21.11.08 - THE GRAND NATIONAL, RACING AT AINTREE

COMPETITIVE totesport.com BECHER CHASE IN PROSPECT AT AINTREE

totesuper7 GRAND SEFTON HANDICAP CHASE ATTRACTS 16

A top quality field of 16 has been declared for the £120,000 Listed totesport.com Becher Chase (2.50pm), run over three miles and two furlongs of the Grand National course at Aintree on Sunday, November 23, the second day of the Northwest Racing Masters.

Trainer Paul Nicholls will be looking for a third successive victory in the race following on from Eurotrek in 2006 and Mr Pointment last year. Sam Thomas will once again be on board the latter this season, who currently heads the market at 4/1 with the race sponsor totesport. The nine-year-old, who was pulled up before the last fence in this year’s John Smith’s Grand National, comes into the race on the back of a recent pipe-opener over hurdles at Chepstow on October 25.

The champion trainer has also declared Gungadu. The eight-year-old carries top-weight of 11st 12lb and landed the Grade Three Racing Post Chase at Kempton in February. He was third on his seasonal reappearance in a valuable handicap chase at Ascot at the start of November.

Always Waining, successful in a Listed handicap chase at Market Rasen on his latest start at the end of September, has been declared by Welsh handler Peter Bowen, and Howard Johnson, who sent out Bewleys Berry to finish second in this race for the past two years, relies on Ellerslie George, successful at Wetherby last time out.

While plenty of trainers will be eager to see how their horses cope to the unique demands of the National fences, several runners have already experienced the course, including Philson Run, whose three previous appearances over the obstacles included a fourth in the 2007 John Smith’s Grand National.

Nigel Twiston-Davies will be seeking a fourth totesport.com Becher Chase with Irish Raptor, who finished a neck second to Gwanako in the John Smith's Topham Chase at Aintree in April, while Idle Talk will be returning to Merseyside after coming home 14th in the John Smith’s Grand National at the same meeting.

A strong Irish challenge of five includes the Ted Walsh-trained Southern Vic, who took a Grade One novice Chase at Leopardstown in December, 2005, and this year’s Irish National fourth A New Story, from the yard of Michael Hourigan. Grand National-winning trainer Jimmy Mangan is sending over Himalayan Trail, who was successful in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in March for his previous trainer Sue Smith. The Dessie Hughes-trained pair of Black Apalachi and Kerry National second Oulart complete the challenge from across the Irish Sea.

Listed Summer National runner-up Out The Black, Finzi, from the yard of Michael Scudamore, and the Ferdy Murphy-trained pair of Noir Et Vert and Ivoire de Beaulieu complete the 16-strong line-up.

Sunday’s superb six-race card at Aintree also includes the £80,000 totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (1.40pm), a race that also gives horses the chance to experience the world-famous Grand National fences. The extended two-mile, five furlong, contest has attracted a strong field of 16, including the Paul Nicholls-trained Gwanako, who proved a liking for the unique obstacles when winning the John Smith's Topham Chase on only his fourth appearance over fences at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting in April.

The weights are headed by Turpin Green , who was second in the Grade Two John Smith's Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in April, 2006, and went on to finish third to Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following March.

Donald McCain Jnr has declared dual Grade Two runner-up Regal Heights, while Jim Goldie will be hoping to follow up the victory of Lampion Du Bost last year with Endless Power, successful in the John Smith's Winner's Tipple Novices' Handicap Chase at Aintree in April.

The brace of Irish runners is headed by the Eric McNamara-trained Ponmeoath, who scored the biggest success of his career at Listowel in September when winning the Kerry National. Chukchi Country, from the Co Meath yard of Paddy Mooney, is the other Irish raider.

Other notable declared runners include Listed scorers Iron Man and Palarshan, the hat-trick seeking Bill’s Echo and The Hollow Bottom, who has been successful at Aintree on both his previous starts and represents the in-form stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Aintree’s card also includes the £14,000 Weatherbys National Hunt Season Betting Guide Handicap Chase (1.05pm), for which 13 have been declared, and the £30,000 toteswinger Handicap Hurdle (2.15pm), which has attracted a field of 12, headed by the Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore, who was successful over the same course and distance in the Listed John Smith's Handicap Hurdle at the John Smith’s Grand National meeting in April.


totesport.com Becher Chase - totesport’s latest prices

Mr Pointment 4/1, Irish Raptor 6/1, Gungadu 7/1, Idle Talk 8/1, Always Waining 11/1, A New Story 12/1, Oulart 14/1, Out The Black 14/1, Philson Run 14/1, Southern Vic 14/1, Black Apalachi 16/1, Himalayan Trail 16/1, Noir Et Vert 16/1, Ivoire De Beaulieu 25/1, Ellerslie George 33/1, Finzi 66/1

1/4 Places 1, 2, 3, 4

About the Northwest Racing Masters

The Northwest Racing Masters offers the ideal opportunity to experience the tremendous atmosphere of a day at the races on a great winter warming weekend.

Haydock Park takes centre stage on Saturday, November 22, when the highlight is the £225,000 Grade One Betfair Chase, won for the past two years by the mighty Kauto Star, who bids for a third consecutive victory this year.

The card at Haydock Park on November 22 is entirely sponsored by Betfair and also features the £100,000 Betfair "Fixed Brush" Handicap Hurdle over three miles, as well as the three-mile £50,000 Timeform Betfair Racing Club Handicap Chase and the £50,000 Betfair Hurdle for four-year-olds over an extended two miles.

Total prize money for the day comes to a massive £505,000 - the richest-ever day for jump racing at Haydock Park and an increase of £50,000 on the 2007 figure.

On the second day of the Northwest Racing Masters, Aintree will mark the start of the festive period when Father Christmas will pay a visit to the famous racecourse with REAL reindeer! An ice rink with free boot hire is guaranteed to add magic sparkle ahead of the Christmas countdown.

Located in one of the most vibrant regions in the country, the Northwest Racing Masters meeting offers a great opportunity to discover England's northwest. It is an ideal time to combine a love of racing with a visit to Liverpool and the rest of the region.

Haydock Park, St Helens, one of the most visited racecourses in the UK, offers first class racing all year round. It is located half-way between Liverpool and Manchester, just off junction 23 of the M6 motorway.

Aintree Racecourse is home to the John Smith's Grand National and is between Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008, and Southport - the perfect destination for a weekend break with beautiful beaches, great attractions and superb shopping.