There are two races over the iconic Grand National fences at Aintree this Saturday.
The Grand Sefton will provide its own spectacle but it’s preceded by the Betfred Becher Chase and this Grade 3 handicap will attract most interest given it’s been won the past by Amberleigh House and Silver Birch, who both went on to glory in the big race itself. Earth Summit actually won the Becher Chase under 12st in 1998, eight months after his triumph in that year’s Grand National and this year’s top weight – The Last Samuri – only found one too good in Aintree’s big race in April when Ucello Conti finished sixth.
Becher Chase History and Trends
The Becher Chase is open to horses aged five years or older. Contested at Aintree over a distance just short of 3m2f, it includes all the famous Aintree fences like Becher’s Brook, The Chair, Valentines and Canal Turn and is a true test of staying power and jumping ability. It achieved Grade 3 status in 2014 and is currently sponsored by leading north-west based bookmaker Betfred.
None of the last six winners have carried more than 10st 12lb to victory and that appears the most significant recent statistic. There have been only two winners younger than eight in its history. Hello Bud was the oldest winner at 14 in 2014 and he was one of two Nigel Twiston-Davies winners in the last six years. Irish trainer Dessie Hughes had the winner in both 2008 and 2009 while Paul Nicholls has trained the winner three times since 2004.
The betting is usually wide open for the Becher Chase and it’s not a great race for fancied horses with all recent winners starting at double-figure odds – the last two have started at 25/1 and 20/1.
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Highland Lodge and Dare To Endeavour finished 1-2 last year but the former hasn’t raced since pulling up in the Scottish National in April and the latter hasn’t pulled up any trees since. Saint Are was second in the 2015 Grand National but only seventh in this last year, but Portrait King had every chance when falling two out though is also in the veteran stage.
It’s no surprise that Alvarado has been popular in ante-post betting (only a best 10/1 in places) as Fergal O’Brien’s stable is in cracking form and the 11-year-old has finished fourth in two Grand Nationals and was second in the Scottish National earlier this year. He ran a nice race behind Viconte Du Noyer (a best 12/1) at Cheltenham last month and is 7lb better off.
Double Ross ran a cracker when second in last week’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury but that must have taken a toll and he is a general 20/1 chance here. The Young Master won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in the spring and is a general 12/1 – rider Sam Waley-Cohen won this in 2013 in his father’s colours. Gas Line Boy (20/1 with most bookmakers) was third in September’s Kerry National and often runs well in races of this type so could be interesting if taking to the fences but Cogry (a general 16/1) has failed to complete either start this season and that’s off-putting over the Grand National fences.
SIZING COAL finished third in the Irish National in 2015 in which this year’s Grand National hero, Rule The World, finished second. He ran well over a marathon trip at Punchestown in April and comfortably justified favouritism at Sligo in September. Jim Dreaper’s gelding could give the Irish their first success in this in seven years at the general 14/1.
Betfred Becher Chase Current Best Odds
Alvarado and Ucello Conti (10/1), The Last Samuri, The Young Master, Viconte Du Noyer and Vieux Lion Rouge (12/1), Sizing Coal (14/1), Cogry, Highland Lodge, One For Arthur, Saint Are and Silvergrove (16/1), Dare To Endeavour, Double Ross, Gas Line Boy and Ziga Boy (20/1), Portrait King and Rogue Angel (25/1), Beeves, Milborough, Aachen and Bob Ford (33/1), Financial Climate (66/1)
