totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase Tips

The totesport.com Becher Handicap Chase, which takes place at Aintree on Saturday, is an enthralling early season spectacle in the National Hunt calendar, a race that offers many connections harbouring long-term Grand National prospects the opportunity to test their charges over the big-race fences. It's funny how these unconventional obstacles bring out the best in certain horses and this remark certainly applies to Le Duc. Paul Nicholls' charge has been tried on this course three times and has ran out of his skin on two occasions (unseated rider in the Grand National on third attempt). He is well worth backing at 14/1 with bet365 to again excel over the National fences. The enigmatic gelding seems to have been around forever yet is just seven years of age. His form figures are indicative of the fact that he struggles to achieve consistency, but there's no doubt that he possesses more than enough raw ability to win a race like this off his current mark. Le Duc ran a stormer when going down by under a length to Garvivonnian in this race last year when racing off the same rating as that off which he will go to post on Saturday. This type of contest suits him so well as he is the type that needs plenty of kidding along, and he is able to gradually creep into the race, while the testing fences seem to focus his mind. The selection never landed a blow when given a spin over timber at Chepstow, but he has improved markedly for a run during the past two seasons so there's a good chance that that outing at the Welsh track will have once again blown away the cobwebs, and Le Duc will be good and ready to put his best foot forward at the weekend. Dun Doire was one of the most progressive chasers around last term, a campaign during which his rating shot up by a staggering 58lb. The highlight of his six consecutive victories was at the Cheltenham Festival in March when he came from a seemingly impossible position at the top of the hill to mow his rivals down in the William Hill Trophy, beating Juveigneur two lengths, winning going away. Tony Martin's charge then proved to be a major disappointment when hot favourite for the Irish National at Fairyhouse where he trailed in a well beaten seventh. His reappearance effort over hurdles at Cork was hardly inspiring but, as in the case of Le Duc, Dun Doire is invariably all the better for his comeback run. If on song, the Irish raider will, without a doubt, be the one to beat. Clan Royal, who landed this race off a 17lb lower mark in 2003, is essentially a Grand National horse and ever since that victory his subsequent campaigns have been mapped out with all roads leading back here in April. Third in last year's National, Jonjo O'Neill's dour stayer always merits respect in this type of event, but he's not getting any younger and I'll be surprised if he takes this off his current mark of 143. The David Pipe-trained Tanterari negotiated his way around these fences successfully when fourth in the Grand Sefton year. He is still lightly raced and has to be considered a leading contender for this Listed heat. However, his handicap mark has already shot up by 18lb this season and he's another that is likely to find at least one or two too good. Pearly Jack has been in good form, winning the last twice in his native Ireland and is worthy of a second look, while Forest Gunner, Nil Desperandum and Haut de Gamme all have course form and are capable of bold shows. But Le Duc remains the call as he is better than this grade on his day and, if things fall into place for him, he'll go very close indeed. Verdict - 1pt each-way Le Duc @ 14/1 (bet365)