Horse Racing Tips

Becher Chase Tips 2024: Runner-By-Runner Guide

9 months ago

| BY Steve Mullington

An afternoon of top-class racing at Aintree on Saturday features the Becher Handicap Chase which takes in the iconic Grand National fences of Becher’s Brook, Canal Turn, and Valentine’s.

Bet on the Becher Chase here with William Hill

A field of 12 runners has assembled for the 2024 renewal so lets take a look at their chances:

Chianti Classico (Kim Bailey)

Bailey’s horse was an impressive Ascot winner on his return last month, but that was a particularly testing race and he could well be anchored by the top weight of 12 stone in this handicap.

He’s a podium candidate nevertheless.

Celebre d’Allen (Philip Hobbs/Johnson White)

The veteran was as good as ever last time out, winning a top quality handicap at Bangor over three miles and he does have a habit of going back-to-back with his victories.

He also ran well in last season’s Topham so there is plenty to like about him.

Chambard (Venetia Williams)

Winner of this contest twelve months ago and thrives over marathon trips in testing conditions.

Combine the current form of the stable with the predicted weather and we could well have a deja vu moment on our hands again.

Arizona Cardinal (Stuart Edmunds)

The Stuart Edmunds-trained chaser Arizona Cardinal is out to win for the second time over the Grand National spruces after landing the Topham Chase back in April.

The eight-year-old scoped dirty after his recent comeback run at Chepstow, so we could well see a different horse on Saturday.

Cruz Control (Tom Lacey)

Tom Lacey and jockey Stan Sheppard struck at Aintree on National day with the victory of Cruz Control in the three-mile Handicap Chase, but this race in an altogether different beast and his two runs prior to today have been somewhat indifferent.

Iron Bridge (Jonjo/AJ O’Neill)

Jonjo O’Neill, who famously saddled Don’t Push It to Grand National glory in 2010, appears to be on the Aintree trail once more with Iron Bridge.

This was also the plan last season, but his Haydock trial had O’Neill rerouting him to the Midlands and the Scottish Nationals instead.

King Turgeon (David Pipe)

According to Pipe, King Turgeon has come out of the Grand Sefton very well and the natural progression has been to go over the National fences again in the Becher.

No horse has ever done the Grand Sefton/Becher double which is a worry for his supporters.

Monte Igueldo (Gary Hanmer)

Third to Celebre d’Allen at Bangor and won’t be inconvenienced by the ground.

I recall this horse finishing a good second to Sonigino on his debut at Auteuil, so he isn’t the silliest of the possible longshots.

Major Dundee (Alan King)

Ran poorly in the aforementioned Bangor race and on the face of things has a lot to do on the face of it, despite hailing from a shrewd stable.

Now Where On When (Stuart Crawford)

Out and out stayer who has little snippets of form in the book that may lead a race-reader to make a speculative each-way punt on him. An extremely interesting jockey booking too.