Blaklion heads 18 runners for Becher Handicap Chase as Moffatt saddles Highland Lodge and Just A Par

 

Thursday, December 6, 2018 – Blaklion goes for back-to-back victories in the £150,000 G3 Becher Handicap Chase (1.30pm) over the iconic Grand National fences at Aintree on Saturday, December 8, Becher Chase Day.

 

A flawless round of jumping propelled Blaklion (Sam Twiston-Davies, 11st 10lb) to an impressive nine-length victory in 2017 and the nine-year-old has the chance to emulate Into The Red (1994 & 1996) and Hello Bud (2010 & 2012), who are the only multiple winners of the Becher Handicap Chase.

 

Blaklion’s trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies also saddles G3 Scottish Grand National second Ballyoptic (11st 7lb, Tom Bellamy), as he chases an unprecedented seventh victory in the three and a quarter mile highlight.

 

There are two other previous Becher Handicap Chase winners among the 18 runners in Vieux Lion Rouge (David Pipe/Tom Scudamore, 10st 12lb) and Highland Lodge (Moffatt/Henry Brooke, 10st 1lb).

 

Highland Lodge has contested the race three times since joining Cumbria trainer Jimmy Moffatt, winning in the 2015, going down by a short-head to Vieux Lion Rouge in 2016, and finishing third last year.

 

Now a 12-year-old, Highland Lodge has not run since being pulled up in the G2 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park in January.

 

Just A Par (Sean Quinlan, 10st 12lb) also makes his debut for the stable, having not been since the 2017 Bet365 Gold Cup, a race he won in 2015, when trained by Paul Nicholls.

 

Just A Par has raced three times over the Grand National fences, with his best effort coming when 14th behind One For Arthur in the 2017 Randox Health Grand National.

 

Jimmy Moffatt said today: “Highland Lodge has had a good summer and is very, very well in himself.

 

“We have aimed at the Becher Handicap Chase for the last three years and he has always performed very well.

 

“It does not seem like age is catching up with him because his work has been very good, particularly over the last three weeks.

 

“The race seems to suit him above all others and he does run very well fresh. We have geared the last four or five months around this one day.

 

“Just A Par has not run for a while and we bought the horse at the August sales. He had been in pre-training at Di Turner’s, which is a holding yard for Cheveley Park Stud who originally owned him, and he was recommended to me by Di.

“Di said the horse had done very well and that the minor joint problem, which had kept off the track, had sorted itself out with no issues since.

“We have prepared Just A Par the same way we have prepared Highland Lodge. Although they have been working separately, they have been doing similar work, and my thinking was that if we can get one horse ready for it, there is no reason why we couldn’t get another one ready.

“If I ran Just A Par in a 0-150 chase off of his mark of 146, I am not sure he will have the legs of those horses, but I do believe that the Grand National fences poses a different angle for all horses.

 

“Highland Lodge is case in point as he struggles over regulation chases but over the Grand National fences he seems to be a different horse, and I am hoping Just A Par will be similar.”

 

The weights are headed by Gigginstown House Stud’s Don Poli (Gordon Elliott IRE/Jack Kennedy, 11st 12lb), one of six Irish-trained runners. A multiple G1 winner over fences for Willie Mullins, the nine-year-old has been restricted to just three starts since joining Gordon Elliott in the autumn of 2016, the latest of which saw him finish a close third in the G1 Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February, 2017.

 

Elliott’s other runner Noble Endeavour (Keith Donoghue, 11st 4lb), last seen out when sixth behind Our Duke in the 2017 Irish Grand National, is out to defy a 600-day absence.

 

The Irish challenge also features Crosshue Boy (Sean Doyle IRE/David Mullins, 10st 10lb), who landed a valuable novices' handicap chase at Ayr in the spring, Call It Magic (Ross O’Sullivan IRE/Mark Enright, 10st 1lb), Fine Theatre (Paul Nolan IRE/Paddy Brennan, 10st) and Dare To Endeavour (Patrick Griffin IRE/Adam Short (3), 10st).

 

Ultragold (Colin Tizzard/Tom O’Brien, 11st) boasts an excellent record over the Grand National fences, having captured the last two renewals of the Randox Health Topham Chase, including at odds of 50/1 in 2017.

 

Present Man (Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost, 11st 3lb) and Missed Approach (Warren Greatrex/Mr Sam Waley-Cohen (3), 10st 12lb) are both aiming for another big handicap success in 2018. Present Man landed the Listed Badger Ales Trophy for the second year on the trot at Wincanton last month, while Missed Approach captured the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

 

Recent Cheltenham third Walk In The Mill (Robert Walford/James Best, 10st 3lb), Regal Flow (Bob Buckler/James Bowen, 10st 6lb), Mustmeetalady (Jonjo O’Neill/Richie McLernon, 10st) and Federici (Donald McCain/Brian Hughes, 10st) complete the 18 runners.

 

Aintree’s seven-race programme also includes the £80,000 Betway Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (3.15pm, 19 runners), run over the intermediate distance of two miles and five furlongs over the Grand National fences, and the £60,000 G2 Betway Many Clouds Chase (2.05pm, 13 entries)) over three miles and a furlong on the Mildmay Course. Declarations for both races will be made tomorrow morning.

 

The going at Aintree is currently Soft on the Grand National course and Soft on the Mildmay course. 

 

Becher Chase Day will include a parade of horses who have won or run well over the Grand National fences.

 

Those parading are as follows:

 

Always Waining (Topham Handicap Chase winner 2010, 2011, 2012)

Cassia Heights (Topham Handicap Chase winner 2004)

Chance Du Roy (Becher Handicap Chase winner 2013)

Dunbrody Millar (Topham Handicap Chase winner 2007)

Saint Are (Third in the 2014 Becher Handicap Chase & runner-up in the 2015 Grand National & third in the 2017 Grand National)

Scots Grey (Foxhunters' Chase winner 2007)

 

Grand National Festival’s betting partner Betway to sponsor Many Clouds Chase and Grand Sefton Handicap

 

Betway, the official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival, will now also sponsor Aintree’s Many Clouds Chase and Grand Sefton Handicap on Saturday, December 8, Becher Chase Day.

 

The leading online bookmaker has been a principal sponsor at the Merseyside track since signing a deal to sponsor at the Grand National Festival in 2016, and the latest agreement will see Betway take on two more significant races in the Jump racing calendar.

 

Betway’s Alan Alger said: “We are delighted to be extending our sponsorship at Aintree where, for the past two seasons, we have thoroughly enjoyed being the official betting partner of the Randox Health Grand National Festival.

 

“Aintree offers top quality racing throughout the jumps season and this Saturday’s Betway Many Clouds Chase and Betway Grand Sefton Handicap Chase both look like being brilliant contests.”

 

John Baker, Aintree Racecourse Managing Director, said: “Betway is a longstanding partner of the Randox Health Grand National and we are delighted that it is to sponsor on such a key date in the lead up to next year’s festival.

 

“Sponsoring two key races in the Betway Many Clouds Chase, where 2017 Randox Health Grand National winner One For Arthur is set to make his comeback, and the Betway Grand Sefton Handicap Chase, which will see horses take on those iconic National fences, Betway are affirming their commitment to Aintree, home of the world’s greatest chase.”

 

About Aintree Racecourse / The Jockey Club

 

Aintree is home to The Randox Health Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world which is the climax to a three-day Festival meeting in April every year. The racecourse hosts five other fixtures and is a leading conference centre in the north west of England. 

 

More information is available at  aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Aintree is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny we make goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. We were founded in 1750 and today we are the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and our charity, Racing Welfare.

 

For more information visit  www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

For further information please contact:

Grant Rowley, Regional Communications Manager, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07884 655990 or email:    Grant.Rowley@thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Jessica Dalgliesh, Senior Communications Executive, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07464 491507 or email:    Jessica.Dalgliesh@thejockeyclub.co.uk