There’s a hugely competitive renewal of the Becher Handicap Chase on Saturday afternoon in what could be rain-softened ground at Aintree and it’s set to be a real war of attrition. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the 3m 1f 188y contest and picks out his 1-2-3 for what can be a race that throws up notable Grand National clues.
CHIANTI CLASSICO
(Jonathan Burke/Kim Bailey)
A dominant four-and-a-half length winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham back in March, Chianti Classico failed to figure in Grade 1 company next time out at Aintree. However, Kim Bailey’s star showed he’s still a top notch stayer when returning with a taking win at Ascot in the Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase. Given a 5lbs rise for that win, the seven-year-old will have the burden of top weight in this event and that’s going to be a tough ask, but he looks like a horse that will relish this sort of test and is the standard setter.
GABORIOT
(Henry Brooke/Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero)
Dominant in the hunter chase arena in recent times, Gaboriot then ran a fine race when finishing third in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase and he’s back to tackle the unique Aintree fences again. A winner over 4m at Cheltenham, the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained eight-year-old will relish the step up in trip which should bring on notable improvement, but he is out of the weights for this event.
KING TURGEON
(Jack Tudor/David Pipe)
David Pipe’s King Turgeon was a cracking winner of the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree last month, where he beat some of Saturday’s rivals in style. Having won at Chepstow a few weeks before, the six-year-old then followed up with a win in that contest and will bid for the hat-trick here. He’s been given a monumental 15lbs rise in the handicap, so while a mark of 133 is still workable, and he showed that he relishes the test this race has to offer, he’s going to need to improve immensely and could be up against it.
THE FIELD
A surprise winner of this race 12 months ago, Chambard is back to try and retain his crown, but the 12-year-old is 5lbs higher this time around and could find it tough. Tom Lacey’s Cruz Control was a winner at Aintree back in April over fences and his recent spin over hurdles should bring him on, but this is a new test for him and it will be interesting to see how he deals with it.
Placed in both the Welsh Grand National and Grand National Trial highlights that Iron Bridge is all about stamina and with the rain-softened ground sure to make this a real tough test then the Jonjo & AJ O’Neill-trained raider could be one doing all his best work in the closing stages. Arizona Cardinal has winning form over these fences having won the Topham Handicap Chase, so is another to consider, whilst Major Dundee and Percussion are another brace of runners that have to be respected.
VERDICT
With it set to be very testing at Aintree on Saturday then you want a proven stayer and IRON BRIDGE is one of those that has shown he can deal with gruelling tests. He is the one to back for this contest and can get the better of Gaboriot, who is another that has excelled over extreme distances, while King Turgeon can blossom again over these obstacles and finish in the bronze medal position.
2024 Becher Handicap Chase Predicted 1-2-3
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