Becher Chase
The Becher Chase is a Grade Three National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged six years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 2 furlongs (3 miles 1 furlong and 188 yards, or 5,201 metres), and during its running there are twenty-one fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in November or December.
| Grade 3 race | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse Merseyside, England |
|---|---|
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | William Hill |
| Website | Aintree Becher Chase |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3 miles 1 furlong 188 yards (5,201 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Six-years-old and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | £120,000 (2020) 1st: £67,356 |
| 2020 | ||
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| Vieux Lion Rouge | Kimberlite Candy | Le Breuil |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
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| Walk In The Mill | Kimberlite Candy | Alpha Des Obeaux |
| 2018 | ||
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| Walk In The Mill | Vieux Lion Rouge | Ultragold |
| 2017 | ||
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| Blaklion | The Last Samuri | Highland Lodge |
| 2016 | ||
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| Vieux Lion Rouge | Highland Lodge | The Last Samuri |
| 2015 | ||
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| Highland Lodge | Dare To Endeavour | Dolatulo |
| 2014 | ||
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| Oscar Time | Mendip Express | Saint Are |
| 2013 | ||
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| Chance Du Roy | Baby Run | Mr Moonshine |
| 2012 | ||
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| Hello Bud | Join Together | Big Fella Thanks |
| 2011 | ||
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| West End Rocker | Niche Market | Ballyvesey |
| 2010 | ||
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| Hello Bud | Royal Rosa | One Cool Cookie |
| 2009 | ||
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| Vic Venturi | Keenan's Future | Royal Rosa |
| 2008 | ||
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| Black Apalachi | Mr Pointment | Oulart |
| 2007 | ||
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| Mr Pointment | Bewleys Berry | Pak Jack |
| 2006 | ||
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| Eurotrek | Bewleys Berry | Dunbrody Millar |
| 2005 | ||
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| Garvivonnian | Le Duc | Just in Debt |
| 2004 | ||
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| Silver Birch | Just in Debt | Smarty |
| 2003 | ||
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| Clan Royal | Amberleigh House | Ardent Scout |
It is run over the same fences as Aintree's most famous race, the Grand National, and it serves as an early-season trial for that event. Two winners have gone on to win the Grand National; Amberleigh House and Silver Birch. Earth Summit won the race in 1998 following his Grand National win the previous April.
One of the obstacles jumped is Becher's Brook, which is named in memory of Martin Becher (1799–1864). The Becher Chase was established in 1992, when a new race meeting was introduced at Aintree. For the twenty years prior to this, the Grand National meeting had been the venue's only horse racing fixture of the year. The Becher Chase was upgraded to Grade Three by the British Horseracing Board from its 2014 running.[1]
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Into The Red – 1994, 1996
- Hello Bud - 2010, 2012
- Walk In The Mill - 2018, 2019
- Vieux Lion Rouge - 2016, 2020
Most successful jockey (2 wins):
- Chris Maude - Indian Tonic (1993), Young Hustler (1995)
- Tony Dobbin - Into The Red (1996), Feels Like Gold (1999)
- Sam Twiston-Davies - Hello Bud (2010, 2012)
- James Best - Walk In The Mill (2018, 2019)
Most successful trainer (6 wins):
- Nigel Twiston-Davies - Indian Tonic (1993), Young Hustler (1995), Earth Summit (1998), Hello Bud (2010, 2012), Blaklion (2017)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Weight |
Jockey |
Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Kildimo | 12 | 10-03 | Lorcan Wyer | Sue Smith |
| 1993 | Indian Tonic | 7 | 10-06 | Chris Maude | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 1994 | Into the Red | 10 | 10-04 | Richard Guest | John White |
| 1995 | Young Hustler | 8 | 12-00 | Chris Maude | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 1996 | Into the Red | 12 | 10-00 | Tony Dobbin | Mary Reveley |
| 1997 | Samlee | 8 | 10-00 | Rodney Farrant | Philip Hobbs |
| 1998 | Earth Summit | 10 | 12-00 | Tom Jenks | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 1999 | Feels Like Gold | 11 | 10-00 | Tony Dobbin | Nicky Richards |
| 2000 | Young Kenny | 9 | 12-00 | Russ Garritty | Peter Beaumont |
| 2001 | Amberleigh House | 9 | 10-09 | Warren Marston | Ginger McCain |
| 2002 | Ardent Scout | 10 | 09-11 | Dominic Elsworth | Sue Smith |
| 2003 | Clan Royal | 8 | 10–12 | Liam Cooper | Jonjo O'Neill |
| 2004 | Silver Birch | 7 | 10-01 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
| 2005 | Garvivonnian | 10 | 10-04 | Garrett Cotter | Ned Mitchell |
| 2006 | Eurotrek | 10 | 11-07 | Liam Heard | Paul Nicholls |
| 2007 | Mr Pointment | 8 | 11-05 | Sam Thomas | Paul Nicholls |
| 2008 | Black Apalachi | 9 | 10-05 | Denis O'Regan | Dessie Hughes |
| 2009 | Vic Venturi | 9 | 11–12 | Paddy Flood | Dessie Hughes |
| 2010 | Hello Bud | 12 | 10-05 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2011 | West End Rocker | 9 | 10–10 | Wayne Hutchinson | Alan King |
| 2012 | Hello Bud | 14 | 10-00 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2013 | Chance du Roy | 9 | 10-06 | Tom O'Brien | Philip Hobbs |
| 2014 | Oscar Time | 13 | 10–12 | Sam Waley-Cohen[lower-alpha 1] | Robert Waley-Cohen |
| 2015 | Highland Lodge | 9 | 10-00 | Henry Brooke | James Moffatt |
| 2016 | Vieux Lion Rouge | 7 | 10-09 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 2017 | Blaklion | 8 | 11-06 | Gavin Sheehan | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2018 | Walk In The Mill | 8 | 10-03 | James Best | Robert Walford |
| 2019 | Walk In The Mill | 9 | 10-08 | James Best | Robert Walford |
| 2020 | Vieux Lion Rouge | 11 | 10-07 | Conor O'Farrell | David Pipe |
- amateur rider
References
- "British Horseracing Authority Announces Upgrades to Jump Pattern Races for 2013/14". Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- aintree.co.uk – 2009 John Smith's Grand National Media Guide.
- pedigreequery.com – Becher Chase – Aintree.