notebook 9 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 28/1
UR Fantastic Lady 7 10-2 Nicky Henderson James Bowen 14/1
NR 17 Romain De Senam 10 10-4 David Pipe NON RUNNER

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