The Becher Chase has a familiar looking feel to it with last year’s winner Vieux Lion Rouge re-opposing Highland Lodge (second), The Last Samuri (third) and Portrait King (sixth) all in attendance.
David Pipe’s charge is 10lbs higher, and it was a bit of a lacklustre comeback run behind the current favourite Blaklion, who went down fighting to Bristol De Mai in the Charlie Hall Chase.
The form of that race has been firmly boosted and Blaklion looks a worthy favourite with recent form over the National fences to boot.
He didn’t quite last out the trip having gone for home too early in the race in March to finish fourth. But is weighted to hold the placings with Vieux Lion Rouge, however in a race that always requires a bit of luck in running he is passed over at his current short price.
Highland Lodge is getting on in years, but does love it around here having won this race two years ago before idling to finish second last year. He is just one pound higher but the heavy going might just dampen his chances.
Goodtoknow should be fine over the conditions and can stay the trip although his jumping could often be better.
The Irish haven’t won this race since Vic Venturi landed it in 2009, but WESTERNER POINT will relish the extremely testing conditions and could be primed for a huge run on just his tenth start over fences.
He boasts a record of five wins from nine chase starts all of which, have been on going of soft or worse. He comes from the small yard of Eoghan O’Grady who has had this race in mind for some time and he has been carefully preserving his handicap mark this season.
He is yet to run further than 2.5 miles over the larger obstacles, but he stayed the three mile trip well to win a handicap hurdle at Cork in March. He has since raced twice over hurdles this season and looked in good form last time out over the same distance to finish a staying on second to Folsom Blue.
Westerner Point needs to improve a fair few pounds to win this, but he looks a natural jumper so there is every chance he will take to these fences over a flat track which is sure to suit. He remains unexposed and carries a featherweight of 10st 1lb.
The 12/1 still about for this eight-year-old still looks decent enough value after support from bigger prices particularly if the 16 runners line-up tomorrow.
0.75pts each-way Westerner Point @12/1, 13:30 Aintree, Saturday (1/4 odds, 1,2,3,4 places with Skybet, who are offering money back as a free bet if you finish 2nd, 3rd, or 4th)