Aintree stages a fabulous
seven-race card on Saturday, December 8, Betfred Becher Chase Day, headlined by
the £110,000 Listed Betfred Becher Handicap Chase (2.10pm) and the £60,000
Betfred 'Goals Galore' Grand Sefton Handicap Chase, both run over the famous
Grand National fences.
The three and a quarter
mile Betfred Becher Handicap Chase has attracted 23 entries headed by 2011 John
Smith's Grand National hero Ballabriggs from the stable of Donald
McCain. The Trevor Hemmings-owned 11-year-old was last seen coming home sixth
in this year's renewal of the world's greatest chase.
Champion trainer Paul
Nicholls has enjoyed a fine start to the season and will bid for another
valuable Saturday prize with Join Together, who finished seventh in the
Grade Three United House Gold Cup Handicap on his seasonal reappearance at
Ascot on November 3, after encountering trouble in running.
The classy seven-year-old
won two competitive novices' chases at Cheltenham last season and rounded off
his season with a third-placed finish behind Silviniaco Conti in the Grade Two
John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree's John Smith's Grand National
meeting. Betfred makes Join Together its 8/1 favourite for the Betfred Becher
Chase.
Nicholls revealed
today: "Join Together is in good form and will run at Aintree on
Saturday in the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase.
"I was a bit
disappointed with him at Ascot but hopefully with different fences and a
different day, he will do better.
"I don't think he is
particularly well handicapped but he will probably be suited by the fences and,
if he is, I will give him an entry in the John Smith's Grand National."
The Ditcheat-based trainer
is seeking his fourth victory in the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase following
Silver Birch (2004), Eurotrek (2006) and Mr Pointment (2007).
West End Rocker and Hello Bud,
winners of the past two renewals, hold entries for their respective trainers
Alan King and Nigel Twiston-Davies, while Tom George is likely to be
represented by Big Fella Thanks, who has successfully navigated the
Grand National course in three previous attempts.
Irish-handler Dessie
Hughes has won the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase with Black Apalachi (2008) and
Vic Venturi (2009), and could send over last season's John Smith's Grand
National fifth In Compliance, while Tim Vaughan and Philip Hobbs have
entered classy performers Saint Are and Planet Of Sound respectively.
Jonjo O'Neill, who captured the 2003 renewal with subsequent Grand National
runner-up Clan Royal, has entered Alfie Sherrin, successful in the Grade
Three JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
Owner David Johnson could
be represented by 2011 Sandown Gold Cup scorer Poker De Sivola, trained
by Ferdy Murphy, and David Pipe's admirable performer Swing Bill. Swing
Bill completed the course when 10th in the 2012 John Smith's Grand National and
was successful on his latest appearance at Cheltenham in an amateur riders'
handicap chase at Cheltenham on November 16.
Pipe could also be
represented by Problema Tic, who was successful in three novice chases last
season and ran well on his seasonal reappearance when fifth in the Grade Three
Henrietta Knight Handicap Chase over just short of three and a half miles at
Cheltenham on November 17.
Pipe said today:
"Swing Bill ran in the race last year (when pulled-up) and is not getting
any younger. But he ran in the John Smith's Grand National and seems to like
Aintree, though I wouldn't want the ground too soft for him. He is an intended
runner at this stage.
"Problema Tic may
also run but he is another who does not want conditions too soft. I was pleased
with him at Cheltenham on his comeback."
Betfred Becher Chase -
Betfred Bet: 8/1 Join Together; 9/1 Problema Tic, Ballabriggs, Alfie Sherrin,
West End Rocker; 10/1 Planet Of Sound; 12/1 Any Currency, Big Fella Thanks,
Saint Are; 14/1 Swing Bill; 16/1 Fabalu, Mumbles Head, Hello Bud, Midnight
Haze; 20/1 Minella Theatre, Poker De Sivola, Captain Americo, In Compliance;
25/1 Desperate Dex; 33/1 Ballyvesey, Classic Cut, Dashing George, Gullible
Gordon
NACARAT
HEADS 24 IN BETFRED 'GOALS GALORE' GRAND SEFTON HANDICAP CHASE
A total of 24 entries have
been received for the £60,000 Betfred 'Goals Galore' Grand Sefton Handicap
Chase (3.20pm) over two miles, five and a half furlongs, headed by 2011 Grade
One Betfred Bowl victor Nacarat.
The 11-year-old won the
Grade Three Racing Post Trophy for a second time at Kempton in February and is
one of two entries for trainer Tom George, who also has Big Fella Thanks
engaged.
Other high-class
performers include Calgary Bay, now trained by Mick Channon, who won
valuable prizes at Cheltenham and Doncaster last season before coming home 14th
in the John Smith's Grand National.
Paul Nicholls has entered
four-time chase winner Rebel du Maquis, who was last seen finishing down
the field in a competitive two and a half mile handicap chase at Cheltenham in
October.
Nicholls added: "I
want to see the weather remain dry all week before deciding whether to run
Rebel du Maquis in the Betfred 'Goals Galore' Grand Sefton Handicap
Chase."
Other notables include two
former Paddy Power Gold Cup winners in Tranquil Sea, trained in Ireland
by Edward O'Gradyand Nigel Twiston-Davies' Little Josh, while Philip
Hobbs has entered last season's John Smith's Topham Chase runner-up Chance
du Roy.
David Pipe could saddle
talented seven-year-old Battle Group, who is yet to win over fences but
has some high-class form including when second in the Listed John Smith's
Handicap Chase at Aintree in April.
Pipe continued: "We
have not schooled Battle Group yet and a decision will be made on his
participation later in the week."
Betfred Becher Chase Day
also includes the £30,000 Listed Betfred Treble Odds on Lucky 15's Chase
(1.05pm) over three miles and a furlong on the Mildmay Course. The 13 entries
include several top-class performers headed by Grade One winners Albertas
Run, trained by Jonjo O'Neill and Colm Murphy's Irish raider Quito De La
Roque. Other possible starters include Grade Two scorers Midnight Chase,
Wayward Prince and Wishfull Thinking.
GOING
The going at Aintree is
currently:
National Course - Soft
Mildmay Course - Good to
Soft, Soft in places
Hurdle Course - Soft
Andrew Tulloch, Aintree's
Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, said today: "The forecast is
for an unsettled week with showers.
"Some of the showers
may be heavy, especially from Thursday onwards.
"The entries for
Betfred Becher Chase Day look fantastic and we look set for two cracking races
over the Grand National fences."
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