It’s back over the Grand National-style fences this Saturday and the Becher Chase 2024 runners are headed by recent Grand Sefton Chase winner King Turgeon as he looks to give trainer David Pipe a third win in this Aintree race.
King Turgeon One Of The Main Becher Chase Runners For Aintree Showpiece
Having led for much of the way in the Grand Sefton Chase, King Turgeon jumped his rivals silly that day over the Grand National fences (watch below) and so his horse racing supporters will be hoping for more of the same this Saturday in the Becher Chase at Aintree.
Both races are staged over the unique Grand National-style fences – so any entries with proven experience over these obstacles always has an advantage. This is backed up with 14 of the last 22 Becher Chase runners having run over these Aintree fences in the past.
King Turgeon Would Be The Youngest Becher Chase Winner EVER
As a result, it’s no shock to see King Turgeon as one of the big fancies with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK – as the David Pipe-trained 6 year-old looks to land the famous double.
However, with the Grand Sefton run over 2m5f and the Becher Chase over 3m 2f – this good-looking grey has an extra five furlongs to travel, but he did win over this trip at Chepstow in October.
Plus, he’ll also be looking to become the youngest ever Becher Chase winner – with no 6 year-old winners since the race was first run in 1992 and only three 7 year-old winners (Indian Tonic, Silver Birch and Vieux Lion Rouge – who was also trained by David Pipe).
Becher Chase Runners 2024
There are currently 17 Becher Chase runners entered for Saturday’s big Aintree race – with the final declarations out on Thursday 5th December.
- Arizona Cardinal
- Celebre d’Allen
- Chambard
- Chianti Classico
- Cruz Control
- Gaboriot
- Iron Bridge
- King Turgeon
- Major Dundee
- Monte Igueldo
- Now Where Or When
- Percussion
Grand Sefton Third Gaboriot Expected To Love The Longer Becher Chase Trip
We also saw another horse run well in the 2024 Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree – Gaboriot – who was third and only 4 1/4 lengths adrift of King Turgeon.
There will be a small weight pull (2lbs) in favour of Gaboriot this time, but his backers will also look to the longer trip being more up his street – having finished the race off well that last day at Aintree.
This Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained 8 year-old has also proven stamina – winning over 4m at Cheltenham last season.
Since 2017, there have been three winning 8 year-olds of the Becher Chase.
2023 Becher Chase Winner Chambard Back For More
We saw Walk In The Mill winning the Becher Chase in ‘back-to-back’ years in 2018 and 2019 – the latest horse that will be trying for a repeat win is Chambard.
This Venetia Williams runner is rated 5lbs higher than last year’s 13-length romp – when he had another possible 2024 Becher Chase runner Coko Beach back in second. While that win also came on heavy ground, so connections will be hoping for more rain at Aintree this week.
Some will be put off by his age (12), but the Becher Chase is no stranger to seeing older winners.
Since 1992, there have been three winners aged 12, and we even saw a 13 year-old winner (Oscar Time, 2014) and the 14 year-old Hello Bud go in back in 2010.
In fact, based on the Becher Chase trends, 5 of the last 14 winners were aged 11+.
WATCH: Chambard Winning The 2023 Becher Chase
2024 Becher Chase Race Details
📅Date: Saturday 7th December 2024
⌚Time: 3:07pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 3m 2f
💷Winning Purse: £75,776
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Three Becher Chase Winners Have Landed The Grand National (but not in the same season)
The Becher Chase is also often billed as a decent Grand National trial race – despite being staged four months prior to the big Aintree showpiece race.
However, we are yet to see a Becher Chase winner follow-up in the same season.
One of the most recent to try was Snow Leopardess, who won the Becher Chase in 2021, but even though she was sent off 10/1 for the National, was pulled up that year.
Having said all this, the Becher Chase and the Grand National do still have some big links – just not in the same campaign.
Earth Summit won the National in 1998 and added the Becher Chase the following season.
While Becher Chase winners Silver Birch and Amberleigh House both won the Grand National three years later.
The most successful Becher Chase trainer is Nigel Twiston-Davies – but he’s not got a runner this year in 2024.
Becher Chase Recent Winners
- 2023 – CHAMBARD (18/1)
- 2022 – ASHTOWN LAD (5/1)
- 2021 – SNOW LEOPARDESS (4/1 fav)
- 2020 – VIEUX LION ROUGE (12/1)
- 2019 – WALK IN THE MILL (8/1)
- 2018 – WALK IN THE MILL (10/1)
- 2017 – BLAKLION (7/4 fav)
- 2016 – VIEUX LION ROUGE (8/1 fav)
- 2015 – HIGHLAND LODGE (20/1)
- 2014 – OSCAR TIME (25/1)
