Owner Jimmy Fyffe says Cooper's Cross has 'big chance' in Grand Sefton at Aintree Racecourse

Scottish owner Jimmy Fyffe believes the changes made to the Randox Grand National course are ‘positive’ as he sends his Cooper’s Cross back to Aintree Racecourse for tomorrow's BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.

The 2m5f Grand Sefton is the first race of the season run over the big Grand National fences and will go ahead after passing a Friday morning inspection amid concerns over waterlogging at the course. And Fyffe, despite losing the Sandy Thomson-trained Hill Sixteen in a fall at the first fence in April's Grand National, has no issues sending Cooper's Cross back to Aintree and believes the Stuart Coltherd-trained eight-year-old has a great chance of victory.

Businessman Fyffe had one of his most difficult days as an owner after Hill Sixteen, who he owned in partnership with Scott Townshend, fell fatally at the first fence. That sad death and other issues forced The Jockey Club into a review of the world's greatest steeplechase and there are a number of changes set to be implemented for the 2024 Randox Grand National to try and make the race safer. The field will be reduced from the traditional 40 to 34 runners and first fence will be moved closer to the start among other changes.

Fyffe, who tasted Grade Two glory on the same card back in April with Florida Dreams in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, will continue to support what he describes is the ‘best race in the world’ and is likely to send Cooper's Cross for the Aintree showpiece on April 13 in the new year..

Fyffe said: “You couldn't have written the script at Aintree on Grand National day last season. For that to happen to Hill Sixteen was gutting as although he had unseated once, he had never fallen in his life. For Florida Dreams to then win a Grade Two was great, but I couldn’t take it all in at first as it was such a difficult day. It was a crazy day and that is the ups and downs of horse racing.

“The Jockey Club has tried to make things a lot safer in the Grand National and it is a positive thing that they have done that. The Grand National is the best race in the world for me. If I ever have a horse that is capable of jumping those fences then they will be going for the Grand National. Cooper’s Cross will be aimed at the Grand National if we can get him up to a rating to get into the race, but the Grand Sefton has been his early season target from day one. I think he has got a great chance at the weekend.”

Cooper’s Cross has already run over the Grand National fences, but he fell four fences from home after being hampered when travelling well in the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase back in April. He went on to finish second in the Coral Scottish Grand National at Ayr on his final start last season, having previously won the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster. Fyffe won the 2008 Grand Sefton with Endless Power and has hopes of more success with Cooper’s Cross, who he owns with his brother Scott Fyffe and friend Billy Robinson.

He added: “I like the Grand Sefton and I won it in 2008 with Endless Power. I try and aim horses at the race every year. He was going great in the Topham. Ryan (Mania), who was riding him, said he basically got brought down. He felt like he had loads of horse underneath him and we were gutted with that. We went for the Scottish National over four miles after the Topham and he ran a great race in that up at Ayr. We actually thought he was going to win it jumping the second last coming on the wide outside. He is a good jumper, and we know he gets those long distances, so he is an ideal horse to go for the Grand National. If we get him up to the ideal rating then he will definitely go there. He has been schooling well and he will like the ground at Aintree so we are quite hopeful for this weekend. He is a nice horse, and we are quite excited about him this season.”

Cooper’s Cross is currently a best-priced 8-1 with bet365 for the Grand Sefton. Fyffe will make the journey down to Merseyside after watching his beloved Dundee United, where he is a director, bid to extend their lead at the top of the Cinch Championship against Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park tonight.

He added: “I will be down there cheering Cooper’s Cross on, but I’ve got the Dundee United game on Friday at Dunfermline Athletic so I will be going to that first then heading down to Aintree. We are doing well this season and hopefully we will win again on Friday and continue our push to get back into the Scottish Premiership. We haven’t lost a game in the league so far this season, but there is still a long way to go, and we need to keep on pushing to make sure we get back up with the big boys again.”

The seven-race card on Boylesports Afternoon Racing day sees the action start at Aintree at 12.25pm with the opening contest, the BoyleSports Supports Safer Gambling Week EBF ‘NH’ Novices’ Hurdle. The finale, the BoyleSports Extra Place Races ‘Junior’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race, is due off at 3.55pm. Gates open at 10.25am and tickets are priced from £30 for adults, or £20 if booked in advance in a group of 15 or more. For more information go online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/autumn-raceday/

Final declared entries for the Boylesports Best Odds GuaranteedBecher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m5f19y at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, November 11 2023 (2.45pm)

(No., form, horse name, age, weight, owner, trainer, jockey)

1 /1023- Fantastic Lady 8-12-0 Evan-Robert Hanbury Nicky Henderson Nico De Boinville
2 1/170- Minella Trump 9-12-0 Tim Leslie Donald McCain Theo Gillard
3 56307- Nassalam 6-11-11 John and Yvonne Stone Gary Moore Caoilin Quinn (5)
4 6-0205 Born By The Sea 9-11-9 Natalie Gilligan Paul John Gilligan PT Enright
5 69-P71 Gesskille 7-11-7 The Never Racing Partnership Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Henry Brooke
6 216F2- Cooper's Cross 8-11-5 Scott Fyffe & James Fyffe Stuart Coltherd Sam Colther
7 24340- Frero Banbou 8-11-2 P Davies Venetia Williams Charlie Deustch
8 2540-4 Ganapathi 7-11-0 Mrs Wilma Duffus R Mike Smith Sean Bowen
9 3353P- Percussion 8-10-11 Evan Robert-Hanbury Laura J Morgan Gavin Sheehan
10 F43-11 Yccs Portocervo 8-10-10 Mrs MC Litton Dr Richard Newland Sam Twiston-Davies
11 2227-2 Half Shot 9-9-10 The Farming Army Iain Jardine

11 declared (One Irish-trained)

Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase odds, Boylesports bet: 3-1 Gesskille, 5-1 Fantastic Lady, 6-1 Nassalam, 7-1 Coopers Cross, 8-1 Born By The Sea, 9-1 Half Shot, 10-1 Frero Banbou, Percussion, 16-1 Minella Trump, 18-1 Yccs Portocervo, 25-1 Ganapathi. EW 1/5 – 1,2,3