Andy Newton guides us through the Becher Chase trends and stats ahead on the big Aintree race over the Grand National-style fences at the weekend.
Becher Chase The Big Weekend Horse Racing Spectacle At Aintree
If you love horse racing over the jumps, then it doesn’t get much better than the Grand National over the unique fences at Aintree.
Okay, it’s not National weekend ahead, but their tricky obstacles will be in use this Saturday in the Becher Chase – which is one of the big handicap staying races of the season. So we’ve got the next best thing.
Last year we saw the Venetia Williams-trained Chambard power home (watch below) and the 12 year-old is back for more – he’ll be looking to join older winners like Oscar Time (13) and Hello Bud (12 and 14), who landed this prize in their advancing years.
We could also see last year’s second Coko Beach back again – this Gordon Elliott-trained Becher Chase runner will be hoping to be the first Irish winner since Dessie Hughes did the double in 2008 and 2009 with Black Apalachi and Vic Venturi.
But, at the head of the market – the best horse racing betting sites in the UK are suggesting the David Pipe runner King Turgeon is the one to beat.
This good-looking grey was last seen winning the Grand Sefton Chase over these fences last month and despite an 8lb hike in the ratings will be a popular pick to give trainer David Pipe his third win in the race since 2016.
However, read on as there is a key Becher Chase trend below that suggests King Turgeon might just be too young at 6 years-old.
Becher Chase Trends and Stats 2024
Find the best profiles based on past horse racing winners of the 2024 Becher Chase at Aintree.
- 20/22 – Aged 8+
- 18/22 – Won between 2-5 times over fences
- 18/22 – Won over at least 3m (fences)
- 18/22 – No more than 1 start that season
- 17/22 – Ran within the last 7 weeks
- 17/22 – Carried 10-12 or less in weight
- 16/22 – Aged 9 or older
- 14/22 – Raced over these Grand National-style fences
- 13/22 – Officially rated between 123-138
- 12/22 – Irish-bred winners
- 11/22 – Went onto finish unplaced in that season’s Grand National
- 12/22 – Returned a double-figure price in the betting
- 10/22 – Placed favourites
- 8/22 – Ran in the previous season’s Grand National
- 5/22– Favourites
- 4/22 – Won last time out
- 3/22 – Irish-trained winners
- 2/22 – Trained by David Pipe (2 of the last 8)
- 1/22 – Went onto win the Grand National later in their career
- 0/22 – Went onto win the Grand National that same season
- The average winning SP in the last 22 years is 12/1
- Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has won the race 6 times since 1993
- Chambard (18/1) won the race in 2023
King Turgeon Would Be The Youngest EVER Becher Chase Winner
With a massive 20 of the last 22 Becher Chase winners aged 8+, then this is a significant trend to take into the race.
In 2016 Vieux Lion Rouge won the race as a 7 year-old and before that you have to go back to 2004 to find the former Grand National winner Silver Birch winning at the same age.
However, there has NEVER been a Becher Chase winner aged younger than 7 – meaning the 6 year-old King Turgeon would become the youngest ever winner of the race if successful. He’s also the only horse in the field that is aged 6.
Since 2017, there have been five winners aged either 8 or 9 – while don’t be too put off if your fancy if aged in double-figures as since 2005 there have been seven winners aged 10+. Plus, 16 of the last 22 winners were aged 9 or older.
The only two horses aged 10+ this year are – Celebre d’Allen (12), who was 4th in 2023, and last year’s winner Chambard (12)
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
77% Of The Last 22 Becher Chase Winners Carried 10-12 or Less
Being run over 3m2f over some of the hardest fences in the world – then having a slightly lower weight has also helped.
This is backed up with 17 of the last 22 winners carrying 10-12 or less in weight – including last year’s winner Chambard, who had only 10-1.
In fact, it could pay to know that five of the last six winners carried 10st 8lbs or less.
Grand National Trial In All But Name
Many feel that being run over the National fences and over a longer trip of 3m 2f, then it can also be a good pointer to the big race in April.
However, think again.
Since the Becher Chase was first run in 1992, there hasn’t been a single winner follow-up in the National that same season.
Having said that, there are still some links between these two great Aintree races.
Earth Summit won the Becher Chase in 1998 – the season after he landed the National.
While both Amberleigh House and Silver Birch won the National three years after taking the Becher Chase.
How Have The Becher Chase Favourites Fared?
Considering the Becher Chase is often well contested – it’s not been too bad a contest for the market leaders.
In the last 22 runnings, there have been five winning market leaders (23%).
There have also been three winning favourites since 2017, while 10 of the last 22 jollies have been placed.
ITV Racing To Show The 2024 Becher Chase LIVE
The ITV Racing team are also at Aintree this Saturday to take in the 2024 Becher Chase, along with two other contests at the Liverpool venue.
- 1:32 Aintree – BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-145) 2m4f ITV4
- 2:07 Aintree – BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (6yo+) 3m2f ITV4
- 3:17 Aintree – BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4f ITV4
Becher Chase Past Winners (Last 10 Years)
- 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 (8/1)
- 2017 – BLACKLION (7/4 fav)
- 2016 – VIEUX LION ROUGE (8/1 fav)
- 2015 – HIGHLAND LODGE (20/1)
- 2014 – OSCAR TIME (25/1)
WATCH: Chambard Winning The 2023 Becher Chase
You can also get top daily horse racing picks from industry expert Andrew Mount.
