Boylesports Choose Wisely Handicap Chase – Aintree – Saturday 9th November

Following on from the 2-star ** ante-post selection in the Badger Beers Handicap Chase at Wincanton on Saturday, there is another ante-post bet to be had ahead of the weekend, this time a 1-star * recommendation in the Boylesports Choose Wisely Handicap Chase at Aintree at 2.05.

Again, it is very much ground related as the selection Coastguard Station, available at 12/1 generally each-way, absolutely loves chasing a strong pace on fast ground on flat, left-handed tracks. All factors which look set to align nicely for Saturday’s race.

Coastguard Station’s record when racing over fences at around 2m and on flat, left-handed tracks reads 3 wins, 3 2nds and 1 3^rd from 8 starts under those conditions. When you narrow it down to Class 3 events (which Saturday’s contest is) or lower then he has 2 wins and 3 2nds from just 6 starts.

The one time when he was out of the frame in any race under these circumstances, was when something was presumably amiss when pulled up at Doncaster in December last year.

Basically, Coastguard Station is exceptionally consistent granted this particular set of conditions, and when you factor in that he comes here off the back of perhaps his best ever effort on an undulating track, when a decent 4^th behind 3 very classy 2m handicap chasers at Cheltenham 2 weeks ago, then you have a profile that makes significantly more appeal than the current odds of 12/1 generally suggests.

Coastguard Station has never raced at Aintree, but it is a track that really should suit him perfectly, as they can get racing early enough at 2m over fences on the Mildmay track. The final piece of the jigsaw is the likelihood of a strong pace set-up, with the likes of Imperial Saint, El Borracho, Just Over Land, Jack Holiday, Hunter Legend, Magistrato and Calgary Tiger all signed on front-runners usually.