Racecards
13:40 Aintree
Betfred Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National Course) (Class 1)
- 17 Runners
- Distance: 3m 1f 188y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places. National: Soft, Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £140,000 added
- Winner: £78,582
- 2nd: £29,554
- 3rd: £14,770
- 4th: £7,378
- Form 8/613F8-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
held up in rear, mistake 11th, behind from 15th
- Form U73123
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer J T R Dreaper
- Jockey J J Burke
tracked leaders, lost place before 8th, well behind 3 out
- Form 333126
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
led until 4th, stayed handy, mistake 18th, one pace when hampered 2 out, no extra last
- Form 213F2-8
- Age 12
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer D A McLoughlin
- Jockey R T Dunne
chased leaders, challenged 17th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace from elbow
- Form F13U15
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer M S Sandra Hughes
- Jockey B J Cooper
prominent, mistake 8th, blundered and lost place next, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 281800
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
held up in touch, ridden before 2 out, stayed on from elbow, went 3rd close home
- Form 0/P119-0
- Age 10
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
mid-division, mistake 7th, prominent next, blundered 13th (becher\\\\\\\'s brook), ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace from elbow, lost 3rd close home
- Form 12R372
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Ryan Hatch
mid-division, mistakes, blundered and unseated rider 14th (foinavon)
- Form P80082
- Age 12
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey W T Kennedy
held up in rear on outside, fell 2nd
- Form 471U40
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey D F O'Regan
prominent when pecked 1st, soon lost place, mistake 8th, well behind when jumped right 16th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
No Planning
14- Form 4041P3
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
held up in touch, jumped left and bumped 4th, soon lost place, blundered and unseated rider 6th (chair)
- Form 332125
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Michael Byrne
hampered 6th (chair), always behind, tailed off 14th (foinavon), soon pulled up
- Form 52P06P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer E McNamara
- Jockey L Treadwell
prominent, lost a few places 12th, ridden and closed 2 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd elbow, unable to challenge winner
- Form 292F0-P
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 132
held up in touch, blundered and lost place 9th, headway after 3 out, disputing 5th and staying on when jumped left, hampered and fell 2 out
- Form 12314P
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey M Goldstein
mid-division, in rear when blundered 6th (chair), blundered 13th (becher\\\\\\\'s brook), tailed off next, soon pulled up
- Form 8/584-72
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer James Moffatt
- Jockey Henry Brooke
prominent, led 4th, ridden and 2 lengths up when wandered flat, stayed on gamely
- Form 31136-7
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey Thomas Garner
tracked leaders, challenged 17th, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on from last, pressing for places when hampered on elbow, no impression after
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Pineau De Re returns to the scene of his triumph in the 2014 Grand National on a 2lb lower mark, though hasn't won since. He was, however, second at Sandown last month so clearly retains some ability. Saint Are was second in this year's Grand National - finishing ahead of Soll, Pineau De Re and Dolatulo – but is now 5lb higher. Unioniste fell in that race but has won twice at Aintree on the Mildmay course. No Planning is back on a winning mark and could go well if handling the fences while the Irish hold a strong hand with Midlands National winner and Scottish National second Goonyella having a pipe-opener over hurdles last month and preferred to Thunder And Roses and Vics Canvas, though Portrait King could run well off a low weight. ALGERNON PAZHAM could cap a memorable afternoon for Ryan Hatch, however, having only disappointed once over fences so far when refusing at the last at Uttoxeter in March. He finished behind Vics Canvas in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April but was racing from out of the handicap that day and also found the going too quick. The six-year-old is having his first experience of the National fences but made a satisfactory reappearance at Bangor and should have more to offer given he's been very lightly campaigned. Highland Lodge could run well at a price as he's likely to be out of trouble at the front end, though he has become disappointing and has left Emma Lavelle's yard since his latest second at Sedgefield.
Formwatch
Unioniste (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 2nd approaching 4th, led 6th, headed before 3 out, chased leading trio, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 20, 24 1/2l behind Just A Par (10-3) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Goonyella (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Led, dropped to 2nd after 2nd, not fluent 7th, pushed along after 4 out, dropped to 3rd after 3 out, no impression in 4th from before last, left 3rd at last, 3rd of 5, 8 1/2l behind Moylisha Tim (11-0) at Cork 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Saint Are (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place 6 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 16, 34 1/4l behind Josies Orders (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Vics Canvas (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 16, dist behind Baradari (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Thunder And Roses (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 7th halfway, progress into 3rd 4 out, pushed along after next and moderate 5th 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 31 1/2l behind Prince Of Scars (11-4) at Clonmel 3m hcp hvy in Nov.
Dolatulo (FR) 66-1 (10-11) Never better than mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 19th of 39, dist behind Many Clouds (11-9) at Aintree 4m 3f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Soll 12-1 (11-5) Held up, outpaced 18th, well behind before 3 out, 16th of 17, dist behind Sausalito Sunrise (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Algernon Pazham (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Prominent, led 8th, ridden 3 out, pressed last, ran on, headed final strides, 2nd of 13, nk behind What A Good Night (10-4) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Pineau De Re (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, closer at 12th, chasing leaders 13th, 2nd and every chance 3 out, chased winner after, ridden before went right last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Vino Griego (11-3) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 14th of 16, dist behind Towering (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
No Planning 7-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led before 12th, ridden headed before 3 out, soon left in lead and hampered, headed 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (11-6) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Buachaill Alainn (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) With leaders, lost place 13th, pushed along next, blundered 15th, plugged on from 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 6 1/2l behind Emperor's Choice (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Dare To Endeavour 20-1 (10-7) Towards rear, very badly hampered 4th, 12th at 9th, pulled up before 13th, at Limerick 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Portrait King (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) In touch, dropped to rear 9th, soon ridden, behind 11th, pulled up before 5 out, at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Cowards Close (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along and not travelling after 14th (water), weakened 4 out, poor 6th when pulled up 2 out, at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, reminders before 4th, ridden and headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Mia's Anthem (11-7) at Sedgefield 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Financial Climate (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, driven along after 14th, dived and weakened next, 7th of 9, 22 1/4l behind Fruity O'Rooney (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.