Three horses who have galloped to glory over the
fences will cross swords in the BoyleSports Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday.
Chambard returns to defend the crown he won last year, while King Turgeon seeks to complete a notable double after landing the Grand Sefton last month. Meanwhile, Arizona Cardinal returns to the scene of his Topham win in April.
All bar two of the past 14 winners have carried 10st 12lb or less to victory, so I’m going to break with convention and list the horses in the runner-by-runner guide below from bottom weight to top weight.
In other words, do not adjust your digital platform.
On The Wire Special: Andrew Blair-White is joined by Gavin Lynch, Dan Overall and Mark Boylan to discuss this weekend's Tingle Creek, as well as the BoyleSports-sponsored card at Aintree, which includes the Becher Chase.
12 PERCUSSION
Boylesports odds: 16-1.
Has finished third in the past two editions of this race, including when 6lb out of the handicap on heavy ground 12 months ago.
The trouble is, he’s again 6lb wrong at the weights and he failed to make any impact in the Grand Sefton last month (his first subdued effort in five runs over the Grand National fences).
Maybe he needed the run after a four-month break, although the fact he’s equipped with a first-time visor suggests connections believe he is keeping something to himself. You have to travel back to May 2022 for his last win.
RaceiQ clue: His Jump Index score was a fine 8.7 in the Grand Sefton.
11 GABORIOT
Boylesports odds: 4-1.
King Turgeon won the Grand Sefton, with Gaboriot in third
This chestnut has won five of his past eight races and ran a cracker when a keeping-on third to King Turgeon in the Grand Sefton last month, especially considering he was returning from a 164-day break plus was entitled to find the combination of 2m5f on good ground an inadequate test.
After all, his previous exploits had included winning over an extended 4m on heavy ground at Cheltenham in May.
He gets a 2lb pull with King Turgeon, is entitled to be sharper and won’t have any problem with the longer trip or ground. Henry Brooke might have to skip breakfast to do 10st 2lb but he’s got a fabulous record over the big fences, winning the Becher on Highland Lodge in 2015 plus the Grand Sefton on Gesskille in 2023.
RaceiQ clue: He lost 1.65 lengths with his jumping in the Grand Sefton, surrendering almost eight lengths to King Turgeon.
10 NOW HERE OR WHEN
Boylesports odds: 33-1.
This Irish challenger has been off more than seven months and looks exposed. Other than Sean Bowen being booked to ride, it’s hard to find many positives. Was declared for last year’s race but was a late non-runner because the heavy going was deemed unsuitable. The ground may well be similar by 2.07pm on Saturday.
RaceiQ clue: The metrics point to him being a sound jumper.
9 MAJOR DUNDEE
Boylesports odds: 14-1.
This dour stayer is only 1lb higher in the ratings than when scooping the Midlands National in March 2023 but that’s his only success in the past three years.
He has not always been the most predictable – like so many of Scorpion’s offsping – but he’s entitled to be sharper for his return at Bangor last month (well adrift of Celebre D’Allen and Monte Igueldo) and, if this does turn into a slog, then it could play to his strengths.
However, he does have to prove the spruce fences are his cup of tea.
RaceiQ clue: He gained almost six lengths with his jumping at Bangor, despite being well held.
8 MONTE IGUELDO
Boylesports odds: 28-1.
Began his chasing career with successive years but the past two years have been barren, with the handicapper seemingly in charge.
Made the frame in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in late June at 125-1 and ran creditably when third to Celebre D’Allen on his return at Bangor, although he got tired after the final fence, hinting that a true-run race over 3m on soft ground was as far as he wanted.
He will need to show even greater reserves of stamina here, and he’s still 16lb higher in the ratings than when last successful.
RaceiQ clue: His recent Jump Index scores have included returns of 6.9 and 7.1. He will need to do better.
7 KING TURGEON
Boylesports odds: 4-1.
This French recruit has been a revelation this season, jumping superbly when winning n his return at Chepstow, and doing likewise when scooping the Grand Sefton last month.
However, he’s gone up an aggregate of 15lb for those wins, with an 8lb rise for his Aintree triumph looking a bit tough given the next three home were not far behind.
Those improved efforts also came on ground that included the word “good” in the going description (Timeform assessed the ground for the Grand Sefton as “good” all over) after a wind op.
His record in the mud is less convincing and my worry is that the much deeper terrain will blunt his powers.
RaceiQ clue: His Jump Index scores this term have been 8.8 and 8.6. He gained more than 27 lengths with his leaping at Chepstow, and more than six lengths at Aintree.
6 IRON BRIDGE
Boylesports odds: 15-2.
He’s won off a 1lb higher mark in the past, but don’t get too carried away as that success came in a match and his opponent pulled up lame.
That said, he does look to figure on the kind of rating he can exploit, as he’s now 6lb lower than when a distant runner-up in the Welsh Grand National 12 months ago.
This is Plan B for him as he was an intended runner in the Coral Gold Trophy last weekend, only to miss out because the ground was deemed to be quick.
Underfoot conditions won’t be an issue here and he jumps/stays well enough, for all that he has a touch of the slows about him and is not the most fluent.
RaceiQ clue: Has often surrendered many lengths with his jumping.
5 CRUZ CONTROL
Boylesports odds: 7-1.
This imposing gelding shone at the Grand National meeting in April, when making all in the 3m 1f handicap chase on the Mildmay Course.
He also ran creditably at Punchestown the following month, and it’s safe to assume that his run over hurdles back at Aintree in late October was designed to blow away a few cobwebs.
Cruz Control remains relatively unexposed a s a stayer and his fifth in last season’s Eider Chase didn’t get to the bottom of him. If he takes to the Grand National fences, then he should make his presence felt, although he is likely to have competition for the lead.
RaceiQ clue: In his past three starts over fences, he's gained 10.5 lengths, 15.84 lengths and 14.72 lengths with his jumping.
4 ARIZONA CARDINAL
Boylesports odds: 12-1.
He’s developing something of an all-or-nothing profile, winning four of his past seven races and being pulled up in the other three.
The eight-year-old jumped superbly when landing the Topham off a 5lb lower mark in April and has form at up to 3m, plus seems in his element when the mud is flying.
He folded quite tamely on his return at Chepstow, and I was inclined to give him a pass on account of the good going and possible lack of fitness. However, he has since had a wind op, plus missed the Grand Sefton, which had been on his agenda.
That double, plus the fact he will be tackling a longer trip, is enough to put me off him, albeit his stable is in excellent heart.
RaceiQ clue: Gained 11 lengths with his jumping in the Topham.
3 CHAMBARD
Boylesports odds: 12-1.
The 2022 Kim Muir winner won last year’s edition of this race by 13 lengths on ground (heavy) which may well be similar this weekend. And his regular rider, Lucy Turner, is still able to take 5lb off his back.
That victory 12 months ago was followed by three dull efforts and, rising 13 after a nine-month absence off a 5lb higher mark, plenty will be tempted look elsewhere.
However, he’s unlikely to lack for fitness and his stable is in red-hot form, so he's unlikely to give up his title without a fight.
RaceiQ clue: Gained 14.76 lengths with his jumping in the Becher last year but in his three other races lost at least six lengths each time.
2 CELEBRE D’ALLEN
Boylesports odds: 12-1.
Traded odds-on in-running last year but he didn’t get home and ended up being beaten the best part of 40 lengths.
That’s a big worry heading into the latest edition, for all that he confirmed his effectiveness at Aintree when a close fourth in the Topham in April, and made a winning return over 3m at Bangor (does excel when fresh) when ridden by a 7lb conditional (Callum Pritchard) who is quickly going places.
It’s interesting that connections are having a second stab at the race – perhaps they identified another reason why he didn’t last home – but he’s gone up 7lb for his comeback win and so, a few weeks from turning 13, is off a career-high mark.
RaceiQ clue: He's got plenty of negative numbers and low Jump Index scores on his CV.
1 CHIANTI CLASSICO
Boylesports odds: 4-1
Kim Bailey tells Lydia Hislop about Chanti Classico's Cheltenham success
He’s the class act in the line-up, but that is reflected by him having to concede 10lb and upwards.
His jumping was assured when he landed the Ultima on heavy ground at Cheltenham in March, and he was far from disgraced when fourth in Grade One company at Aintree the following month.
Chianti Classico resumed winning ways when landing a valuable prize on his return over 3m at Ascot, defying 12st with a bit to spare, for all he got the run of things.
A 5lb rise need not be insurmountable but this will be a different kind of test and his chances of him controlling this from the front look slim, with King Turgeon and Cruz Control also likeing to be in the thick of the action.
You have to stretch back to Young Kenny, in 2000, to find the last winner of this humping 12st to victory. His connections won't be crestfallen if he runs well but fails to win, given this is probably about giving him experience of the course ahead of a tilt at the Grand National in April.
RaceiQ clue: Gained more than 16 lengths with his jumping when landing the Ultima and scored at Ascot despite losing 1.4 lengths with his leaping.
VERDICT
With plenty more rain forecast, the emphasis will be firmly on stamina and jumping prowess. King Turgeon, Cruz Control and Chianti Classico all look players but it is not difficult to envisage a scenario whereby they compromise the chance of each other. GABORIOT will relish a thorough test and, with only 10st 2lb to shoulder, he should make a bold bid.
1 GABORIOT. 2 Cruz Control. 3 Chambard.
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