Racing returns to the famous Grand National fences at Aintree on Saturday, 7 December – Becher Chase Day.

The highlight is the £150,000 G3 Randox Health Becher Chase, which takes place over three and a quarter miles of the Grand National course. There are 59 entries for the 2019 renewal, one more than in 2018.

Several horses who have excelled over the Grand National fences have been entered, including 2017 Randox Health Grand National hero One For Arthur (Lucinda Russell) and Pleasant Company (Willie Mullins), one of seven Irish-trained entries, who finished the fast-finishing head runner-up to Tiger Roll in the 2018 running of the world’s greatest chase. Two previous Randox Health Becher Chase winners are also among the entries – 2016 scorer Vieux Lion Rouge (David Pipe) and Walk In The Mill (Robert Walford), successful in 2018.

The 11-times champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls has won the Randox Becher Chase three times courtesy of Silver Birch (2004), Eurotrek (2006) and Mr Pointment (2007). His four entries this year are headed by Give Me A Copper, who recorded the most significant victory of his career to date when taking the Listed Badger Beers Silver Trophy Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong at Wincanton on 9 November. The lightly-raced nine-year-old is part-owned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Harry Derham, assistant trainer to Paul Nicholls, reported: “Give Me A Copper has come out of Wincanton in good form.

“It was great to see him get his head in front on his first start of the season.

“He has always been a horse we have liked and were delighted with his performance.

“Paul has indicated that the Becher Chase could now be an intended target, with the Grand National a potential long-term aim.

“As De Mee and Sametegal are potentially other horses who could head to Aintree in December for the Becher or Grand Sefton."

Several high-class performers have been entered including Ballyoptic (Nigel Twiston-Davies), recent winner of the G2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Gloucestershire-based Twiston-Davies is the most successful trainer in the history of the Randox Health Becher Chase with six victories and could also rely on last season’s Scottish Grand National fourth Blue Flight.

Fourth behind Ballyoptic at Wetherby was Definitly Red (Brian Ellison), who has landed four G2 contests including the Many Clouds Chase on Becher Chase Day in 2018. 

Other interesting contenders include Le Breuil (Ben Pauling), winner of the G2 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in 2019, Scottish-trained challenger Lake View Lad (Nick Alexander) and Mulcahy’s Hill (Warren Greatrex), a second season novice who was impressive when winning at Cheltenham last month.

Vintage Clouds (Sue Smith) was a good runner-up in the G3 Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last season but got no further than the first in the Randox Health Grand National.

39 for Virgin Bet Grand Sefton Handicap Chase

Also taking place over the Grand National fences on Becher Chase Day is the £80,000 Virgin Bet Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

Among the 39 entries is the aforementioned As De Mee, the winner in 2016 and owned jointly by The Stewart Family and Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench.

Another contender is Ultragold (Colin Tizzard). The 11-year-old is a real Aintree specialist, having twice landed the G3 Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase over the same distance at the Randox Health Grand National Festival in 2017 and 2018.

Weights for the Randox Health Becher Chase and Virgin Bet Grand Sefton Handicap Chase will be revealed on Wednesday, November 20.

2018 Gold Cup hero Native River set to return in Best Odds Guaranteed At Virgin Bet Many Clouds Chase

The £60,000 Best Odds Guaranteed At Virgin Bet Many Clouds Chase takes place over the Mildmay Course at Aintree on Becher Chase Day.

Staged over three miles and a furlong, it was first run in 2011 and upgraded to G2 level in 2017, when it was renamed to honour the late 2015 Grand National hero Many Clouds who won this race in 2016.

Colin Tizzard is eyeing the Best Odds Guaranteed At Virgin Bet Many Clouds Chase for the return of Native River, winner of the G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold in 2018. The nine-year-old was last seen when fourth to Al Boum Photo in the 2019 renewal of chasing’s Blue Riband.

Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer to his father, revealed: “Native River is in good form. All being well, he will run in the Many Clouds in December.

“He is in full work and we were always going to start off with him a bit later this year.

“We are very happy with him and Aintree looks a good starting point.

“The main aim this year again I’m sure is the Gold Cup. He has been to five Cheltenham Festivals and has always run with credit.

“I think he does need a bit of cut in the ground as that just helps him. He has never been the quickest and that just slows the rest down a little bit.

“We have talked about a tilt at the Grand National at home, but it is something we will properly discuss when we get him back on the track."

The G2 Best Odds Guaranteed At Virgin Bet Many Clouds Chase closes for entries on Monday, December 2.

The Randox Health Becher Chase

Grade 3 handicap chase, £150,000 total prize fund. Three miles two furlongs (Grand National fences), 1.30pm, Saturday, 7 December. For six-year-olds and upwards. Penalties: after November 17, a winner of a chase 3lb; no penalty to increase a horse above 11st 12lb. Entries closed November 12 (59 entries), five-day confirmations December 2, final declarations December 5. Maximum field of 30 plus two reserves.

Horse	Age	Owner	Trainer
Abolitionist (IRE)	11	M Albon, J A Provan & C E Stedman	Dr Richard Newland
Alpha des Obeaux (FR)	9	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
Amalfi Doug (FR)	9	The County Set (Seven) & Partner	Keith Dalgleish
Ami Desbois (FR)	9	The Reserved Judgment Partnership	Graeme McPherson
As de Mee (FR)	9	The Stewart Family & Judi Dench	Paul Nicholls
Ballydine (IRE)	9	Alan Halsall	Charlie Longsdon
Ballyoptic (IRE)	9	Mills & Mason Partnership	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Blue Flight (FR)	6	J Fyffe	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Borice (FR)	8	Simon Munir/Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE
Burtons Well (IRE)	10	Trevor Hemmings	Venetia Williams
Call It Magic (IRE)	9	Mrs Z Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
Captain Redbeard (IRE)	10	S Coltherd	Stuart Coltherd
Commodore (FR)	7	Mrs C Watson & Mrs S Graham	Venetia Williams
Crosspark	9	C W Booth	Caroline Bailey
Definitly Red (IRE)	10	Phil & Julie Martin	Brian Ellison
Dingo Dollar (IRE)	7	M Warren J Holmes R Kidner & J Wright	Alan King
Double Shuffle (IRE)	9	Crossed Fingers Partnership	Tom George
Dragon d'Estruval (FR)	6	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
Fact of The Matter (IRE)	9	The Sandylini Racing Partnership	Jamie Snowden
Federici	10	M Four Properties Ltd	Donald McCain
General Principle (IRE)	10	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
Get On The Yager	9	Dick and Mandy Higgins	Dan Skelton
Give Me A Copper (IRE)	9	Done, Ferguson, Mason, Nicholls & Wood	Paul Nicholls
Gold Opera (IRE)	10	Straightline Bloodstock	Keith Dalgleish
Heist (IRE)	9	Griffin Plus One Partnership	Patrick Griffin IRE
Hogan's Height (IRE)	8	Foxtrot Racing: Hogan's Height	Jamie Snowden
I Just Know (IRE)	9	C M Scholey	Sue Smith
Impulsive Star (IRE)	9	Robert Waley-Cohen & Men Holding	Neil Mulholland
Keeper Hill (IRE)	8	McNeill Family	Warren Greatrex
Kimberlite Candy (IRE)	7	J P McManus	Tom Lacey
Lake View Lad (IRE)	9	Trevor Hemmings	Nick Alexander
Late Romantic (IRE)	9	Spitalized Racing	Oliver Greenall
Le Breuil (FR)	7	Emma Palmer	Ben Pauling
Like The Sound (FR)	8	STG Racing Partnership	Charlie Mann
Lord Bryan (IRE)	8	Jayne Brace & Gwyn Brace	Peter Bowen
Milansbar (IRE)	12	Robert Bothway	Neil King
Minellacelebration (IRE)	9	Nick Elliott	Katy Price
Mulcahys Hill (IRE)	7	McNeill Family and Prodec Networks Ltd	Warren Greatrex
Mysteree (IRE)	11	Lynne Maclennan	Michael Scudamore
One For Arthur (IRE)	10	Two Golf Widows	Lucinda Russell
Out Sam	10	D Charlesworth	Gordon Elliott IRE
Pleasant Company (IRE)	11	Malcolm C Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
Rathlin Rose (IRE)	11	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe
Regal Encore (IRE)	11	J P McManus	Anthony Honeyball
Regal Flow	12	Mrs C J Dunn	Bob Buckler
Relentless Dreamer (IRE)	10	Nigel Morris	Rebecca Curtis
Rocky's Treasure (IRE)	8	J Perriss	Kim Bailey
Rolling Dylan (IRE)	8	Miss I D Du Pre	Philip Hobbs
Royal Vacation (IRE)	9	Jean Bishop	Colin Tizzard
Sametegal (FR)	10	John & Barbara Cotton	Paul Nicholls
Sharp Response (IRE)	8	Formulated Polymer Products Ltd	Sue Smith
Singlefarmpayment	9	N T Griffith & H M Haddock	Tom George
Thomas Patrick (IRE)	7	David Kellett	Tom Lacey
Top Ville Ben (IRE)	7	Harbour Rose Partnership	Philip Kirby
Touch Kick (IRE)	8	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR)	10	Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent	David Pipe
Vintage Clouds (IRE)	9	Trevor Hemmings	Sue Smith
Walk In The Mill (FR)	9	Baroness Harding	Robert Walford
Wandrin Star (IRE)	8	Mrs Penny Perriss	Kim Bailey

 

59 entries

7 Irish-trained

The Virgin Bet Grand Sefton Handicap Chase

Class 2 handicap chase, £80,000 total prize fund. Two miles and five furlongs (Grand National fences), 3.15pm, Saturday, 7 December. For six-year-olds and upwards. Penalties: after November 17, a winner of a chase 3lb; no penalty to increase a horse above 11st 12lb. Entries closed November 12 (39 entries), five-day confirmations December 2, final declarations December 6. Maximum field of 30.

Horse	Age	Owner	Trainer
Amalfi Doug (FR)	9	The County Set (Seven) & Partner	Keith Dalgleish
As de Mee (FR)	9	The Stewart Family & Judi Dench	Paul Nicholls
Ballyhill (FR)	8	S Such & CG Paletta	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Beau Bay (FR)	8	Peter Green & Dr RDP Newland	Dr Richard Newland
Bigmartre (FR)	8	P J Dixon & C Nash	Harry Whittington
Bun Doran (IRE)	8	Crossed Fingers Partnership	Tom George
Call It Magic (IRE)	9	Mrs Z Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
Captain Redbeard (IRE)	10	S Coltherd	Stuart Coltherd
Casablanca Mix (FR)	7	E R Hanbury	Nicky Henderson
Cusheen Bridge (IRE)	11	Pete & Pauline Wordingham	Charles Pogson
Didero Vallis (FR)	6	Lady Bolton	Venetia Williams
Divine Spear (IRE)	8	Middleham Park Racing LXII	Nicky Henderson
Doitforthevillage (IRE)	10	The Rockbourne Partnership	Paul Henderson
Dragon d'Estruval (FR)	6	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
Federici	10	M Four Properties Ltd	Donald McCain
Flying Angel (IRE)	8	R J Rexton	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Gold Present (IRE)	9	John & Barbara Cotton	Nicky Henderson
Gwencily Berbas (FR)	8	Aidan J Ryan	Eric McNamara IRE
Heist (IRE)	9	Griffin Plus One Partnership	Patrick Griffin IRE
Hogan's Height (IRE)	8	Foxtrot Racing: Hogan's Height	Jamie Snowden
It's Jennifer (FR)	7	Tim Johnson	Louisa Carberry FR
Kayf Adventure	8	Louisville Syndicate	Philip Hobbs
Keeper Hill (IRE)	8	McNeill Family	Warren Greatrex
Killaro Boy (IRE)	10	H & H Partnership	Henry Oliver
Kimberlite Candy (IRE)	7	J P McManus	Tom Lacey
Lord Bryan (IRE)	8	Miss Jayne Brace & Gwyn Brace	Peter Bowen
Mercian Prince (IRE)	8	Paul Murphy	Amy Murphy
O O Seven (IRE)	9	Christopher Hanbury	Nicky Henderson
Pleasant Company (IRE)	11	Malcolm C Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
Princeton Royale (IRE)	10	D Nott, P Beadles, R Clarke	Neil King
Sametegal (FR)	10	John & Barbara Cotton	Paul Nicholls
San Benedeto (FR)	8	P J Vogt	Paul Nicholls
Tea For Two	10	Jane Williams & Len Jakeman	Jane Williams
The Dubai Way (IRE)	7	N W A Bannister	Charlie Mann
Top Ville Ben (IRE)	7	Harbour Rose Partnership	Philip Kirby
Touch Kick (IRE)	8	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
Ultragold (FR)	11	Brocade Racing J P Romans Terry Warner	Colin Tizzard
What A Moment (IRE)	9	Bryan Drew & Steve Roper	David Pipe
Wishfull Dreaming	8	J C England and Valerie Beattie	Sam England

 

39 entries

4 Irish-trained

1 French-trained