Boylesports Becher Handicap Chase
Grade 3 Handicap,
National Course, Aintree 14:05
£150,000 guaranteed, 6yo plus,
3m 1f 188y, Class 1   entries
Saturday 9th December 2023

Free Racing Tips

1 Chambard 18/1
2 Coko Beach 6/1
3 Percussion 6/1
4 Celebre D'Allen 7/1
12 ran NR: Minella Trump, Now Where Or When
Distances: 13l, 3¼l, 22l Time: 7m 35.15s (slow by 57.15s)

Chambard displayed remarkable resilience in securing victory for amateur rider Lucy Turner in her historic achievement as the first woman to triumph in this renowned race.

Venetia Williams' 11-year-old horse, while not among the favorites in the field of 12 runners tackling the challenging Grand National fences, demonstrated unwavering composure on the heavy ground, which posed a true test of endurance.

Under Turner's guidance, the bay horse navigated the conditions adeptly, jumpling solidly at the forefront of the race alongside Laura Morgan's Percussion. As the demanding ground took its toll on the competitors, numerous horses were pulled-up at the rear of the pack.

In contrast, Chambard continued to navigate the course with ease, eventually pulling ahead and securing a commanding 13-length victory at odds of 18-1 over the formidable top weight, Coko Beach.

Turner said: “Chambard has been fantastic for me won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham also), and I am so pleased for David and Carol (Shaw, owners), who have been great supporters of mine over the last few years, so it is nice to get another big one for them.

“He hasn’t jumped these fences before, so we said we’d see how he takes to them, but that was the best spin I’ve ever had round there and he just loved it and kept galloping.

“As soon as they came to him, he quickened again. I could sort of hear the others coming, but he’s gone again, and at the last he was like a fresh horse.

“I’ve always wanted to ride a winner over these fences, so to do it on him means the world.

“It was a little bit hard going trying to see coming into the home straight with all the rain coming down and the headwind, but he was a total professional. I think he surprises people. They think, ‘can he go and do that?’ but then he shows them he can.

“This is probably the best day I’ve ever had in racing. Aintree is such a marvellous place, so to have a winner here is fantastic. April (and the Grand National) is a long way away and we will think about that when the time comes, but this is a dream.

“In the final furlong you just want to keep kicking until you are over the line, but I had a little look at the big screen and I could see we were clear. After the line, I was thinking, ‘has that actually just happened?’

“If I can inspire someone from the next generation by winning here today, that’s wonderful.

“Chambard is a lovely horse. He’s very laid back and always has a smile on his face, as you can see – he’s always got his teeth out – and he’s a real yard favourite.”

Owner David Shaw, who lives in Cheshire, said: “We’ve been lucky enough to have a few winners with Venetia – we thought Cheltenham was the pinnacle, but this gets pretty close to that. We love having Lucy on board!”

Becher Handicap Chase
(Grade 3) (National Course)
£150,000 guaranteed, 6yo plus, 3m 1f 188y, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Heavy

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Chambard 11 10-6 Venetia Williams Miss Lucy Turner 18/1
2 13 Coko Beach 8 12-0 Gordon Elliott Danny Gilligan 6/1
3 3¼ Percussion 8 10-2 L J Morgan Harry Reed 6/1
4 22 Celebre D'Allen 11 10-6 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Brian Hughes 7/1
5 99 Lounge Lizard 6 10-2 Henry Daly Charlie Deutsch 11/1
PU Undersupervision 7 10-2 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 9/1
PU Ashtown Lad 9 10-6 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 13/2
PU The Big Breakaway 8 10-13 Joe Tizzard Harry Cobden 11/2F
PU Moroder 9 10-6 Seamus Mullins James Best 22/1
UR Highland Hunter 10 10-13 Fergal O'Brien Paddy Brennan 7/1
UR Sidi Ismael 9 10-2 David Pipe Kevin Brogan 50/1
UR Dorking Cock 9 10-2 S R B Crawford J J Slevin 10/1
NR Minella Trump 9 10-11 Donald McCain NON RUNNER
NR Now Where Or When 8 10-4 S R B Crawford NON RUNNER

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