2024 Boylesports Becher Handicap Chase Preview

Saturday afternoon serves up a treat for jumps racing fans as the wraps are taken off the Aintree Grand National Course for the second time this season. Hot on the heels of the Grand Sefton Chase in November, The Chair, Becher’s Brook, Foinavon, and Canal Turn loom into view once more for the 2024 edition of the Becher Handicap Chase.

Held over a trip of 3m2f and first run in 1992, the race has been landed by Grand National heroes Earth Summit (1998), Amberleigh House (2001), and Silver Birch (2004). With the final field confirmed on Thursday morning, a dozen runners will set out in pursuit of the £135,000 in guaranteed prize money.

1. Chianti Classico – 9/2 with BetVictor

Trainer: Kim Bailey

Topping the weights is the impressive winner of the 2024 Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Returning with a front-running success at Ascot in November, Chianti Classico has now won four of six starts over fences. He’s up 5lb for that 3l win last time, which takes him to a career-high mark of 157 and sees him saddled with 12st here. However, as a seven-year-old, we may not have seen the best of him yet, and he could go well if taking to these fences.

2. Celebre d’Allen – 12/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Rapidly closing in on his 13th birthday, this son of Network is one of the old men in the field. However, that needn’t count against him in a race won by a runner aged 12 or older three times since 2010. He has completed in all three outings over the National fences but is 7lbs higher than when finishing a 38l fourth in the 2023 edition of this.

3. Chambard – 12/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: Venetia Williams

At 12 years of age, the mount of Miss Lucy Turner also falls into the veteran category. He has a mountain to climb with Chianti Classico on his run in the Ultima but has one major plus point – namely that he hacked up by 13l in the 2023 edition of this and is only 5lb higher here. At his best on soft ground, the forecast rain is in his favour.

4. Arizona Cardinal – 12/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: Stuart Edmunds

In common with Chambard, this eight-year-old boasts a perfect one-from-one record over the Grand National fences. That success came when staying on powerfully to claim the Topham Chase over 2m5f here in April. He’s yet to race over quite this far but isn’t handicapped out of it off a mark just 5lb higher than for that win at the Grand National Meeting, and may find improvement for a recent wind operation.

5. Cruz Control – 7/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: Tom Lacey

This seven-year-old showed a liking for this part of the world when claiming a 3m1f handicap at this track in April. That came over the standard fences, and whilst Cruz Control is yet to fall, he is prone to misjudging the odd obstacle. 4lb higher than for that latest win, he’s proving popular in the market.

6. Iron Bridge – 8/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Trevor Hemmings loved nothing more than success over these obstacles during his lifetime, and his famous green and yellow quartered silks will be carried by two of the 12-runner field. Whilst failing to win since his Novice chase campaign, Iron Bridge ran some fine races in defeat last season, including runners-up finishes in the Welsh Grand National and Grand National Trial at Haydock. He tackles these fences for the first time but has slipped to a mark 6lb below his peak and finished an encouraging third on his seasonal return at Carlisle.

7. King Turgeon – 4/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: David Pipe

Successful with Vieux Lion Rouge in 2016 and 2020, David Pipe bids to keep up the habit of winning the race every four years with the youngest runner in the lineup. Winning only one of seven starts in 2023/24, this six-year-old has shown marked improvement following wind surgery over the summer. Returning with a 10l romp over this trip at Chepstow, he then jumped brilliantly on his way to a 3¼l win in the Grand Sefton Chase in November. He’s 8lb higher here, but it’s easy to see why he has made his way to the head of the market.

8. Monte Igueldo – 28/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: Gary Hanmer

Formerly based with Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, this Cokoriko gelding has failed to win in five outings for Gary Hanmer, with his best effort seeing him finish a close second in a Class 2 event at Uttoxeter. He’s handicapped to go well off this 1lb lower mark but likely needs to find improvement for his first outing over these obstacles.

9. Major Dundee – 14/1 with BetVictot

Trainer: Alan King

The second Hemmings Racing runner had his big day when claiming the 2023 edition of the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. He failed to replicate that form last season, with a mark of 137 seemingly beyond him. He’s back down to 131 here (2lb higher than his most recent win) and should benefit from a recent spin at Bangor. On the downside, he has been pulled up and unseated his rider in two of his last three outings and looks a little risky in the jumping department.

10. Now Where Or When – 40/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: S R B Crawford

This nine-year-old is without a win since November 2022 and boasts a zero from eight career record over 3m+. His trainer is always to be respected when sending one over from Ireland, but it’s difficult to make a solid case for Now Where Or When on the formbook. Beaten by 10l or more in all five starts in 2023/24, he will need to take his form to a new level to land this.

11. Gaboriot – 4/1 with BetVictor

Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Formerly based with Francois Nicolle in France, this Muhtathir gelding took a while to adjust to life in England. However, he enjoyed a hugely productive 2023/24 campaign – winning five of seven starts to climb 17lbs in the handicap. Making it no further than the 12th in the 2024 Topham Chase, he fared much better when third behind King Turgeon in the Grand Sefton on his seasonal return. He’s 2lb better off for that 4¼l defeat, and having won at up to 4m½f, the additional distance of this event should suit him well.

12. Percussion 

Trainer: Laura Morgan

With five previous outings over the National Fences, this nine-year-old scores top marks for experience. Encouragingly, he has completed every time and hit the frame on four occasions, including when finishing third in the past two editions of this. He’s 5lb lower than in 2023, which should bring him closer, but he was fully 16½l adrift at the line that day. This likeable sort should run his usual solid race but may find that a few of these are better handicapped.

The Verdict

If Chianti Classico takes to the obstacles he may simply outclass these rivals. However, 9/2 is a short enough price considering his welter burden and lack of experience over the obstacles.

King Turgeon seems likely to make a bold bid from the front but the combination of an increased mark, additional distance, and testing conditions may find him out. Fellow market leader Gaboriot may turn the tables if his jumping holds up but makes minimal appeal at so short a price.

Arizona Cardinal is a viable alternative but the best bet in the race is an each-way punt on the defending champion, Chambard. Much too good for the field in 2023, he’s only 5lb higher here and can go very close to becoming the fifth two-time winner of this great race.

Recommended Bet: Chambard each way @ 12/1 with BetVictor

Paul Harrison

Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.