The Becher Chase and Tingle Creek Chase highlight a huge afternoon of jumps action in the UK but it’s the early season return to Aintree that will be attracting the most attention. First run in 1992, this meeting became the second to be run at the Merseyside venue each year and quickly became an early season trial for the Randox Health Grand National.
The Betfred Becher Chase is open to horses five years and older and is run over the same 21 fences as the Grand National. Two winners have gone on to win the ultimate prize; Amberleigh House and Silver Birch. Earth Summit won the Becher Chase in 1998 following his Grand National win the prior April. The race is named in honour of Martin Becher (1797-1864), a former soldier and jockey after who’s name is also attached to the Becher’s Brook obstacle.
Experience a key
Recent history shows that experience counts in this early-season chase with only one winner in the last decade aged younger than nine, and only two seven-year-olds victorious in the race’s 24-year history. Nine winners had been placed or won over three miles or beyond while all horses on the honour roll had been successful in a race of 13 runners or more.
Notably, only one favourite has ever triumphed with the bulk of winners in the 15/2 out to 25/1 price range. One that ticks more boxes than most is the defending champion Highland Lodge (20/1 with Betfred). He had a level of fitness last year, whereas this time he has had a steady preparation and has been aimed at this race.
Hot hand for Mullins
Sandown hosts its first Grade 1 race of the Jumps season in the shape of the two-mile Tingle Creek Chase – one of the most fiercely contested events in the winter calendar. The race attracts the elite two-mile chasers and has developed in recent years into a prestigious event in its own right, as well as a major stepping stone towards the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
It’s been a bizarre lead-up with bookies smashing Willie Mullins’ Douvan despite the fact that he was always unlikely to run. Stablemate Un De Sceaux (which looks very hard to beat) is now the favourite at a top price of 15-8 on Paddy Power, while Ar Mad, the winner of the Henry VIII Novice Chase over the same course and distance 12 months ago, is a 10-3 chance.
Awardee eyes lucky seventh
Kitasan Black’s spectacular wire-to-wire victory in last week’s Japan Cup at Tokyo is still the talk of the nation as the racing spotlight shifts to Nagoya’s Chukyo Racecourse for the Champions Cup. It is one of only two JRA Grade 1 races held at Chukyo and one of only two JRA Grade 1s run on dirt (over 1800m on this left-handed track). Even-money hope Awardee looks super tough to beat. The winner of the JBC Classic at Kawasaki is looking to make it seven in a row. Winner of 10 of 23, the American-bred Awardee beat dual winner of the Champions Cup, Hokko Tarumae, by 0.75L in that race on November 3. His winning streak has been all on dirt following a move from turf and over distances from 1800 to 2100 metres.
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
