Grand Sefton Chase winner King Turgeon favourite for Becher Chase at Aintree

David Pipe's Aintree scorer King Turgeon heads the betting at 11-2 after he was among the 40 entries for the £135,000 BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase back on Merseyside on Saturday, December 7.

The six-year-old grey ran out a fine winner on his first try over the famous Randox Grand National fences in the BoyleSports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree Racecourse last Saturday. Now he is the sponsors' market leader to double up over the big Aintree obstacles in the 3m2f feature in just over three weeks' time. King Turgeon had won on his seasonal return at Chepstow last month and made a successful debut over the Grand National fences when landing the 2m4f contest. If he returns to Aintree he will be stepping up in trip for the Becher Chase.

Another trainer who has won over the Grand National fences in the past is Lambourn-based Warren Greatrex and he has Abuffalosoldier among the entries for next month's Becher Chase. Greatrex won the 2023 Randox Topham Handicap Chase with Bill Baxter. Abuffalosoldier, who is a 16-1 chance with the sponsors BoyleSports, will be in action at Cheltenham this Sunday (November 17) in the Holland Cooper Handicap Chase before a possible trip to Merseyside. The seven-year-old won over fences at Newbury last season and was runner-up on his seasonal reappearance in the Best Mate Handicap Chase at Exeter last month.

Greatrex said today: “Abuffalosoldier will probably run at Cheltenham on Sunday and then it’s three weeks until the Becher Chase, so Aintree is something we are thinking about. It would depend on the ground, as he does much prefer Good ground. He is a very good jumper and I think the Grand National fences will be right up his street. It is definitely something we do want to do with him but it is ground dependent. If all goes well on Sunday, the Becher Chase is something we will contemplate as he is a proper stayer who jumps and travels well. He will be exciting to watch around Aintree.

“He is in very good form at the moment and had a good first run of the season at Exeter last month, which he has come out of very well. He would have a big chance on Sunday. I think the top-weight runs at Cheltenham, so he will have a nice racing weight of 10st 3lbs and the three miles and three furlongs should suit as he stays so well. He is a horse we have taken our time with and he has not been over-raced. Physically, I think he is now able to cope with everything and I would like to think this season and next season that he will really kick on. Hopefully we will reap the rewards as he has got plenty of ability.”

Other entries for the Becher include horses with winning form over the big Aintree obstacles. Tim Ellis' Latenightpass won the Randox Foxhunters' Chase at the 2022 Grand National Festival and was 12th in the world's greatest steeplechase in April. He made his seasonal return in last Saturday's Grand Sefton Chase, but could only finish 10th to King Turgeon. Stuart Edmunds' Arizona Cardinal also won over the National fences, when landing the Topham Chase in April and he is a 16-1 chance for the Becher.

There are seven Irish-trained runners among the 40 entries with Gordon Elliott's Coko Beach, who was runner-up in last season's Becher Chase and also 11th in the National itself, a 14-1 chance to become only the third winner from the Emerald Isle and a first since Dessie Hughes' Black Apalachi in 2009.

The weights for the Becher Chase will be revealed this Tuesday November 19).

Entries for the £135,000 BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Grand National Course) 3m1f188y, 2,07pm, Aintree Racecourse, Saturday, December 7

Name (bred), age, owner, trainer

Abuffalosoldier (IRE) 7 Mahler & The Wailers Warren Greatrex
Arizona Cardinal 8 Oakman Racing Club Stuart Edmunds
Ask Anything (IRE) 6 Macatwi Partnership Gavin Cromwell (Ireland)
Autonomous Cloud (IRE) 8 Mr Terry Warner & The McNeill Family Fergal O'Brien
Ballygrifincottage (IRE) 9 Friends From Insurance Dan Skelton
Bowtogreatness (IRE) 8 Harry Redknapp & Sophie Pauling Ben Pauling
Celebre d'Allen (FR) 12 Mr Allan Stennett Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
Chambard (FR) 12 David & Carol Shaw Venetia Williams
Chianti Classico (IRE) 7 Sir Francis Brooke & R A Pilkington Kim Bailey
Coko Beach (FR) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott (Ireland)
Cruz Control (FR) 7 Mr F Green and Mr J Chinn Tom Lacey
Dorking Cock (IRE) 1 0 Stuart Crawford/SF McElroy Stuart Crawford (Northern Ireland)
Fantastic Lady (FR) 9 Mr ER Hanbury Nicky Henderson
Frenchy du Large (FR) 9 Mr Andrew Wiles Venetia Williams
Frero Banbou (FR) 9 Mr P Davies Venetia Williams
Gaboriot (FR) 8 Mr GC Myddelton Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Highstakesplayer (IRE) 8 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Tom Lacey
In Love (FR) 6 Mr A Peake/Mr S Macauley/Famille Bryant Hugo Merienne (France)
Iron Bridge (IRE) 8 Hemmings Racing Jonjo & AJ O'Neill
Java Point (IRE) 9 Mr N T Griffith & H M Haddock Henry Oliver
Kandoo Kid (FR) 8 Mr Michael Geoghegan Paul Nicholls
King Turgeon (FR) 6 Somerset Racing David Pipe
Kinondo Kwetu 8 Gunalt Partnership Sam England
Latenightpass 11 Mrs PA Ellis Tom Ellis
Le Milos 9 The Jolly Good Partnership Dan Skelton
Mahler Mission (IRE) 8 Colm Herron & Rockview Racing Syndicate John McConnell Ireland
Major Dundee (IRE) 9 Hemmings Racing Alan King
Monbeg Genius (IRE) 8 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & AJ O'Neill
Monte Igueldo (FR) 7 S Beetham and DPL Fab Ltd Gary Hanmer
Now Where Or When (IRE) 9 Mrs Margaret McCrudden S. R. B. Crawford Northern Ireland
Passing Well (FR) 7 Goulden, Hopgood Gillies, Methven, Sanderdson Jamie Snowden
Percussion 9 Mr ER Hanbury Laura Morgan
Placenet (FR) 7 Prof C Tisdall & G Thompson D Cottin (France)
Regal Blue (IRE) 7 Martin Tedham & Wasdell Properties Ltd. Jonjo & AJ O'Neill
Richmond Lake (IRE) 8 Hemmings Racing Donald McCain
Rock My Way (IRE) 6 J P Romans & Nick Case Anthony Charlton
Tyre Kicker (FR) 7 C. Reynolds Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Undersupervision (IRE) 8 Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd Nigel Twiston-Davies
Yeah Man (IRE) 7 J.R Brennan & Martin Hannan Gavin Cromwell Ireland
Your Own Story (IRE) 8 Mrs J Kehoe, Wymer & Russell Lucinda Russell

40 entries (7 Irish-trained) (2 French-trained)

Sharon McHugh, Head of PR & Sponsorship at BoyleSports, said: “We are thrilled with the quality of the entries for the BoyleSports Becher Chase and while Ireland look to hold a strong hand, the likes of King Turgeon, who landed the BoyleSports Grand Sefton last time, and Chianti Classico form a formidable challenge for the home contingent over these famous fences.”

BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase, BoyleSports odds (each-way terms 1/4 odds 1-2-3-4): 11-2 King Turgeon, 11-1 Kandoo Kid, 12-1 Highstakesplayer, Chianti Classico, Fantastic Lady, 14-1 Iron Bridge, Coko Beach, 16-1 Abuffalosoldier, Arizona Cardinal, Bowtogreatness, Cruz Control, Gaboriot, Mahler Mission, Monbeg Genius, 18-1 Regal Blue, 20-1 Ask Anything, Autonomous Cloud, Le Milos, Richmond Lake, Yeah Man, 22-1 In Love, Latenightpass, Percussion, Undersupervision, Your Own Story, 25-1 Ballygrifincottage, Celebre D’Allen, Major Dundee, Tyre Kicker, 28-1 Chambard, Java Point, Kinondo Kwetu, Passing Well, 33-1 Frenchy Du Large, Frero Banbou, Monte Igueldo, Rock My Way, 40-1 Dorking Cock, 50-1 Now Where Or When, Placenet.