Becher Chase 2018

I would normally give this race a proper look at the initial entry stage, but with a large number of duplicate entries this time around, not to mention this very unpredictable weather, it just makes sense to hold fire for now. I’ll wait until the five day decs before I even consider something.

Great to see One For Arthur and Ultragold in there, both well proven round here.

https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/32/aintree/2018-12-08/714988

https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-post-racing/national-hunt/becher-handicap-chase/winner

Unlike The Grand National, where you really want a horse who hasn’t been round here before, this race more often that not, see’s those with experience come to the fore.

With that in mind, I’d love to see my big hope for The National, Missed Approach, miss this, but it seems to be the plan that he’ll run here, though he also holds an entry for The Grand Sefton. As I’ve said previously, the trainer is playing a blinder with this horse, and I’m hoping for a quiet trot round.

I’m much keener her for his stablemate Theatre Territory, who I think looks perfect for this, while the price is currently collapsing for The Young Master, who’s in the same ownership. The Young Master is an old friend, and he looks to have found a new lease of life, and that just can’t be ignored.

Abolitionist deserves his place at the head of the market, he looked brand new at Aintree last weekend, and this looks the obvious target en route to the big one. I can see him going the Pineau De Re route, and can see him going Pertemps as well, for which he’s a big looking 20’s. Always been nice sort, and he looks to have a big season ahead of him.

Just behind him in the market is Ballyoptic, and his run in The Scottish National was enough for me. I think he’ll be a staple in these big handicaps over the coming seasons, and I think he’ll land his fair share. The stable landed this last year with Blaklion, but he does look high in the weights, while Calett Mad is not a horse to bet Ante-Post, as he gets his fair share of entries. The one I do like, is Go Conquer. He was another who became very risky Ante-Post last year, continually being withdrawn late on. I’m hoping he might be easier to call now with NTD, and his slipping mark, not to mention his experience of the fences, puts him very high on my shortlist.

In the same ownership as Go Conquer is The Last Samuri, a horse who needs no introduction. Like Go Conquer he’s moved yards as well, and is now in the care of Harry Fry. I was perhaps a little unfair on him last season for The National, citing his antics before the 2017 National, as a silly excuse for his poor run, as he did the same this year, and in hindsight this wouldn’t have helped his cause. I couldn’t have him for The National this year, but with the stable switch, his experience round here, and crucially, dropping a couple of pounds, he looks rock solid ew material at 16’s.

I thought that Ms Parfois, Step Back and Thomas Patrick were potential graded horses at the start of the season, and haven’t seen anything to change my mind, but they’re a trio who surely have Newbury as the primary target.

This is Vieux Lion Rouge’s race, and both he and the other Tindall horse, Daklondike, are worth considering. I’d happily assume that VLR’s season will be geared towards this, while Daklondike could be very interesting on the majority of last years form.

Present Man is surely a National Horse this year, and he looks to be coming here as well. Smashing horse, who on his Badger Ales run, should be bang there. Stablemate Vicente, it’s safe to say, is not the best jumper in training, but the way the weather is going, this could be the season to consider him for this. It’s another Hemmings horse though, in Warriors Tale, who I really like for this. This looks his trip, and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t trap here.

Noble Endeavour is on the comeback trail, and he’s just the sort for this, fitness taken for granted. He’s entered up for Thurles on Thursday, as well as The Troytown, and he could really come into the picture for this, should he run well in either of those. His stablemate General Principle is high on my list for The National, and I’d love him to go to Navan, rather than here, but should he head here, he can’t be ignored. If his win at Fairyhouse hasn’t left it’s mark, then I think he can continue progressing this year, and I honestly think he’s miles ahead of his mark. Few others from the yard in there, Borice is an unknown quantity, while the same can’t be said of Don Poli. Can’t call Borice right now, while Don Poli would surely want a couple of pounds trimmed off. I’m a big fan of Monbeg Notorious, and like General Principle, I could see him take in Graded Chases this year, and I’d be hesitant Ante-Post for this, even though that 25’s is calling me in. It’s not proving easy for me that price, and I’m trying very hard not to get involved, with the view that he could really feature at Newbury.

Another Irish Challenger who looks interesting, to me anyway, is Fine Theatre at a big 33’s, while Baie Des Iles might find this more suitable, after the petrol ran out in April. Other potential home challengers to note are Federici, Wild West Wind, Beware The Bear, and Exitas.

There’s 58 entered, and with those concerns over multiple entries, not to mention the weather, I really should leave it at that, but last word goes to The Dutchman. Ticks every box I’m looking for here, and the 20’s with Bet365 is big enough.

No be for until the five day stage, and it’s a long enough shortlist right now, so very happy to leave it alone for now, which gives me plenty of time to change my mind……

Go Conquer
Theatre Territory
The Dutchman
The Last Samuri