racing_news/

West End Rocker Rocks Up in Becher Chase
03/12/11

1 West End Rocker 10/1
2 Niche Market 9/1
3 Ballyvesey 20/1
NR: Mad Max (IRE)
14 ran Distances: 22l, 32l, 1¼l
TIME 7m 15.60s (slow by 37.60s)

West End Rocker made it second-time lucky over the famous Grand National fences with a determined performance in the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree.

West End Rocker
© Grossick Racing Photography

Alan King's nine-year-old was brought down at just the sixth fence in the National itself back in April, but he suffered no such back luck on his return to Merseyside.

The 10-1 chance had something to prove after being pulled up on his recent seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham but jumped accurately throughout under Wayne Hutchinson and was in the lead at the fence before turning for home, galloping on relentlessly in the mud to beat Niche Market by 22 lengths.

Ballyvesey came from a long way back to finish third, while last year's winner Hello Bud parted company with Sam Twiston-Davies at the Canal Turn.

Wayne Hutchinson, completing a double on the day, said: “I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it. What a ride he was!

“I schooled him on Thursday morning upsides Walkon and he was quicker than him - Choc (Thornton) pulled up at the top and said ‘you lucky sod!’

“This horse has been fantastic to me. I won a handicap chase on him at Newbury and then the totesport Classic at Warwick last year.

“The key to him is that he has to find his gear - he jumps from fence to fence and he wants these big, galloping tracks. Forget the last day at Cheltenham - the undulations didn’t suit him.

“The ground is certainly heavy up round by the Canal Turn - it’s soft and heavy in places. My lad was foot-perfect and he thoroughly enjoyed himself out there.

“The fences have ridden lovely and we will certainly be back for the big one in April.

“West End Rocker got into this wonderful rhythm and he was jumping super. He has handled the ground very well.

“The big thing is find the rhythm that he is happy with.”

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	West End Rocker A King	W Hutchinson 10st 10lbs	10 - 1 Winner
2	Niche Market P F Nicholls	Harry Skelton 11st 5lbs	9 - 1 22 lengths
3	Ballyvesey P Bowen	B Hughes 10st 0lbs	20 - 1 32 lengths
4	Always Waining P Bowen	T J O'Brien 10st 13lbs	12 - 1 1 1/4 length
5	Rare Bob D T Hughes	P J Brennan 11st 10lbs	17 - 2 3 3/4 lengths
6	Another Palm N Meade	P Carberry 10st 0lbs	5 - 1 1 1/2 length
PulledUp	Swing Bill D Pipe	T J Murphy 11st 0lbs	15 - 2
Fell	Merchent Paddy C Byrnes	P T Enright 10st 9lbs	33 - 1
UnseatedRider	Hello Bud N A Twiston-Davies	S Twiston-Davies 10st 9lbs	9 - 1
PulledUp	Nicto De Beauchene V R A Dartnall	A Glassonbury 10st 7lbs	8 - 1
Fell	Abbeybraney N G Richards	Aidan Coleman 10st 7lbs	12 - 1
PulledUp	Max Bygraves K C Bailey	J M Maguire 10st 6lbs	16 - 1
Fell	Shalimar Fromentro Nick Williams	J Reveley 10st 3lbs	8 - 1
PulledUp	Pak Jack R T Phillips	Matthew Batchelor 10st 0lbs	33 - 1
NonRunner	Mad Max N P Mulholland	R McGrath 11st 12lbs	-