Talking Horses: Blaklion the pick in crowded Becher Chase field at Aintree | Greg Wood

Dec 09, 2017

Three of the top seven in this year’s Grand National return to Aintree along with 2016 runner-up The Last Samuri but the favourite’s form is too good to ignore

There is plenty of previous experience over the Grand National fences on show in the Becher Chase on Saturday at Aintree, including Blaklion (1.30), Vieux Lion Rouge and Lord Windermere, who were fourth, sixth and seventh in last season’s National, as well as The Last Samuri, who finished 16th last time around but was a close second in 2016.

The outstanding piece of form, though, is Blaklion’s close second behind his stable companion Bristol De Mai in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, with Vieux Lion Rouge, last year’s winner of the Becher Chase off a 10lb lower mark, well behind.

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