14:07 Aintree

Saturday 7 December 2024

All11:4712:2212:5713:3214:0714:4215:17

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

6YO plus | Class 1 | 3m 1f 188y | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 157

Quickly developed into a smart chaser last term, gaining his third win in the Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham. Signed off with a very good fourth in Mildmay Novices' Chase at this venue (25f) and picked up where he left off with a dominant win at Ascot a month ago. More to come.

Form: 11214-1

Celebre D'Allen^p²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 147| C

Still capable of useful form, landing a veterans' handicap here (25f) on last season's reappearance and just about as good as ever when scoring on November's return to action at Bangor. Shaped quite well in this race last year but this is on the limit of his stamina.

Form: 145U4-1

Chambard²⁷⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 145| CD

Ended 2021/22 campaign with success in the Kim Muir and added another valuable handicap to his tally in this race a year ago. Revised mark enough to halt him in competitive contests to end the campaign but has a good record fresh and yard in form.

Form: 4/21P88-

Arizona Cardinal^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 142| CWS

Admirable sort who won 4 of 6 starts last term, ending his campaign with career-best victory in 24-runner Topham Handicap Chase (21.1f, soft) over these fences in April. Almost certainly needed the run on October's return to action and better expected on the back of a breathing operation.

Form: PP111-P

Cruz Control^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 140| C

Ended last term with 3m chase win here and shaped well when fourth of 12 in handicap chase at Punchestown (24.5f, soft) a month later under an attacking ride. Spin over hurdles here in October should have put him spot on for this and he's the type to take well to these fences.

Form: 25114-7

Iron Bridge³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 136| D

Useful handicapper who was placed in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow and Grand National Trial at Haydock last winter. Made an encouraging return to action at Carlisle 5 weeks ago but this might not place quite enough emphasis on stamina for him.

Form: P23P8-3

King Turgeon^t,p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 133| C| D

Had another breathing op and took his form to a whole new level when making a winning reappearance at Chepstow and confirmed he's a handicapper on the up with a superb jumping display to follow up in the Grand Sefton (21.1f) here a month ago. Further 6 lb rise looks within range.

Form: 652U-11

Monte Igueldo^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: G Hanmer| OR: 132

Racked up a hat-trick at the end of 2022. Lightly raced since but a trio of placed effort at up to 26.1f confirm he's in good order. Finished tired at Bangor 3 weeks ago and this a relatively quick turnaround.

Form: P/4P-323

Major Dundee^v²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A King| OR: 130

Career best when landing the Midlands Grand National in 2023 and encouraging third at Warwick on last season's return. In the process of running creditably when unseating 2 out in the Eider at Newcastle and should strip fitter with this Bangor reappearance (behind Celebre D'allen) behind him.

Form: 1/35PU-6

Now Where Or When^t²²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 129

Down in the weights and finished sixth in the Ulster National in April. Has won following a similar absence in the past but this looks a shade too competitive trying these fences for the first time. Usual cheekpieces left off.

Form: P/57496-

Gaboriot^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 128

Superb strike rate in recent times, winning 5 times since October 2023 (3 hunters and a couple of open handicaps). Took pretty well to these fences at the second time of asking when third to King Turgeon in the Grand Sefton last month and he's a player despite being out of the weights.

Form: 31U-113

Percussion^v1²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: L Morgan| OR: 125| D

On a lengthy losing run but he ran right up to form when second from out of the weights in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in June. A regular over these fences but was a bit disappointing when mid-field to King Turgeon a month ago and he's 6 lb out of the weights.

Form: P42-427

Forecasts

Chianti Classico (7/2), King Turgeon (4/1), Gaboriot (9/2), Cruz Control (7/1), Iron Bridge (8/1), Arizona Cardinal (12/1), Celebre D'Allen (12/1), Chambard (14/1), Major Dundee (14/1), Percussion (16/1), Monte Igueldo (25/1), Now Where Or When (50/1)

A second breathing operation has transformed KING TURGEON, who produced a tremendous round of jumping on his first go over these fences when winning the Grand Sefton here a month ago. The step back up in trip won't be a problem so he's preferred to Chanti Classico and Cruz Control, both of whom are expected to take to this test.