Becher Chase: Mr Vango and Johnnywho head betting as entries are revealed

Mr Vango (Sara Bradstock) and Johnnywho (Jonjo & AJ O’Neill) head the betting as 8-1 joint-favourites for the £150,000 William Hill Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday 6th December.

Run over just short of three and a quarter miles, the William Hill Becher Handicap Chase is the second of the five contests scheduled to take place over the world famous Grand National fences during the course of the season.

Colonel Harry (Jamie Snowden, 10-1) is joint second-favourite, having already been successful over the Grand National fences this season in the William Hill Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree on November 8th, when he defeated Gaboriot (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, 16-1).

There is added interest with this year’s William Hill Becher Handicap Chase being the first of the three contests in the exciting new “William Hill Half A Mill” bonus scheme.

The “William Hill Half A Mill” offers £500,000 to connections if the winner of either the William Hill Becher Handicap Chase, William Hill Classic Chase (Warwick, January 10th) or William Hill Grand National Trial (Haydock Park, February 14th) go on to triumph in the Randox Grand National at Aintree on April 11th.

Three horses – Earth Summit, Amberleigh House and Silver Birch – have won both the Becher Handicap Chase and the Grand National although none of the trio completed the double in the same season.

Weights for the William Hill Becher Handicap Chase will be revealed on Tuesday 18th November. 

Art Decco 9 Buckingham, Chapman, Langford & Ritzema Robert Walford 

Beauport (IRE) 9 Bryan & Philippa Burrough Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies 

Better Days Ahead (IRE) 7 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland 

Bill Baxter (IRE) 9 Glassex Ltd Warren Greatrex 

Bioluminescence (IRE) 7 Mr John P. McManus Gavin Cromwell Ireland 

Chambard (FR) 13 David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams 

Colonel Harry (IRE) 8 The GD Partnership Jamie Snowden 

Deep Cave (IRE) 7 Sue Howell Christian Williams 

Dom of Mary (FR) 9 Mr P. J. Cave James Owen 

Excello (FR) 6 Mrs Angela Yeoman Nicky Henderson 

Fairlawn Flyer 9 Mr Ross Williams Mickey Bowen 

Favori de Champdou (FR) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland 

Gaboriot (FR) 9 Mr G. C. Myddelton Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero 

Galia des Liteaux (FR) 9 Mr Michael Ariss Dan Skelton 

Grandeur d'Ame (FR) 9 Syders & Burkes Alan King 

Henry's Friend (IRE) 8 Elizabeth and Oliver Troup Ben Pauling 

Iron Bridge (IRE) 9 Hemmings Racing Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill 

Jet Plane (IRE) 9 Norman Lake & Susan Carsberg Dan Skelton 

Johnnywho (IRE) 8 Mr John P. McManus Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill 

King Turgeon (FR) 7 Somerset Racing David Pipe 

Mahons Glory (IRE) 9 C Nightingale & Hold My Beer Partnership Dylan Cunha 

Marble Sands (FR) 9 DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson David Killahena & Graeme McPherson 

Mister Coffey (FR) 10 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson 

Monbeg Genius (IRE) 9 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill 

Mr Vango (IRE) 9 Cracker and Smodge Partnership Sara Bradstock 

Nassalam (FR) 8 John and Yvonne Stone Gary & Josh Moore 

Richmond Lake (IRE) 9 Hemmings Racing Donald McCain 

Roi Mage (FR) 13 Pryde/Van Der Hoeven/McGladery/Beaumont Patrick Griffin Ireland 

Tanganyika (FR) 7 Mrs C. S. Wilson Venetia Williams 

The Changing Man (IRE) 8 Susan and John Waterworth Joe Tizzard 

The Short Go (IRE) 8 Mr N. Byrne Henry de Bromhead Ireland 

Twig 10 Mrs G. Morgan Ben Pauling 

Val Dancer (IRE) 8 The Val Dancers Mel Rowley 

Westerninthepark (IRE) 7 The Box 8 Partnership Olly Murphy 

White Rhino (IRE) 9 The Rhino Syndicate Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero 

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “We’re very excited to see the entries revealed for the William Hill Becher Chase, the first William Hill Half A Mill race of the season, where Mr Vango and Johnnywho head the market as 8/1 joint-favourites. We know Mr Vango is Sara Bradstock’s pride and joy, and whilst he didn’t get a run in the 2025 Randox Grand National, the 2026 renewal may well be the target should he prevail in December.

“It wouldn’t be Randox Grand National talk without mention of JP McManus, and he’s represented by some notable entries, including Johnnywho. He finished close-up when fifth in the William Hill Grand Sefton and looks likely to relish this extra half mile. He could yet put himself in the mix for the William Hill Half A Mill.

“The first seven home from the Grand Sefton are all entered again, including the winner Colonel Harry at 10/1. Gaboriot follows at 16/1, with Excello at 20/1 and the front-running Mahons Glory at 33/1.

“Gordon Elliott’s Cheltenham Festival winner, Better Days Ahead, stands out among his entries at 14/1, with Bioluminescence, for William Hill Ambassador Gavin Cromwell, another to note at 20/1. She’s a high-class mare, and the Randox Grand National has already been mentioned as a possible long-term target.”

8-1 Mr Vango, Johnnywho

10-1 Colonel Harry, Beauport

14-1 Better Days Ahead

16-1 The Changing Man, Gaboriot, Galia des Liteaux, Iron Bridge

20-1 The Short Go, Excello, Val Dancer, Bioluminescence, Tanganyika, King Turgeon, Monbeg Genius, Bill Baxter, White Rhino, Henry's Friend

25-1 Dom of Mary, Twig, Westerninthepark, Marble Sands, Mister Coffey

33-1 Deep Cave, Favori de Champdou, Nassalam, Richmond Lake, Roi Mage, Mahons Glory, Jet Plane

50-1 Fairlawn Flyer, Art Decco, Grandeur d'Ame

66-1 Chambard.