13:30 Aintree

Saturday 9 December 2017

All11:5512:2512:5513:3014:0514:3515:10

Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National Course)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 7m 17.70s

The Last Samuri²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 159| D

7/1

Smart stayer who was beaten 6L by Rule The World in the 2016 Grand National, and finished just over 1L third to Vieux Lion Rouge in this race last year. Returned to action with a very pleasing hurdles effort at Kempton last month.

Form: 2/5320-2

Sizing Codelco²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 156| C

25/1

A winner of valuable contests at the Aintree (3m1f) and Punchestown (3m½f) Festivals in April, but has shot up the weights as a result. Hasn't returned in the same form, and was only a moderate sixth in the Bet Victor Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Form: 4011-P6

Blaklion³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 153

7/4

2016 RSA Chase winner who also finished 8¾L fourth to One For Arthur in the 2017 Grand National. Produced a fine seasonal reappearance (prep race) when narrowly beaten by Bristol De Mai in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month.

Form: 45324-2

Vieux Lion Rouge^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 152| CD

7/1

Notched a couple of big pots last season, including when beating Highland Lodge by a short head in this race. Backed that up with a 3m4f success at Haydock (beat Blaklion by 3¼L). Well beaten when fourth in the Charlie Hall latest.

Form: 67/116-4

As De Mee²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| C| D

14/1

2016 Grand Sefton winner who also completed over these fences in the Topham Chase in April when just under 8L fifth to Ultragold. Blew away the summer cobwebs with an easy victory at Kelso in October (3m2f), but far less convincing latest.

Form: 254-214

The Young Master³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 145

28/1

Hard to believe that he's still only eight, and will be forever remembered as the disqualified 2014 Badger Ales Trophy 'winner'. Failed to complete in either attempt over these fences (fell), including when well beaten in the 2016 Becher Chase.

Form: F06F9-U

Lord Windermere²⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: J H Culloty| OR: 144| D

25/1

2014 Gold Cup hero who is in his advancing years and tackles this contest from his lowest handicap mark since February 2013. Has experience of these fences, pulled up in the 2015 National, but an improved 27¾L seventh to One For Arthur in 2017.

Form: PP/2957-

Goodtoknow^b⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 142

14/1

Got to within 6L of One For Arthur in Warwick's Classic Chase in January, before winning at Hereford the following month (3m1f, heavy). Not totally disgraced (13th) in the 2017 Grand National on his sole attempt over these fences.

Form: 521P0-U

Viva Steve^t⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138

12/1

Lacks experience of these fences and possibly hasn't quite proved that he can mix it in this grade of race just yet, but he stays well and was a fair 6L fourth to Potters Point in the Kerry National at Listowel (3m) in mid September.

Form: 25/100-4

Highland Lodge^p²⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 138| CD

12/1

Has been a flag-bearer for this stable, beaten by a short-head by Vieux Lion Rogue when gallantly trying to defend his crown in this race in 2016 (2015 winner). Pulled up in the Grand National (non-stayer). Always respected over these fences.

Form: 721P/2P-

Rogue Angel^b,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: R P McLernon| T: M F Morris| OR: 135

20/1

Could only finish tenth to Vieux Lion Rogue in this contest in 2016, and was pulled up in the Grand National in April. Competes off the back of some low-key efforts in Ireland early this season, for which his handicap mark is falling.

Form: 5PP-96P

Westerner Point²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Phillip Enright| T: E O'Grady| OR: 134| BF

12/1

Boasts a decent strike rate over fences (5 from 9), but has done the vast majority of his racing over shorter trips. However, he has won over 3m over hurdles, and was a runner up over the smaller obstacles at Clonmel last month.

Form: 1411-82

Straidnahanna²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 133| D

40/1

Catterick specialist who looked progressive when winning the 3m6f North Yorkshire Grand National in January 2017. Tackled the Eider, the Grand National and the Scottish Grand National since, and those races appear to have left their mark.

Form: 1P0P-65

Portrait King^p⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: P Griffin| OR: 130

33/1

2012 Eider Chase winner at Newcastle who clearly isn't the force of old. However, he'll most likely pop around these fences without a bother as he did when third in the Topham Chase in April, and also 16L sixth in the Becher Chase in 2016.

Form: B830-2P

Federici^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129

33/1

Tackled these fences in November 2016 in the Grand Sefton when 33L sixth to As De Mee, and comes into this race from a 5lb higher mark than when scoring by 3L at Kelso (2m5f+) last month.

Form: 4P55-51

Non-Runners

Vic De Touzaine²⁸

Weight: 10-6| Age: 8

T: Miss V Williams J: L Treadwell

Forecasts

Blaklion (7/4), The Last Samuri (7/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (7/1), Highland Lodge (12/1), Westerner Point (12/1), Viva Steve (12/1), As De Mee (14/1), Goodtoknow (14/1), Vic De Touzaine (16/1), Rogue Angel (20/1), Sizing Codelco (25/1), Lord Windermere (25/1), The Young Master (28/1), Federici (33/1), Portrait King (33/1), Straidnahanna (40/1)

An exciting renewal of the Becher Chase in which the 2016 1-2-3 Vieux Lion Rogue, Highland Lodge and The Last Samurai all re-commence battle. Vieux Lion Rogue produced some sterling efforts thereafter including when downing BLAKLION at Haydock in February (3m4f), and when finishing sixth to One For Arthur in the Grand National, but he returned with a moderate effort in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October; a race in which the selection was narrowly beaten by the subsequent emphatic Grade 1 Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai. Like 2015 winner Highland Lodge, and the 2016 Grand National runner up The Last Samurai, Blaklion has nothing to prove over these fences after his fine 8¾L Grand National fourth to One For Arthur. Whilst the potential value in his price has fast evaporated following strong ante-post support, he remains the most likely winner. For those seeking an each-way alternative, the Kerry Lee trained Goodtoknow is a viable option. This nine-year-old wasn’t totally disgraced in finishing 13th in the Grand National in April on his first attempt over these fences, and his earlier 6L second to One For Arthur in Warwick’s Classic Chase represents a rock-solid effort.