13:30 Aintree

Saturday 9 December 2017

All11:5512:2512:5513:3014:0514:3515:10

Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National Course)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 7m 17.7s

Odds by:

Live Odds

Odds

Blaklion

2/1, 15/8, 7/4, 13/8

7/4

The Last Samuri

9/1, 8/1, 17/2, 8/1, 15/2

7/1

Vieux Lion Rouge

7/1, 15/2, 7/1, 15/2

7/1

Highland Lodge

9/1, 10/1, 11/1

12/1

Westerner Point

11/1, 12/1, 11/1

12/1

Viva Steve

11/1, 12/1, 11/1

12/1

As De Mee

14/1

Goodtoknow

12/1

14/1

Rogue Angel

22/1

20/1

Lord Windermere

28/1

25/1

Sizing Codelco

33/1

25/1

The Young Master

33/1

28/1

Federici

33/1, 28/1, 33/1, 28/1, 33/1, 28/1, 33/1, 28/1

33/1

Portrait King

28/1, 33/1, 28/1

33/1

Straidnahanna

50/1

40/1

SP Book Percentage 127.88

Non-Runners

Vic De Touzaine²⁸

Weight: 10-6| Age: 8

T: Miss V Williams J: L Treadwell

Forecasts

Blaklion (7/4), The Last Samuri (7/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (7/1), Highland Lodge (12/1), Westerner Point (12/1), Viva Steve (12/1), As De Mee (14/1), Goodtoknow (14/1), Vic De Touzaine (16/1), Rogue Angel (20/1), Lord Windermere (25/1), Sizing Codelco (25/1), The Young Master (28/1), Federici (33/1), Portrait King (33/1), Straidnahanna (40/1)

An exciting renewal of the Becher Chase in which the 2016 1-2-3 Vieux Lion Rogue, Highland Lodge and The Last Samurai all re-commence battle. Vieux Lion Rogue produced some sterling efforts thereafter including when downing BLAKLION at Haydock in February (3m4f), and when finishing sixth to One For Arthur in the Grand National, but he returned with a moderate effort in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October; a race in which the selection was narrowly beaten by the subsequent emphatic Grade 1 Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai. Like 2015 winner Highland Lodge, and the 2016 Grand National runner up The Last Samurai, Blaklion has nothing to prove over these fences after his fine 8¾L Grand National fourth to One For Arthur. Whilst the potential value in his price has fast evaporated following strong ante-post support, he remains the most likely winner. For those seeking an each-way alternative, the Kerry Lee trained Goodtoknow is a viable option. This nine-year-old wasn’t totally disgraced in finishing 13th in the Grand National in April on his first attempt over these fences, and his earlier 6L second to One For Arthur in Warwick’s Classic Chase represents a rock-solid effort.