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Freebooter Handicap Chase
Get expert Freebooter Handicap Chase tips, explore our runners guide, and compare the latest odds for your best chance to win on race day.
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The Freebooter Handicap Chase makes up part of the card on one of the busiest days in the racing calendar on Grand National Saturday at the annual Aintree Festival meeting. Expect a decent-sized field and an enthralling race as the staying chasers whizz around the tight bends of the Mildmay course.
Freebooter Handicap Chase Racecard
William Hill Handicap Chase (Registered As The Freebooter Handicap Chase) (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)
CRUZ CONTROL lifted this prize in 2024 and a trio of moderate efforts didn't stop him from repeating the dose 12 months ago. Tom Lacey's charge arrives in similar form this time around but this will have undoubtedly be the target, especially seeing as he's only 1lb higher than last year. It would be quite the feat to win this again but this C&D clearly brings out the best in him. Dan Skelton's Mr Hope Street has few miles on the clock over fences and makes considerable appeal from a handy weight, as does Ladbrokes Trophy winner Lookaway, for all that a 6lb rise will make things tougher. Ben Pauling was bullish about the chances of Bad at Kempton latest so don't write him off at a big price.
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Freebooter Handicap Chase Overview
The Freebooter Handicap Chase is a Premier Handicap run on the Saturday of the three-day Grand National meeting in early April on the Mildmay course at Aintree in Liverpool. It is run over a distance of three miles and one furlong with prize money of around £56,000 going to the winner. There are nineteen fences to be negotiated with the race open to horses aged five years or older.
Freebooter Handicap Chase Betting Trends and Statistics
- Trainer Tom Lacey is the leading trainer over the past decade, with two victories to his name in the shape of Thomas Patrick (2018) and Cruz Control (2024).
- Two favourites have won in the past decade, which has also seen 50/1 (Maggio 2016) and 28/1 (Sam Brown 2022) winners.
Freebooter Handicap Chase History
The race is named after the racehorse Freebooter, who won the 1950 Grand National at the track by fifteen lengths as well as another four times over the Grand National fences. Betfred sponsored the contest prior to Betway taking over in 2017, and they sponsored the race for the following five renewals before the current sponsors, bookmaker William Hill, took over in 2023.
Duke of Lucca is the only horse to have achieved more than one victory in this race, with wins in both 2014 and 2015. Richard Johnson has delivered the most wins of any trainer, having won this race four times on From Dawn To Dusk (2010), Duke of Lucca (2014 and 2015), and Thomas Patrick (2018).
Freebooter Handicap Chase FAQ
Who won the Freebooter Handicap Chase in 2024?
Cruz Control, trained by Tom Lacey and ridden by Stan Sheppard won the 2024 renewal at the odds of 9/1.
What is the prize money for the Freebooter Handicap Chase?
The prize money to the winner for the 2024 renewal was £56,000.
When is the Freebooter Handicap Chase?
The race is run on Saturday, the final day of three at the Grand National meeting in early April.
How many fences are there to be jumped in the Freebooter Handicap Chase?
In total, there are nineteen fences to be jumped.
How many horses race in the Freebooter Handicap Chase?
Over the last nine years, the average field size is just over fourteen.
Which horses are eligible for the Freebooter Handicap Chase?
The race is open for horses aged five years and older.
The Team Behind This Page
The horse racing experts who maintain and update this page:
- Karl Hedley is a horse racing content writer and tipster for Punters Lounge. He received his break when he entered the Racing Post Search for A Tipster competition in 2006, and beat 6000 others to win the title in 2007.Since then he has been written countless articles for The Irish Field, The Irish Post and several online websites. He was until recently the Irish racing tipster for The Times (Ireland edition).His favourite racing memory to date includes being present to see the brilliant Kauto Star win the Champion Chase at Down Royal.
- Steve Day is the Content Manager for Punters Lounge. Steve brings a wealth of experience in the online gambling and sports betting content creation. Since 2010, Steve has successfully written for well-known gambling publications, such as casino.org, cardschat.com, gamingslots.com, and footballleagueworld.co.uk.In 2015, Steve took on the role of Football Forums Content Manager at Punters Lounge where he has fostered a knowledgeable and supportive community that share betting insights and tips.Steve transitioned into a full-time content manager in 2022 where he leverages his deep industry expertise to develop high-quality, reliable, and engaging content across casino and sports betting.
- Steve Simmons is the Head of Racing at Punters Lounge and has a wealth of racing knowledge. He started out his career at Ladbrokes' head office as a board marker progressing through to settler, odds compiler, and finally trader. He also spent time as PR/ante post manager for start up company before becoming a self employed odds compiler and horse racing consultant. Steve has an incredible passion for the sport and a knack for picking winners.
- Tom Schurch is the Content Lead at Punters Lounge. Since joining the Punters Lounge team in 2019, Tom has extensive knowledge and experience within the Gambling Industry and applies this to ensure that him and his team deliver helpful and reliable insights that help bettors play smarter.
