Becher Chase

The Becher Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged six years or older. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 3 miles and 2 furlongs (3 miles 1 furlong and 188 yards, or 5,201 metres), and during its running there are twenty-one fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in November or December.

Becher Handicap Chase
Premier Handicap race
LocationAintree Racecourse
Merseyside, England
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorWilliam Hill
WebsiteAintree Becher Chase
Race information
Distance3 miles 1 furlong 188 yards (5,201 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationSix-years-old and up
WeightHandicap
Purse£120,000 (2020)
1st: £67,356
Becher Handicap Chase
2022
Black, silver disc Emerald green, pink armlets, pink cap Dark blue, white armlets
Ashtown Lad Gesskille Percussion
Previous years
2021
Dark blue, black cap Black and pink diabolo, black sleeves, pink cap, black star Maroon and light blue diabolo, light blue sleeves, quartered cap
Snow Leopardess Hill Sixteen Checkitout
2020-2011
2020
Dark green, red cross belts, dark green and beige striped sleeves, dark green cap, red star Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Dark blue, pink chevron, dark blue sleeves, pink stars, pink cap, dark blue star
Vieux Lion Rouge Kimberlite Candy Le Breuil
2019
Dark blue, white stripe and sleeves Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Walk In The Mill Kimberlite Candy Alpha Des Obeaux
2018
Dark blue, white stripe and sleeves Dark green, red cross belts, dark green and beige striped sleeves, dark green cap, red star Black, yellow triple diamond, red sleeves, yellow cap
Walk In The Mill Vieux Lion Rouge Ultragold
2017
Red, white star, red sleeves, black stars, white cap, red star Dark blue and yellow (quartered), striped sleeves Pink, purple cross belts, hooped sleeves, purple cap
Blaklion The Last Samuri Highland Lodge
2016
Dark green, red cross belts, dark green and beige striped sleeves, dark green cap, red star Red, white seams, red sleeves, yellow armlets and stars on red cap Dark blue and yellow (quartered), striped sleeves
Vieux Lion Rouge Highland Lodge The Last Samuri
2015
Red, white seams, red sleeves, yellow armlets and stars on red cap Black, yellow chevrons, yellow sleeves, black armlets, black and yellow striped cap Pea green, mauve cap
Highland Lodge Dare To Endeavour Dolatulo
2014
Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap Dark blue and yellow (quartered), chevrons on sleeves Light green, yellow inverted triangle, yellow sleeves, red diamonds, yellow cap, red diamonds
Oscar Time Mendip Express Saint Are
2013
Mauve, white sash, red cap Black, white sleeves, yellow cap Royal blue, yellow diamond, checked sleeves, royal blue cap, yellow diamond
Chance Du Roy Baby Run Mr Moonshine
2012
Black, white sleeves, yellow cap Royal blue, orange star, royal blue sleeves, orange stars and cap Light blue, royal blue star, white and royal blue check sleeves and cap
Hello Bud Join Together Big Fella Thanks
2011
Red, white sleeves, red spots, brown cap Orange and royal blue (quartered), hooped sleeves White, red chevron, emerald green and red striped sleeves, red cap
West End Rocker Niche Market Ballyvesey
2010-2001
2010
White, royal blue spots, white and royal blue striped cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Hello Bud Royal Rosa One Cool Cookie
2009
Black, yellow diamond, yellow diamonds on sleeves, yellow diamond on cap Emerald green, white seams, white sleeves, emerald green armlets, yellow cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap
Vic Venturi Keenan's Future Royal Rosa
2008
Emerald green, royal blue chevrons on sleeves, emerald green cap, royal blue star Red and royal blue stripes, halved sleeves, red cap Yellow, red diamond, yellow cap, black spots
Black Apalachi Mr Pointment Oulart
2007
Red and Royal Blue stripes, halved sleeves, Red cap Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Mauve, Purple stars, White sleeves
Mr Pointment Bewleys Berry Pak Jack
2006
Light blue, dark blue diamond and diamond on cap Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Maroon and Beige diabolo, diamonds on sleeves, Maroon cap, Beige diamond
Eurotrek Bewleys Berry Dunbrody Millar
2005
RED and YELLOW DIABOLO, red cap, yellow diamonds Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Red, royal blue stars, royal blue sleeves, red diamonds, white cap
Garvivonnian Le Duc Just in Debt
2004
Yellow, light blue hoop Red, royal blue stars, royal blue sleeves, red diamonds, white cap dark blue, pink sash, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap with pink spots
Silver Birch Just in Debt Smarty
2003
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Black, Red and White striped sleeves, hooped cap White, black seams, mauve sleeves, black and yellow quartered cap
Clan Royal Amberleigh House Ardent Scout
2002
White, Black seams, Mauve sleeves, Black and Yellow quartered cap Black, Red and White striped sleeves, hooped cap Dark Blue, Yellow cross belts, collar and cuffs, striped cap
Ardent Scout Amberleigh House Blowing Wind
2001
Black, Red and White striped sleeves, hooped cap dark blue, pink sash, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets, dark blue cap with pink spots Beige, maroon cross of lorraine and sleeves, quartered cap
Amberleigh House Smarty Church Place
2000-1992
2000
Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap White, Black seams, Mauve sleeves, Black and Yellow quartered cap Emerald green, white hoops and sleeves, orange cap
Young Kenny Ardent Scout Paddy's Return
1999
Green, black cross of lorraine, hooped cap, white sleeves Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap Pink and maroon quartered, maroon sleeves, quartered cap
Feels Like Gold Him Of Praise Hollybank Buck
1998
Black, yellow seams, yellow sleeves, quartered cap Black yellow stars, red sleeves, yellow stars on cap Red, White star, Black and Red striped sleeves, Red cap
Earth Summit Samlee Back Bar
1997
Black yellow stars, red sleeves, yellow stars on cap Purple and yellow diamonds, purple sleeves, yellow cap Red, yellow star, hooped sleeves, checked cap
Samlee Court Melody Valiant Warrior
1996
Yellow, white cap, dark blue star Dark Blue, Yellow stripe, Yellow sleeves, Dark Blue armlets and star on Yellow cap Red, black disc and sleeves
Into The Red Young Hustler Glemot
1995
Dark Blue, Yellow stripe, Yellow sleeves, Dark Blue armlets and star on Yellow cap Yellow, black braces and armlets, spots on cap Orange, blue triple diamond, orange sleeves, orange cap
Young Hustler Sir Peter Lely Over The Stream
1994
Yellow, white cap, dark blue star Red, yellow seams and cap Beige, brown hooped sleeves
Into The Red Feathered Gale Whaat Fettle
1993
White, green diabolo on body Black, red sleeves, quartered cap Blue, white star, white sleeves, red armlets, blue cap, white star
Indian Tonic Southern Minstrel Mister Ed
1992
Mauve and yellow check, yellow sleeves Maroon, grey disc and armlets, quartered cap Maroon, beige triple diamond, diabolo on sleeves, hooped cap
Kildimo Four Trix The Antartex
 

It is run over the same fences as Aintree's most famous race, the Grand National, and it serves as an early-season trial for that event. Two winners have gone on to win the Grand National; Amberleigh House and Silver Birch. Earth Summit won the race in 1998 following his Grand National win the previous April.

One of the obstacles jumped is Becher's Brook, which is named in memory of Martin Becher (1799–1864). The Becher Chase was established in 1992, when a new race meeting was introduced at Aintree. For the twenty years prior to this, the Grand National meeting had been the venue's only horse racing fixture of the year. The Becher Chase was upgraded to Grade Three by the British Horseracing Board (BHA) from its 2014 running[1] and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2022 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the BHA.[2]

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

  • Into The Red – 1994, 1996
  • Hello Bud - 2010, 2012
  • Walk In The Mill - 2018, 2019
  • Vieux Lion Rouge - 2016, 2020

Most successful jockey (2 wins):

  • Chris Maude - Indian Tonic (1993), Young Hustler (1995)
  • Tony Dobbin - Into The Red (1996), Feels Like Gold (1999)
  • Sam Twiston-Davies - Hello Bud (2010, 2012)
  • James Best - Walk In The Mill (2018, 2019)

Most successful trainer (6 wins):

  • Nigel Twiston-Davies - Indian Tonic (1993), Young Hustler (1995), Earth Summit (1998), Hello Bud (2010, 2012), Blaklion (2017)

Winners
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Weight
 Jockey
 Trainer
1992 Kildimo 12 10-03 Lorcan Wyer Sue Smith
1993 Indian Tonic 7 10-06 Chris Maude Nigel Twiston-Davies
1994 Into the Red 10 10-04 Richard Guest John White
1995 Young Hustler 8 12-00 Chris Maude Nigel Twiston-Davies
1996 Into the Red 12 10-00 Tony Dobbin Mary Reveley
1997 Samlee 8 10-00 Rodney Farrant Philip Hobbs
1998 Earth Summit 10 12-00 Tom Jenks Nigel Twiston-Davies
1999 Feels Like Gold 11 10-00 Tony Dobbin Nicky Richards
2000 Young Kenny 9 12-00 Russ Garritty Peter Beaumont
2001 Amberleigh House 9 10-09 Warren Marston Ginger McCain
2002 Ardent Scout 10 09-11 Dominic Elsworth Sue Smith
2003 Clan Royal 8 10–12 Liam Cooper Jonjo O'Neill
2004 Silver Birch 7 10-01 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2005 Garvivonnian 10 10-04 Garrett Cotter Ned Mitchell
2006 Eurotrek 10 11-07 Liam Heard Paul Nicholls
2007 Mr Pointment 8 11-05 Sam Thomas Paul Nicholls
2008 Black Apalachi 9 10-05 Denis O'Regan Dessie Hughes
2009 Vic Venturi 9 11–12 Paddy Flood Dessie Hughes
2010 Hello Bud 12 10-05 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
2011 West End Rocker 9 10–10 Wayne Hutchinson Alan King
2012 Hello Bud 14 10-00 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
2013 Chance du Roy 9 10-06 Tom O'Brien Philip Hobbs
2014 Oscar Time 13 10–12 Sam Waley-Cohen[lower-alpha 1] Robert Waley-Cohen
2015 Highland Lodge 9 10-00 Henry Brooke James Moffatt
2016 Vieux Lion Rouge 7 10-09 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2017 Blaklion 8 11-06 Gavin Sheehan Nigel Twiston-Davies
2018 Walk In The Mill 8 10-03 James Best Robert Walford
2019 Walk In The Mill 9 10-08 James Best Robert Walford
2020 Vieux Lion Rouge 11 10-07 Conor O'Farrell David Pipe
2021 Snow Leopardess 9 10-04 Aidan Coleman Charlie Longsdon
2022 Ashtown Lad 8 11-05 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
  1. amateur rider

See also

References
  1. "British Horseracing Authority Announces Upgrades to Jump Pattern Races for 2013/14". Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  2. "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  • Race Recordings
  • Official Site of the Becher Chase
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.