14:40
Unibet Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (National Course) (GBB Race)
3m 1f 188y
Going: Soft
Surface: Turf
Draw Advantage: NoneMac Tottie relished the challenge of the National fences when landing the Grand Sefton here last month and another bold bid is expected with the step back up in trip unlikely to be an issue. Snow Leopardess jumped for fun on her winning return at Bangor and she left the impression that a race of this nature would play to her strengths, especially as the mare likes to race handily. The vote, though, goes to an Aintree stalwart in the shape of VIEUX LION ROUGE. Twice a winner of this race in the past, including when routing the opposition by 24 lengths 12 months ago, the evergreen 12-year-old surprisingly failed to complete in this year's Grand National, when falling at the 20th fence, but he brushed that aside with a solid comeback at Chepstow in October and, despite being 5lb higher than last year, this is likely to have been his big target for the season once again. Achille was very consistent in big staying chases last season and commands plenty of respect with his trainer/jockey hav
Mac Tottie relished the challenge of the National fences when landing the Grand Sefton here last month and another bold bid is expected with the step back up in trip unlikely to be an issue. Snow Leopardess jumped for fun on her winning return at Bangor and she left the impression that a race of this nature would play to her strengths, especially as the mare likes to race handily. The vote, though, goes to an Aintree stalwart in the shape of VIEUX LION ROUGE. Twice a winner of this race in the past, including when routing the opposition by 24 lengths 12 months ago, the evergreen 12-year-old surprisingly failed to complete in this year's Grand National, when falling at the 20th fence, but he brushed that aside with a solid comeback at Chepstow in October and, despite being 5lb higher than last year, this is likely to have been his big target for the season once again. Achille was very consistent in big staying chases last season and commands plenty of respect with his trainer/jockey hav