Becher Chase Runners: Gripping Race In Prospect Over Iconic Fences
One of the few times we see horses jumping the unique National Fences at Aintree is coming our way this weekend with the Becher Chase. Later in the week we at HorseRacing.Net will have you covered with a stats and trends guide as well as our tipping preview for the contest, but for now we run through the potential protagonists as race day draws closer...
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Just four horses since the race's inception in 1992 have won the Becher Chase more than once, and of the quartet only one horse has defended his title (Walk In The Mill in 2019). Ashtown Lad will attempt to join these exclusive lists on Saturday when the defending champ lines up once more in the Becher Chase for team Skelton, and he will have a maximum of just sixteen rivals to beat rather than the 21 defeated last year. He will be off a higher mark of course, but he won last year's race with something to spare from a useful rival in Geskille, and one suspects on rewatching the finish that the horse would've had enough even if burdened with top weight as he will be this weekend. He is the right favourite at around 5/1.
Percussion was in third that day and soundly beaten, but does have a weight swing with the favourite this time around so could get slightly closer. The Laura Morgan trained is still only eight so could be improving, but Ashtown Lad will be a tough opponent to pass. Perennially placed horse Mister Coffey ran a stormer in the Grand National and could have a decent chance of finally winning a race if lining up in similar form to his April run before tiring. He is an untrustworthy sort but that type do seem to enjoy this unique test.
Fantastic Lady could not carry the burden of 12 stone to Grand Sefton glory a month ago, finishing tired behind the aforementioned Geskille and Percussion that day. However, she will have a much more favourable task running here off just 10 stone 10 and must be respected considering the neatness of her jumping last time out at this course. The weights are at risk of changing considerably should the gallant front running grey Coko Beach be taken out by Gordon Elliott. He was last seen of course winning the Troytown recently, so his participation must be highly doubtful. If he does come here and carries top weight to victory, giving away a stone or more to every other rival, expect him to be challenging for Grand National favouritism.
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The rest of the field are by no means back numbers, and The Big Breakaway will have plenty of supporters with his handler Joe Tizzard in good form and the horse always needing his first run (he ran an average race for fifth in the Badger Beers at Wincanton recently). Moroder remains in the field for Seamus Mullins and ran a cracker to finish second in last season's bet365 Gold Cup behind Kitty's Light, who was a strong favourite. He looked in desperate need of his reappearance (pulled up at Wincanton) and this has been the long term plan for the Grimthorpe winner of last season.
Chambard ran a cracker last time out at Cheltenham for Venetia Williams behind a well handicapped Gavin Cromwell raider and could be just the type of horse to love this sort of test. A shock 40/1 winner of the Kim Muir in 2022, he has not quite hit those heights since but his last run for an in-form team was more like it so he is to be respected at big odds of 16/1. Undersupervision was in third that day and could well still be improving aged just seven, although this will be a big test of his credentials, while Highland Hunter is interesting coming here second time out since switching from Paul Nicholls to Fergal O'Brien.
Houston Texas won a decent handicap at Carlisle last time out and looks a horse going the right way for Nicky RIchards, while Now Where Or When could be an interesting Irish raider with some smart form over the years. Celebre D'Allen romped to a Veteran's Chase at this course and although he made plenty of errors in the Topham when tackling these fences last time, he may well be a rejuvenated horse this season so warrants a closer look.
Becher Chase confirmations
Coko Beach
The Big Breakaway
Highland Hunter
Minella Trump
Fantastic Lady
Celebre D'Allen
Moroder
Ashtown Lad
Chambard
Mister Coffey
Now Where Or When
Sidi Ismael
Undersupervision
Percussion
Lounge Lizard
Dorking Cock
Houston Texas