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| Becher Chase | |
|---|---|
| Name | Becher Chase |
| Class | Grade 3 |
| Type | National Hunt steeplechase |
| Inauguration | 1992 |
| Website | Aintree Racecourse |
| Distance | 3 miles 1 furlong |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
Becher Chase The Becher Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt steeplechase run annually at Aintree Racecourse during the Grand National meeting. First staged in 1992, it attracts experienced staying chasers and frequently features horses that contest the Grand National itself, the Cheltenham Festival, and other major staying chases such as the King George VI Chase and the Irish Grand National. The race is named after a prominent fence on the Aintree course and is an important trial in the National Hunt racing calendar.
The race was established in 1992 at Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside to provide a high‑profile staying chase in the lead‑up to the Grand National meeting. Early renewals saw winners who had previously run at the Cheltenham Festival and in long‑distance events like the Hennessy Gold Cup and Scottish Grand National. Over the years the contest has evolved alongside changes to British Horseracing Authority regulations and the reclassification of jumps fixtures, being promoted to Grade 3 status as part of wider adjustments to the National Hunt Pattern. The event has been part of high‑profile racecards that include the Grand National and has seen trainers from stables such as Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Tony McCoy (jockey reference), and Willie Mullins target it as a stepping stone to other staying chases.
The Becher Chase is open to horses aged five years or older and is run over about 3 miles and 1 furlong with 19 fences to be negotiated. It is traditionally staged on the opening day of the Grand National meeting, often on Merseyside's famous opening card that features the Grand National qualifiers. The race offers valuable prize money and black‑type status that appeals to owners and trainers aiming at staying chases such as the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Aintree Bowl Handicap Chase, and the Welsh Grand National. Entries and declarations are governed by the British Horseracing Authority rules and the race attracts both seasoned campaigners and emerging stayers from yards like Henrietta Knight’s, Donald McCain’s, and Jonjo O'Neill’s.
Contested on the Aintree Racecourse turf over the Grand National fences, the Becher Chase takes its name from the Becher's Brook fence, a landmark on the course associated with famous Grand National incidents and riders such as Red Rum and Brian Fletcher. The course is left‑handed and demands stamina and jumping ability comparable to contests like the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr Racecourse. The fences used are National Hunt timber fences similar to those encountered at Cheltenham Racecourse and during the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in terms of scale and testing nature, though the Aintree fences are particularly noted for cambers and the challenge presented by Becher's Brook, Valentine's Brook, and other named obstacles.
Several horses and connections have left a mark on the race. Notable winners have included stayers who later contested the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the World Hurdle (now Stayers' Hurdle). Leading trainers with multiple victories include Gordon Elliott, Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, and Donald McCain. Jockeys such as Richard Johnson, Sam Twiston‑Davies, Tony McCoy, and Davy Russell have achieved success in the race. The event has occasionally been used as a comeback target for former champions from stables like Willie Mullins and as a proving ground for emerging staying hurdlers stepping up from races such as the RSA Novices' Chase and the Long Distance Hurdle.
Sponsorship of the race has varied, with corporate partners from the racing and betting industries, hospitality groups, and regional businesses sponsoring the fixture during the Grand National meeting. Sponsors have included major bookmakers and leisure brands associated with Aintree Racecourse hospitality packages, with race titles occasionally reflecting sponsor names in line with commercial practices across British horse racing fixtures. The race’s association with the iconic Becher's Brook name ties it closely to the heritage branding of the Aintree Grand National meeting and to local Merseyside tourism initiatives.
The Becher Chase benefits from media coverage during the Aintree meeting, featuring on broadcast schedules alongside the Grand National on networks and publications that cover British horse racing, including dedicated racing channels, national newspapers, and specialist outlets. Its linkage to Becher's Brook and the Grand National narrative has appeared in features about famous fences, historic Grand National runnings with horses like Red Rum and jockeys such as Brian Fletcher and George Stevens, and in analyses by pundits and commentators from organizations like the Racing Post and the British Horseracing Authority. The race contributes to the lore surrounding Aintree’s staying tests and is part of the wider cultural event that attracts racing fans, media coverage, and tourism to Merseyside each spring.
Category:National Hunt chases Category:Aintree Racecourse