Becher Chase Odds
The betting for the Becher Chase is always exciting, with a number of Grand National horses taking their chances over the iconic Aintree fences. You can find the latest odds here closer to the time.
Becher Chase Tips
You can check out our Becher Chase tips here...
What is the Becher Chase?
The Becher Chase is a Grade 3 handicap, run over a trip of three miles and two furlongs at Aintree.
There are 21 fences to be jumped in the race, which is the first key trial for Grand National horses as it uses the same famous fences seen in the National. Silver Birch and Amberleigh House are two winners of both the Becher Chase and the National, while Earth Summit won the trial race after his win in the world's most famous chase back in 1998.
What happened in the 2023 Becher Chase?
Venetia Williams claimed Becher Chase success in 2023 with Chambard, who defied the testing conditions to get the better of the top-weighted Coko Beach.
The history of the Becher Chase
The Becher Chase was introduced in 1992 as a new fixture to Aintree and it has been a rock solid part of the jumps racing calendar ever since. Named in the memory of Martin Becher - a famous jockey from the 1800's and the namesake of the famous Becher's Brook - it was upgraded to Grade 3 level back in 2014, and it retains its position as the a trial for the Grand National itself.
The race is widely used by trainers to experiment with their horses over the National fences, with those who take to the bigger jumps often targeted at a return to the main meeting in the spring.
Some hugely popular horses have won the Becher Chase in recent years, including Hello Bud, who won the race for a second time at the grand old age of 14 in 2012. Course specialists are always popular with punters in Liverpool, and that has certainly been the case in the Becher Chase, with the likes of Black Apalachi, Oscar Time and Vieux Lion Rouge all frequenting the the course on a number of occasions.
Who is the most iconic winner of the Becher Chase?
The Becher Chase roll of honour is a significant one, with a plethora of successful Grand National runners chalking up wins. Chief among those is Amberleigh House, who made his name by winning the National at the age of 12 for the trainer of Red Rum, Ginger McCain. His win in the Becher back in 2001 was statement of intent, and although it took him three years to succeed in the big one, he deserves his place at the top of the tree in this race.
Are there any trials for the Becher Chase?
There are no direct trials before the Becher Chase, but punters are well advised to keep an eye on the ante-post Grand National betting for an idea of horses who will line up in the Becher. Trainers who fancy their horses to run well in the National in April will often use the Becher as a testing ground for their first start over the fences, although we will also see older horses with experience over the National fences start their season off here.
Who is the most successful jockey in the Becher Chase?
The Becher Chase is a relatively young race but there are two jockeys with two wins in the race at this stage.Tony Dobbin won on Into the Red (1996) and Feels Like Gold (1999), while Sam Twiston-Davies currently sits alongside him thanks to Hello Bud (2010 & 2012).
Who is the most successful trainer in the Becher Chase?
Nigel Twiston-Davies is out on his own in the Becher Chase with six wins to his name in the race. The Gold Cup winning trainer has won the Becher with Indian Tonic (1993), Young Hustler (1995), Earth Summit (1998), Hello Bud (2010 & 2012) and Blaklion (2017).