Tag: Becher Chase

Becher Chase Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday has attracted a large field for the first big event over the famous Grand National fences this season.

The going is soft so the three and a quarter miles will provide a thorough test of stamina. The conditions were similar a year ago when Chance Du Roy held off the veteran Baby Run by a length. The Philip Hobbs stable is in fantastic form at present and Chance Du Roy must have an excellent chance of repeating his victory.

The ten-year-old was never travelling before being pulled up at Haydock in January but a return visit to Aintree was always his aim. He finished fourth at Ascot to Restless Harry in February and then ran a tremendous race in the Grand National, making headway towards the leaders before fading into sixth place behind Pineau De Re.

He also finished runner-up here to Always Waining in the Topham in 2012 so Tom O’Brien will be hoping for another good spin from the son of Morespeed this weekend. He is set to race off a 6lbs higher mark than last year but course form counts for at least that much over these fences.

Goonyella travelled over from Ireland for the Welsh National last December but finished a moderate eighth. He also finished seventh in the Irish National and Jim Dreaper is hoping that he takes to these fences with a view to returning in April. He stays all day but may struggle to go the early pace in such a huge field.

Gordon Elliott’s Balbriggan won over hurdles at Sedgefield before winning the valuable Troytown Chase at Navan last month. The grey has been raised 10lbs for that victory and may just be lacking a little experience for a tough race like this.

Mendip Express should go well for Harry Fry after winning a novices’ hurdle easily on his seasonal reappearance. He looked a very promising staying chaser last season before being soundly beaten by Smad Place at Newbury. He then jumped poorly before being pulled up in the Scottish National and has been dropped 3lbs in the handicap.

The Package has been round here a few times for David Pipe but put up a laboured performance at Cheltenham last time. Stable companion Our Father was favourite for the Hennessy Gold Cup last year but made no progress from four out and finished a disappointing seventh. He unseated his rider at the Canal Turn in the National so has plenty to prove.

One who did run to form in last year’s Hennessy was Emma Lavelle’s Highland Lodge. He made a gallant attempt to make most of the running and plugged on into fourth place. The form was given a boost last week by Merry King and Houblon Des Obeaux (fifth and sixth) who finished third and second respectively in this year’s renewal. Highland Lodge raced off 136 that day and is now 4lbs lower. He ran an encouraging race to finish fifth at Chepstow in October and could go well under Andrew Thornton.

Chance Du Roy @10-1 Ladbrokes

Highland Lodge @16-1 Paddy Power

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Racing Preview Saturday 7th December

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

It’s a busy weekend for both flat and National Hunt fans with Aintree and Sandown followed by the big meeting in Hong Kong. Our midweek bets on the big races have all stood their ground so let’s hope we can follow up our 20-1 Hennessy Gold Cup success!

There are plenty of interesting supporting races, not least the Listed Chase at Aintree at 2.40. According to the Racing Post, Channel 4 are not televising this race. This is slightly baffling, given the good quality of the field and the fact that the Tingle Creek does not start until 20 minutes later!

I am presuming that the powers-that-be had prepared a stack of musical interludes with slow-mo pictures of Sprinter Sacre. One day they will realise that racing fans want more live action and less waffle!

Returning to the race in question, I am going to side with the five-year-old Unioniste. Paul Nicholls has admitted that a lot of his runners are in need of a run this season and the grey was a typical example at Wetherby. He just didn’t quite get home behind Harry Topper and can reverse the form with the runner-up Wayward Prince.

Katenko fell too early in the Hennessy to say whether he would have been involved at the business end whilst The Giant Bolster seems to reserve his best for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Unioniste is tough and consistent and looks great value at 9-2.

I am a big fan of Nicky Henderson’s dual-purpose performer Lieutenant Miller and I’ll be supporting him in the 1.00 at Aintree tomorrow. He ran his heart out at Royal Ascot, Goodwood and in the Cesarewitch on the flat this year and deserves to pick up a decent hurdling prize. He is still on a very attractive handicap mark over hurdles and he should be able to exploit it.

There seems to be a National named after every part of Britain these days and tomorrow it is the London version. I’m going for Bradley in this one after his fine third at Cheltenham last time out. I thought Godsmejudge ran well too but I can’t support him with 11st 12lb on his back.

Bradley caught my eye last year when just run out of it by the mud-loving Monbeg Dude at Cheltenham. He is yet to land the big prize that he deserves but tomorrow could be his day.

Lieutenant Miller 4-1 Bet365

Unioniste 9-2 William Hill

Bradley 8-1 Bet365

Becher Chase Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Twenty-four horses are set to face the starter in Saturday’s Becher Chase at Aintree. I cannot remember the Betfair Chase attracting such a large field in previous years and it reads like a min-Grand National!

Two years ago, On His Own appeared to be travelling as well as anything in the big race when falling at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit. The last time I was as gutted in the National was when West Tip came down in almost identical fashion.

Naturally plans were set in motion for a repeat attempt but, unlike West Tip, it did not end well. Ruby Walsh had him in a good position but he was clearly in retreat when he fell awkwardly at Valentine’s on the second circuit. Some horses are just not meant to win at Aintree and it appears that On His Own falls into that category.

He lines up on Saturday against a field of veterans and misfits and you’d have to fancy him on his best form. Of course there is a risk that he will suffer the same fate as on his two previous visits so I recommend an insurance policy in the form of stable companion Vesper Bell.

I wouldn’t normally tip a horse that hasn’t run for seven months, especially in such a gruelling race, but Willie Mullins is unlikely to be sending him over for the good of his health. He also holds an entry in the Welsh National and his form suggests that the deeper the ground the better.

If the rest of Britain is anything like it is here in Scotland today (Thursday – the day of the Winter Storm) then I’d expect the going to be soft at the weekend. On his most recent start, Vesper Bell was just grabbed on the line by Welsh National favourite Goonyella at Punchestown.

Of the others, I am expecting Across The Bay to jump around safely after leading the National field for such a long way. He made a slight mistake at the third and was hampered when a loose horse ran across him before half-way so it was no surprise that he weakened in the closing stages. With a shorter trip and his free-wheeling style, it would be no surprise to see him up there from the start.

The biggest surprise for me is to see David Pipe’s Junior at the top of the weights. He was the subject of a massive ante-post plunge in this race a couple of seasons ago but appeared to resent the place and I assumed that we wouldn’t see him back here again. Far be it from me to question Mr Pipe so I can only assume that they have had second thoughts for his recalcitrant performance that day.

On His Own 10-1 Betfair

Vesper Bell (each-way) 16-1 Stan James, BetVictor