Gaboriot (red cap) was runner-up in the Grand Sefton

Josh Guerriero on Becher Chase pair Gaboriot and White Rhino

By Sporting Life

Horse Racing

Fri December 05, 2025 · 3w ago

Josh Guerriero expects Grand Sefton runner-up Gaboriot to appreciate the step up to three and a quarter miles in Saturday's William Hill Half A Mill Becher Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old is a proven stayer and has now been placed in the Grand Sefton on two occasions, having been third to King Turgeon last November.

This year he was beaten just two lengths when a staying-on second behind the classy Colonel Harry and he returns to Aintree on Saturday in top shape, according to the joint-trainer.

Guerriero said on Friday's Nick Luck Daily Podcast: "Gaboriot has come back bouncing, he seems to love it around there.

"He shows a different level of form over those fences and the extra trip will definitely help him, it'll just help him travel a bit easier.

"He's got no weight and I'd like to think he'll go alright."

The Guerriero and Oliver Greenall yard is also represented in the race by Sean Bowen's mount, White Rhino, who could finish only ninth of 17 in the Grand Sefton.

"A horse fell in front of him and he had to dodge that," said Guerriero while reflecting on last month's unplaced effort. "From then on he was a little bit far back and ballooning his fences - taking too much time in the air.

"He (Sean Bowen) said he was just trying to get his confidence back, finish his race off, which he did. He's come back fresh, hopefully he enjoyed it in the end as he jumped a lot better the last mile. And if he did enjoy it and has improved a bit, hopefully he'll go alright on Saturday.

"He does seem to stay very well, he won over four miles over hurdles at Cheltenham."

Jagwar beats Thecompanysergeant

Next weekend could see stable star Jagwar, a winner at the Cheltenham Festival in March, make his eagerly-awaited comeback in the December Gold Cup.

"That's the plan," said Guerriero. "Obviously it was a bit frustrating not to be able to run at Cheltenham the first time in the Paddy Power (Gold Cup) but his first run on heavy ground, we just thought... he's quite a big, weak-looking horse and you go and bottom him out in the Paddy Power then it takes forever to recover and puts him a step back for the season.

"So we decided not to. Hopefully the ground won't be the same next weekend and we can run."

Meanwhile, AJ O'Neill is looking forward to the return of Monbeg Genius in the same race.

"He's put in a few good performances, sometimes be can be a little bit puzzling," the joint-trained told Sky Sports Racing.

"He's a horse who does tend to come on for a first run."

"He seemed to jump away nicely around Aintree during the National, I'd say the ground was quick enough and he does like plenty of cut in the ground."

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