Randox Health Becher Chase |
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| Grade 3 Handicap, National Course, Aintree 13:30 £145,000 added, 6yo plus, 3m 1f 188y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 9th December 2017 | |
1 Blaklion 7/4F
2 The Last Samuri 7/1
3 Highland Lodge 12/1
15 ran NR: Vic De Touzaine Distances: 9l, 5l, 2¾l
Time: 7m 18.90s (slow by 40.90s)
Blaklion wins the Becher Chase! What a performance
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Last year's Grand National fourth did not put a foot wrong under Gavin Sheehan and he was cut across the board for the April showpiece by the bookmakers after he bolted up by nine lengths for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Aintree regulars The Last Samuri and Highland Lodge once again showed their affection for the fences but were ultimately well beaten in second and third respectively.
Twiston-Davies told ITV Racing: "It was a superb round of jumping, but it's a relief to see him win. We had a brilliant jumper fall in an earlier race so it's lovely when they go round like that.
"It was exactly what we'd hoped for. He didn't seem to quite get home in the National last year, but we dropped back a mile and our prayers have been answered.
"Others will come out of the woodwork for the National I'm sure, but he must have a very good chance if we ride him a bit more restrained, like we did today - we've only got eight lengths to find.
"I'll think about how we get there, he might wait for the Grand National Trial at Haydock and then the National. We'll think about the Gold Cup, but hopefully we've got that sorted (with Bristol De Mai)."
Betfred Becher Handicap Chase
(Grade 3) (National Course)
£145,000 added, 6yo plus, 3m 1f 188y, Class 1
15 ran
Going: Heavy
| Pos | D | Horse SP | JockeyWeight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Blaklion 7/4f | G Sheehan 11-6 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 8 | |
| 2nd | 9 | The Last Samuri (IRE) 7/1 | David Bass 11-12 |
K C Bailey | 9 |
| 3rd | 5 | Highland Lodge (IRE) 12/1 | Henry Brooke 10-5 |
James Moffatt | 11 |
| 4th | 2¾ | Federici 33/1 | W T Kennedy 10-0 |
D McCain Jnr | 8 |
| 5th | 4½ | Portrait King (IRE) 33/1 | C O'Farrell 10-0 |
P Griffin | 12 |
| 6th | 6 | The Young Master 28/1 | Mr S Waley-Cohen (3) 10-12 |
N P Mulholland | 8 |
| 7th | 38 | Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 7/1 | T Scudamore 11-5 |
D Pipe | 8 |
| 8th | 6 | Westerner Point (IRE) 12/1 | P T Enright 10-1 |
E O'Grady | 8 |
| PU | Sizing Codelco (IRE) 25/1 | T J O'Brien 11-9 |
C L Tizzard | 8 | |
| PU | Goodtoknow 14/1 | J E Moore 10-9 |
Kerry Lee | 9 | |
| PU | Viva Steve (IRE) 12/1 | J J Burke 10-5 |
F O'Brien | 9 | |
| PU | Rogue Angel (IRE) 20/1 | R P McLernon 10-2 |
M F Morris | 9 | |
| PU | Straidnahanna (IRE) 40/1 | Sean Quinlan 10-0 |
Mrs S J Smith | 8 | |
| F | Lord Windermere (IRE) 25/1 | B Hughes 10-11 |
J H Culloty | 11 | |
| UR | As De Mee (FR) 14/1 | Sean Bowen 11-2 |
P F Nicholls | 7 | |
| NR | Vic De Touzaine (FR) | L Treadwell 10-6 |
Miss V Williams | 8 |
