Betfred Becher Chase
Grade 3 Handicap, Aintree £150,000 added, 6yo plus, 3m 2f, Class 1
Saturday 7th December 2013

1 Chance Du Roy 14/1
2 Baby Run 12/1
3 Mr Moonshine 25/1
4 Ballybough Gorta 33/1
NR: Planet Of Sound, Walkon (FR)
22 ran Distances: 1l, 1¾l, 4½l
TIME 6m 56.30s (slow by 18.30s)

Chance Du Roy just prevailed in an epic renewal of the Betfred Becher Chase over three and a quarter miles of the Grand National course at Aintree.

Chance Du Roy
© Racehorse Photos

Philip Hobbs' charge, ridden by Tom O'Brien, joined the gallant Baby Run as the pair jumped two out upsides and went on from there before safely negotiating the last. It looked like the big prize was heading back to the trainer's Minehead base with the minimum of fuss.

But Baby Run, on his first start for 959 days, found extraordinary reserves under Sam Twiston-Davies from the Elbow to fight back and in the end went down by just a length to the 14-1 winner. Mr Moonshine was another length and three-quarters back in third.

Sarah Hobbs, wife of the winning trainer, said: "That was so exciting, he loves this course. He stayed on really well at the finish and you'd like to think he could maybe come back here in April for the Grand National, although I think there'll be a bit of opposition from the owner.

"When Planet Of Sound was a non-runner (because of the ground), Tom offered the ride to Richard (Johnson, stable jockey), but Richard said Tom knows the horse better so let him keep the ride, which was nice. The horses are running really well, Philip is at Chepstow, where we've had a double. We're all delighted."

O'Brien added: "I got into a really nice rhythm and was always travelling well. It's great to get a winner on a big day."

Baby Run
© Racehorse Photos

Sam Twiston-Davies, who picked up a two-day whip ban, said of the 13-year-old Baby Run, who is trained by his father Nigel: "He gave me some spin. I nearly fell off him at the second and I was sat on his tail the rest of the way round.

"He was in a field during the summer with Bindaree and Hello Bud and was full of himself. I even gave him a spin in the stalls for a bit of fun! It's been a tremendous effort by everyone to get him back. I'm of the same opinion I was last time - I'd love him to be retired - but we'll see what Nigel wants to do."

Trainer Nigel said: "He ran a great race. We very much expected a big run from him. He did everything bar win, it was a great shame, but there you go," said the Naunton handler.

"He's fine this morning - 100 per cent. He won't run for a bit. We'll find something for him in the New Year I expect.

"We'll look at the Warwick long-distance chase and we'll also look at one of those type of races at Haydock, the Peter Marsh Chase."

Betfred Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
£150,000 added, 6yo plus, 3m 2f, Class 1
22 ran
Going: Soft (Mildmay Good to Soft,Soft in places)

Pos	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	SP Beaten Distance
1	Chance Du Roy P J Hobbs	T J O'Brien 10st 6lbs	14 - 1 Winner
2	Baby Run N A Twiston-Davies	Sam Twiston-Davies 10st 7lbs	12 - 1 1 length
3	Mr Moonshine Mrs S J Smith	Ryan Mania 10st 4lbs	25 - 1 1 3/4 length
4	Ballybough Gorta P Bowen	R T Dunne 10st 0lbs	33 - 1 4 1/2 lengths
5	Swing Bill D Pipe	C O'Farrell 10st 11lbs	10 - 1 8 lengths
6	On His Own W P Mullins	P Townend 11st 1lbs	7 - 1 3 lengths
7	Big Fella Thanks T R George	P J Brennan 11st 8lbs	25 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
8	Across The Bay D McCain Jnr	J M Maguire 11st 3lbs	11 - 1 1/2 length
9	Wyck Hill D G Bridgwater	A Tinkler 10st 11lbs	12 - 1 1/2 length
10	Rose Of The Moon D O'Meara	Jake Greenall 10st 6lbs	11 - 1 Head
11	Bennys Mist Miss V Williams	Aidan Coleman 10st 1lbs	20 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
12	Roberto Goldback N J Henderson	D Bass 11st 8lbs	16 - 1 25 lengths
13	Gullible Gordon P Bowen	Donal Devereux 10st 6lbs	28 - 1 4 lengths
14	Join Together P F Nicholls	Ryan Mahon 11st 3lbs	16 - 1 20 lengths
15	Chartreux T R George	A P Cawley 10st 5lbs	33 - 1 23 lengths
16	Ikorodu Road M Sheppard	C Poste 10st 11lbs	33 - 1 26 lengths
PU	Junior D Pipe	L Heard 11st 12lbs	50 - 1
PU	Bostons Angel D Pipe	T Scudamore 10st 13lbs	20 - 1
Fell	Vesper Bell W P Mullins	D J Casey 10st 13lbs	9 - 1
UR	Sizing Australia H de Bromhead	A E Lynch 10st 8lbs	22 - 1
Fell	Pineau De Re Dr R D P Newland	B Hughes 10st 6lbs	14 - 1
Fell	Storm Survivor Jonjo O'Neill	R P McLernon 10st 5lbs	12 - 1
NR	Planet Of Sound P J Hobbs	R Johnson 11st 1lbs	-
NR	Walkon A King	W Hutchinson 11st 8lbs	-