Red Rum Handicap Chase

Red Rum Handicap Chase Overview

The Close Brothers Red Rum Premier Handicap Steeple Chase is run at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. It is usually the penultimate race of the day on the opening day of the three-day Aintree Festival. The competitive handicap is run over the minimum two-mile trip. The field jumps twelve national hunt fences in total and the prize money on offer is usually in and around £56,000 to the winner. The race is for those horses aged five and older.

Horses that win this race tend to have been struggling to find their form in the run-up to this. The only recent exception was Sans Bruit, who finished a good runner-up at Chepstow Races in a handicap chase prior to winning this last year. Before that, Editeur Du Gite was the last horse to win last time out and also take this in the same year (2021).

Red Rum Handicap Chase Betting Trends and Statistics

• There are two leading trainers in the Red Rum Handicap Chase in the most recent renewals with both Paul Nicholls and Henry De Bromhead who have both won the race twice. Paul Nicholls’ winners have been with Edgardo Sol (2012) and Sans Bruit (2024). Henry De Bromhead’s winners have been with Moon Over Germany (2019) and Dancing On My Own (2023).
• Multiple trainers have not enjoyed the best of times in recent seasons in the Red Rum Handicap Chase. Nicky Henderson is an unbelievable 0 from 18 attempts, Nigel Twiston-Davies is 0 from 11 attempts, and Dan Skelton is 0 from 10 attempts. They have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.
• There are two leading jockeys in the Red Rum Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals, both Brian Hughes and Rachael Blackmore, who have each won the race twice.
• Brian Hughes’ winners have been with Surf And Turf (2015) and Double Ws (2017). Rachael Blackmore’s winners have been Moon Over Germany (2019) and Dancing On My Own (2023).
• There is one jockey who has not enjoyed the best of times in the Red Rum Handicap Chase. Sam Twiston-Davies has ridden 10 runners to the race without recording any wins to date.
• No horse that has been sent off as a favourite for this race in the last ten years has obliged.
• Irish-bred horses have won six of the last nine renewals of this race.

Red Rum Handicap Chase History

The race was first run in 1976 and was previously known as the Aintree Chase until 1997. The event is run in memory of the famous three-time Grand National winner Red Rum. The race was previously contested as a limited handicap but was changed to a Grade 2 race in 1991.

It was changed once more to a standard handicap in 2001. It was initially classed as a Listed level race but was soon upgraded to Grade 3 status in 2004 and has remained that ever since.