Saint Are could make a quick return
to action in the £110,000 Betfred Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree this
Saturday, December 8, after coming down at the fifth fence in last Saturday's
Hennessy Gold Cup.
The Tim Vaughan-trained
six-year-old has a tremendous record at Aintree and is among 23 entries for the
three and a quarter mile contest over the famous Grand National fences.
The Network gelding, a
12/1 chance with race sponsor Betfred, won the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle
at Aintree's Grand National Meeting in April, 2011, and followed up at the same
fixture last season in the Listed John Smith's Handicap Chase, both over three
miles and a furlong of the Mildmay Course.
The Listed John Smith's
Handicap Chase is a good pointer to the John Smith's Grand National, with 2006
scorer State Of Play going on to make the frame in three John Smith's Grand
Nationals (2009, 2010 and 2011) and 2010 John Smith's Grand National hero Don't
Push It winning the race in 2009.
Vaughan said: "Saint
Are has come out of the Hennessy absolutely fine. We are going to school him on
Wednesday morning and Thursday morning to see how he jumps and, if that goes
well, we will definitely give the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase serious
consideration.
"It was very
frustrating on Saturday because everything had gone really well in the build up
to the Hennessy and we were anticipating a big run from him. It was a soft fall
as he just nudged the top of the fence but couldn't get his legs out.
"He jumped
brilliantly at Aintree last season and after that Dougie (Costello) said we
should look at the Grand National with him because he will jump around there
all day long. Dougie was bemused why he fell on Saturday as he said he is
normally so nimble and careful but it's just one of those things.
"We might need to
give him a couple more runs for experience before we look at a race like the
Grand National but it's one day at a time and we are grateful he has come back
in one piece."
Other notable entries for
the Betfred Becher Handicap Chase include 2011 John Smith's Grand National hero
Ballabriggs, last year's impressive winner West End Rocker, the
8/1 joint-favourite with Betfredand Alfie Sherrin, who won the Grade
Three JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival. The
other 8/1 joint-favourite is the Paul Nicholls-trained Join Together,
who was confirmed as a likely runner yesterday by the champion trainer.
Betfred Becher Handicap
Chase, Betfred Bet: 8/1 (from 9/1) West End Rocker, Join Together, 9/1 Alfie Sherrin,
Ballabriggs, Problema Tic, 10/1 Planet Of Sound, 12/1 Any Currency, Big Fella
Thanks, Saint Are, 14/1 Swing Bill, 16/1 Fabalu, Hello Bud, Midnight Haze,
Mumbles Head, 20 bar 1/4 1-2-3-4
Aintree's seven-race card
on Saturday, December 8, also features the £60,000 Betfred 'Goals Galore' Grand
Sefton Handicap Chase over two miles, five and a half furlongs. Also run over
the Grand National fences, it has attracted 24 entries including 2011 Grade One
Betfred Bowl winner Nacarat, classy performer Calgary Bay and two
Paddy Power Gold Cup winners in Little Josh and Irish raider Tranquil
Sea.
GOING
Following 12 millimetres
of rain in the last 36 hours,the going at Aintree is now:
National Course - Soft,
Heavy at Canal Turn
Mildmay & Hurdle
Courses - Good to Soft, Soft in places
Tomorrow is forecast to be
dry with sunny spells while there is predicted to be up to another six
millimetres of rain on Thursday.
The forecast for Friday
and Saturday is for dry and bright conditions.
Andrew Tulloch, Aintree's
Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, said today: "With the recent
rain, the ground is heavy from the Canal Turn down to Valentine's but overall I
am delighted with the condition of the course."
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