Matt Brocklebank takes an early look at the possible contenders for Becher Chase glory at Aintree this weekend.
BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase
When: 2.05, Saturday December 9
Where: Aintree
First prize: £84,195
Going: Good to Soft
TV: ITV & Racing TV
COKO BEACH
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Form: 41P-31
Pretty consistent in the major staying handicap chases in Ireland over the past few years and he was eighth to Noble Yeats in the 2022 Grand National here too. Pulled-up in the same race last spring but back to winning ways in recent running of the Troytown at Navan and this three and a quarter-mile trip should be spot on for him. Tends to race prominently which is often a help too, although a BHA mark of 162 could be enough to anchor him when it comes to winning this.
THE BIG BREAKAWAY
- Trainer: Joe Tizzard
- Form: 22PF-5
Grade 1-placed in his youth but never quite fulfilled his potential and he hasn’t won a race of any description since November 2020. On the plus side, he was a fine second in last season’s Welsh Grand National off 1lb higher and certainly wasn’t disgraced on his seasonal comeback at Wincanton last month. Has experience around here, but it was only brief as he didn’t get past the second fence when hampered in the Grand National.
HIGHLAND HUNTER
- Trainer: Fergal O'Brien
- Form: /124/2
Formerly with Lucinda Russell and Paul Nicholls but, following 630 days away, he showed the fire still burns bright with a promising second on debut for his latest new yard at Kelso in October. Could have done without the subsequent 2lb rise but he likes testing ground and not hard to see him really taking to this course.
MINELLA TRUMP
- Trainer: Donald McCain
- Form: 170-0
Nine-year-old with a striking 8-13 strike-rate over fences and he finished mid-pack in last season’s Grand National on his first visit to the course in April. Easy to back and never in the hunt on last month’s Cheltenham comeback over hurdles but he’s won from his current chase mark before and might not be one to underestimate at a big price.
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CELEBRE D’ALLEN
- Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
- Form: 3408-1
A 10lb rise for his resurgent success here at Aintree at the end of October suddenly makes things a lot harder, especially as that veterans’ race looked to have fallen into his lap rather. Faces some younger, more progressive rivals this weekend and although he won three on the spin a couple of winters back, he’s not an obvious one to follow up here.
MORODER
- Trainer: Seamus Mullins
- Form: P012-P
Likeable stayer with an excellent record over fences (5-11) and he’s won on all types of ground if you factor in his bumper and hurdles form too. Pulled-up on seasonal comeback run at Wincanton, though, and his current mark of 140 does look plenty stiff enough.
ASHTOWN LAD
- Trainer: Dan Skelton
- Form: 123P-P
Gutsy winner of this event last year from a mark of 138. Returns just 2lb higher in the ratings but he’d enjoyed a promising prep run over hurdles 12 months ago and this time lines up on the back of a non-completion having been pulled-up in the Badger Beer at Wincanton. Needs a rapid revival returned to left-handed track but no surprise to see him towards the head of the market.
CHAMBARD
- Trainer: Venetia Williams
- Form: PU44-2
Put in another fantastic effort back at Cheltenham (course form now reads 142) last month but being nudged back up 4lb in the weights after bumping into a young Irish chaser may be a bit harsh and he could be vulnerable on his first visit to this idiosyncratic track.
NOW WHERE OR WHEN
- Trainer: Stuart Crawford
- Form: 163P-5
Two chase wins to this point have come at two miles but he definitely stays a bit further and was tried in the Irish Grand National in the spring (pulled-up). BHA mark of 138 looks high and opposable on balance.
SIDI ISMAEL
- Trainer: David Pipe
- Form: 5P22-0
Ended last season in good form with seconds over marathon distances at Taunton and Ffos Las but last month’s limp comeback run leaves questions to be answered now and a career-best at this stage looks a longshot.
UNDERSUPERVISION
- Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
- Form: U2P-P3
Grimthorpe Chase winner in March 2022 and almost repeated the dose when just denied by Moroder back at Doncaster earlier this year. Pulled-up on seasonal return at Cheltenham’s opening meeting but much better there when third last month and revised mark of 134 (up 2lb) shouldn’t be completely beyond him. Softer the ground the better and his yard does extremely well in this event.
PERCUSSION
- Trainer: Laura Morgan
- Form: 353P-2
Obviously loves it around here as he was third in both the Grand Sefton and the Becher early last season and found only one too good in this year’s edition of the Grand Sefton last month (replay below). Nudged back up 3lb to last year’s Becher mark but every chance he’ll mount another bold bid under a positive ride.
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LOUNGE LIZARD
- Trainer: Henry Daly
- Form: 311-33
Promising six-year-old who lacks a bit of experience for a race of this nature but loads to like about his Exeter effort in October, which was his first outing since May. Should be sharper with that initial keenness taken out of him and no surprise if he proves up to defying revised rating (130) at some stage. This race could be a big ask, though.
DORKING COCK
- Trainer: Stuart Crawford
- Form: 32P0-1
Stablemate of Now Where Or When and back to winning ways in a competitive-looking handicap hurdle at Navan last month. That came off an Irish mark of 115 and he’s got to run off 128 back over fences while he might be better over slightly shorter too, for all that he has plenty of form around three miles.
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