14:05 Aintree

Saturday 9 December 2023

All11:1011:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (National Course)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 7m 35.15s

Coko Beach^b²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 162

6/1

8-y-o who returned with a good third in the Munster National in October and built on that to land 20-runner Troytown Chase at Navan (3m) 3 weeks ago, typically jumping well and asserting on the run-in. Evidently in rude health but career-high mark demands more.

Form: 441P-31

The Big Breakaway^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard| OR: 147

11/2

Started last term with 2 fine efforts, including when runner-up in Welsh National over Christmas. Given a break and failed to complete final 2 starts (fell early in Grand National) but not disgraced when midfield on last month's return in the Badger Beer. Still, not easy to catch right.

Form: P/22PF-5

Highland Hunter^t⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 147| D

7/1

Thorough stayer who landed the London National at Sandown prior to finishing second in the Welsh National at Chepstow during a light 2021/22 campaign. Highly encouraging return from 21 months off when second on yard debut at Kelso 6 weeks ago and this 10-y-o is of interest.

Form: 25124/2

Celebre D'Allen^p⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140| C

7/1

11-y-o who was largely highly tried in 5 starts last term and he justified good support on back of 7 months off when cruising clear of his 10-rivals to land 25f handicap here in October.

Form: 43408-1

Moroder⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 140| D

22/1

Good strike rate over fences and he resumed winning way in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster in March prior to a career-best second in Bet365 Gold Cup final outing. Stamina assured but needs to leave October's reappearance run at Wincanton in his wake (reportedly bled).

Form: 1/P012-P

Ashtown Lad²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| CD

13/2

Built on an encouraging hurdles return when bagging this race from a 2 lb lower mark 12 months ago, notably travelling/jumping fluently. Lines up here following pair of non-completions, latterly in Badger Beer at Wincanton 4 weeks ago but return to these fences may perk him up.

Form: 3123P-P

Chambard²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140| D

18/1

Ended 2021/22 campaign with success in the Kim Muir at the Festival. Disappointed initially last term but better signs on final start and, from further reduced mark he ran a cracker to finish runner-up on return in amateur's handicap at Cheltenham (25f, soft) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 1/PU44-2

Sidi Ismael^b,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: K Brogan| T: D Pipe| OR: 135

50/1

Hurdles/chase winner who ended last season with a brace of placed efforts in long distance chases at Taunton/Ffos Las. Underwhelming reappearance at Haydock (25.5f) on back of a wind op 2 weeks ago and he'll need to leave that well behind to figure.

Form: 65P22-0

Undersupervision^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134| D

9/1

Unreliable as a rule but showed benefit of his reappearance run when third in big-field amateurs' handicap at Cheltenham (25f) 21 days ago. Operating from a workable mark if he can back that up on first try over these fences for yard with very good record in this race.

Form: PU2P-P3

Percussion^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: L Morgan| OR: 130| D

6/1

3-time winner over fences who is building up a sound record over these fences (third in this race 12 months ago) and he ran another fine race when runner-up in last month's Grand Sefton behind Gesskille. Shortlisted for all he's operating from 6 lb out of the weights.

Form: 3353P-2

Lounge Lizard^b⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: H D Daly| OR: 130

11/1

Looked more straightforward than had previously been the case (in blinkers) when landing small-field handicaps at Catterick/Taunton during second half of last term. Creditable third back from 5 months off when third at Exeter (24.2f) in October but this tougher from out of the weights.

Form: 6311-33

Dorking Cock^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 128

10/1

Lightly raced for this yard and bounced back to form to capitalise on much lower mark over hurdles at Navan (22f, heavy) 3 weeks ago, keeping on well run-in. However, returns to chasing operating from 8 lb out of the weights and others make more appeal.

Form: 13/2P0-1

Non-Runners

Minella Trump²¹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 9

T: D McCain Jnr J: Theo Gillard

Now Where Or When²¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 8

T: S R B Crawford J: Liam Harrison

Forecasts

The Big Breakaway (11/2), Coko Beach (6/1), Percussion (6/1), Ashtown Lad (13/2), Celebre D'Allen (7/1), Highland Hunter (7/1), Undersupervision (9/1), Dorking Cock (10/1), Lounge Lizard (11/1), Now Where Or When (14/1), Chambard (18/1), Minella Trump (20/1), Moroder (22/1), Sidi Ismael (50/1)

Following a lengthy absence, HIGHLAND HUNTER shaped with plenty of promise when runner-up at Kelso 6 weeks ago. With the forecast rain very much in his favour, he's given the nod to confirm the promise of that run now. Last year's winner Ashtown Lad was below his best on return but this has likely been on his agenda for a while and better can be expected. Last month's Grand Sefton runner-up Percussion, Undersupervision and potentially well-treated Now Where Or When complete the shortlist.