Randox Health Becher Chase
Grade 3 Handicap,
National Course, Aintree 13:30
£145,000 added, 6yo plus,
3m 1f 188y, Class 1   entries
Saturday 9th December 2017

1 Blaklion 7/4F
2 The Last Samuri 7/1
3 Highland Lodge 12/1
15 ran NR: Vic De Touzaine Distances: 9l, 5l, 2¾l
Time: 7m 18.90s (slow by 40.90s)

Blaklion wins the Becher Chase! What a performance

Blaklion
© Racehorse Photos
Blaklion
Second to stablemate Bristol De Mai on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, Blaklion was sent off a heavily-supported 7-4 favourite and he never looked in any danger.

Last year's Grand National fourth did not put a foot wrong under Gavin Sheehan and he was cut across the board for the April showpiece by the bookmakers after he bolted up by nine lengths for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies. 

Aintree regulars The Last Samuri and Highland Lodge once again showed their affection for the fences but were ultimately well beaten in second and third respectively. 

Twiston-Davies told ITV Racing: "It was a superb round of jumping, but it's a relief to see him win. We had a brilliant jumper fall in an earlier race so it's lovely when they go round like that. 

"It was exactly what we'd hoped for. He didn't seem to quite get home in the National last year, but we dropped back a mile and our prayers have been answered. 

"Others will come out of the woodwork for the National I'm sure, but he must have a very good chance if we ride him a bit more restrained, like we did today - we've only got eight lengths to find. 

"I'll think about how we get there, he might wait for the Grand National Trial at Haydock and then the National. We'll think about the Gold Cup, but hopefully we've got that sorted (with Bristol De Mai)."

Betfred Becher Handicap Chase
(Grade 3) (National Course)
£145,000 added, 6yo plus, 3m 1f 188y, Class 1
15 ran
Going: Heavy

Pos D Horse SP JockeyWeight Trainer Age
1st Blaklion 7/4f G Sheehan
11-6
N A Twiston-Davies 8
2nd 9 The Last Samuri (IRE) 7/1 David Bass
11-12
K C Bailey 9
3rd 5 Highland Lodge (IRE) 12/1 Henry Brooke
10-5
James Moffatt 11
4th Federici 33/1 W T Kennedy
10-0
D McCain Jnr 8
5th Portrait King (IRE) 33/1 C O'Farrell
10-0
P Griffin 12
6th 6 The Young Master 28/1 Mr S Waley-Cohen (3)
10-12
N P Mulholland 8
7th 38 Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 7/1 T Scudamore
11-5
D Pipe 8
8th 6 Westerner Point (IRE) 12/1 P T Enright
10-1
E O'Grady 8
PU Sizing Codelco (IRE) 25/1 T J O'Brien
11-9
C L Tizzard 8
PU Goodtoknow 14/1 J E Moore
10-9
Kerry Lee 9
PU Viva Steve (IRE) 12/1 J J Burke
10-5
F O'Brien 9
PU Rogue Angel (IRE) 20/1 R P McLernon
10-2
M F Morris 9
PU Straidnahanna (IRE) 40/1 Sean Quinlan
10-0
Mrs S J Smith 8
F Lord Windermere (IRE) 25/1 B Hughes
10-11
J H Culloty 11
UR As De Mee (FR) 14/1 Sean Bowen
11-2
P F Nicholls 7
NR Vic De Touzaine (FR) L Treadwell
10-6
Miss V Williams 8

Randox Health