Becher Chase 2021 Odds: 26 entered for Grand National trial
There could be some vital Grand National pointers at Aintree racecourse this Saturday, as the Becher Chase takes centre stage, and the race run over the National course has attracted 26 entries for what is one of the feature races at the Merseyside venue...
Peter Bowen's Mac Tottie and Gordon Elliott's Escaria Ten are currently sitting at the head of the market at 8/1 and the former will be hoping to build on a fine victory in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at the start of November. Producing a sparkling round of jumping over the National fences, Mac Tottie will now step up in trip for this event and will look to shine once again. Available at 40/1 for the Grand National prior to Saturday's race, Escaria Ten could make the trip over from Elliott's Cullentra House yard in Ireland and will tackle the unique fences for the first time. A fine third in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he was last seen pulling up in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, but is a real class act on his day, so has to be respected.
A recent winner at Bangor, Charlie Longsdon's Snow Leopardess will aim to notch up back-to-back wins and is available at 10/1, while the flourishing Lucinda Russell yard could saddle Mighty Thunder (10/1) who ended last season with a superb win in the Scottish Grand National, and he is another with the potential Grand National as an end-of-season target, a race he is 33/1 for currently.
Second in the last two renewals of the Becher Chase, Kimberlite Candy will bid to go one better, and is sure to be popular around the 11/1 mark for each-way backers. Pulled up in the Grand National in April, the JP McManus-owned will enjoy a drop back in trip here and will have significantly more experience over the National fences than most of his rivals.
Last seen unseating in the Grand National, Henry De Bromhead's Chris's Dream is the class of the race, and will have the burden of top weight, if he takes his chance, so has to be respected at 12/1, while Ravenhill (20/1) and Snow Falcon (25/1) are another brace of Irish-trained runners that could line up at the weekend.
David Pipe saddled Vieux Lion Rouge to victory in this race on two occasions, and the Pond House handler could saddle the 12-year-old again, as he bids for the hat-trick, and he's a 16/1 shot, while Pipe has entered a trio of other runners including Via Dolorosa, who is available at 20/1, at the time of writing.
Others worthy of a mention include the Richard Hobson-trained Lord Du Mesnil, who is a former winner of the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby a couple of seasons ago, and is sure to go close if he can recapture that sort of form, and he's a 20/1 chance. A shock 40/1 winner of the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton last time out, Rocco is available at 20/1 to strike for Nigel Twiston-Davies, while the Christian Williams-trained Cap Du Nord and Ben Pauling's classy staying chaser Le Breuil (16/1) are another notable duo in what looks a devilishly difficult punting assignment for punters to work out.