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.
| Premier Handicap race | |
| Location | Aintree Racecourse Merseyside, England |
|---|---|
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | William Hill |
| Website | Aintree Becher Chase |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3 miles 1 furlong 188 yards (5,201 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Six-years-old and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | £120,000 (2020) 1st: £67,356 |
| 2023 | ||
| Chambard | Coko Beach | Percussion |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
| Ashtown Lad | Gesskille | Percussion |
| 2021 | ||
| Snow Leopardess | Hill Sixteen | Checkitout |
| 2020-2011 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
| Vieux Lion Rouge | Kimberlite Candy | Le Breuil |
| 2019 | ||
| Walk In The Mill | Kimberlite Candy | Alpha Des Obeaux |
| 2018 | ||
| Walk In The Mill | Vieux Lion Rouge | Ultragold |
| 2017 | ||
| Blaklion | The Last Samuri | Highland Lodge |
| 2016 | ||
| Vieux Lion Rouge | Highland Lodge | The Last Samuri |
| 2015 | ||
| Highland Lodge | Dare To Endeavour | Dolatulo |
| 2014 | ||
| Oscar Time | Mendip Express | Saint Are |
| 2013 | ||
| Chance Du Roy | Baby Run | Mr Moonshine |
| 2012 | ||
| Hello Bud | Join Together | Big Fella Thanks |
| 2011 | ||
| West End Rocker | Niche Market | Ballyvesey |
| 2010-2001 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | ||
| Hello Bud | Royal Rosa | One Cool Cookie |
| 2009 | ||
| Vic Venturi | Keenan's Future | Royal Rosa |
| 2008 | ||
| Black Apalachi | Mr Pointment | Oulart |
| 2007 | ||
| Mr Pointment | Bewleys Berry | Pak Jack |
| 2006 | ||
| Eurotrek | Bewleys Berry | Dunbrody Millar |
| 2005 | ||
| Garvivonnian | Le Duc | Just in Debt |
| 2004 | ||
| Silver Birch | Just in Debt | Smarty |
| 2003 | ||
| Clan Royal | Amberleigh House | Ardent Scout |
| 2002 | ||
| Ardent Scout | Amberleigh House | Blowing Wind |
| 2001 | ||
| Amberleigh House | Smarty | Church Place |
| 2000-1992 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| Young Kenny | Ardent Scout | Paddy's Return |
| 1999 | ||
| Feels Like Gold | Him Of Praise | Hollybank Buck |
| 1998 | ||
| Earth Summit | Samlee | Back Bar |
| 1997 | ||
| Samlee | Court Melody | Valiant Warrior |
| 1996 | ||
| Into The Red | Young Hustler | Glemot |
| 1995 | ||
| Young Hustler | Sir Peter Lely | Over The Stream |
| 1994 | ||
| Into The Red | Feathered Gale | Whaat Fettle |
| 1993 | ||
| Indian Tonic | Southern Minstrel | Mister Ed |
| 1992 | ||
| 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 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2022 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the BHA.