Today’s Becher Chase Day at Aintree has been given an eighth race from the BHA. This is courtesy of the Mares Chase being brought from Carlisle’s cancelled card a few weeks back.

To see a history to the gruelling Becher’s Brook fence, and where its name comes from, you can have a read here.

Last time MerseySportLive were at Aintree, we picked four winners from seven, and the other three were close up in second.

Myself and the rest of the MerseySportLive tipsters are currently on a strike rate of 25.44% which means two winners are the goal today, but obviously, eight would be fantastic.

Here is a brief look at the whole card with my selections in CAPITALS:

11:30am THE PLAY CASINO AT VIRGIN BET NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 3) (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Some of these novices will take to obstacles for the first time, Lightening Dance and Cardiff Bay. I think however, experience will play a huge part here. Edwardstone and HARRY SENIOR look to be the best of this bunch, but siding with Colin Tizzard and Richard Johnson on this one. A Class 3 second to a good looking sort, and that form is again boosted. The owner, trainer and jockey trio have another runner later on in the card to…

12:00PM THE HOUGHTON MARES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (NHMOPS Bonus Race)

A small field in this mares chase, where an upset can be caused in my opinion. Irishman Brian Hayes takes to the course for the first time, riding LISTEN DEAR. Willie Mullins is bang in-form and this should do well against likely favourite Casablanca Mix.

12:30PM THE BEST ODDS GUARANTEED AT VIRGIN BET HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 3) (Challenger Middle Distance Chase Series Qualifier)

An open race here, and good chances all round for a lot of these runners. Two form pieces catch my eye; Amoola Gold was a winner at Hereford beating a subsequent Grade 3 Cheltenham second in Brelan D’as. But overlooking the excellent looking SAMMY BILL would be a huge mistake. Form franked from Warwick two starts ago, and a great start to chasing at Kempton.

1:00PM THE WATCH LIVE RACING AT VIRGIN BET HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 2)

An open looking Class 2 handicap, and a good chance to see the youngsters against the old boys. Notre Pari is the intriguing five-year-old for Olly Murphy and Richard Johnson. Whereas the more experienced horse, Clyne, is a regular in the North West courses. It is another northern based runner getting my vote however, MOUNT MEWS for Donald McCain and owner Trevor Hemmings. A Grade 2 winner at Kelso for Malcolm Jefferson, followed by a Grade 1 second, in the Top Novices’ Hurdle.

Trevor Hemmings (far left) and Nico de Boinville (far right).  Hemmings is a three time Grand National Winner and a regular on the Aintree podium.

1:30PM THE RANDOX HEALTH BECHER HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 3)

One For Arthur for Lucinda Russell is a big entry to the Becher Chase, having won the 2017 Grand National, and a respectable sixth this year. A good effort in this race two years ago saw him less than three lengths off eventual winner Vieux Lion Rouge.

The latter of those horses is trained by David Pipe, was second in this edition last season. Amazingly, the winner of last year’s race is here too. Walk In The Mill and Robert Walford will be hoping for better than the Listed attempt at Wincanton recently.

My money will be with dual course winner DEFINITLY RED, however. In-form Henry Brooke takes the ride for Brian Ellison, on a horse that has won the Grade 2 contest on this card for the past two years.

2:05PM THE DOWNLOAD THE APP AT VIRGIN BET FILLIES’ JUVENILE HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1) (Listed Race)

Definitely the hardest to find a winner but one piece of form to talk about is the Class 4 at Fakenham in October where the front three are matching up again here. Midnights Gift was the winner, BREAK THE RULES was second. Sixteen lengths behind was Local Affair. I will side with the second placed horse as Tom Cannon aboard Midnight’s Gift is 0-21 at this moment in time.

2:40PM THE VIRGIN BET PRICE BOOSTS MANY CLOUDS STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 2)

This is a cracking reunion for 2018 Gold Cup hopefuls’ NATIVE RIVER and Might Bite. They are both on a seasonal reappearance, for Colin Tizzard and Nicky Henderson, respectively. The feeling is that nothing will be able to change Might Bite’s current form, so money is with Tizzard and Johnson again for Brocade Racing. The second of this combination on the card.

Bryony Frost climbs aboard Black Corton for Paul Nicholls too, and, if at best, can pose a big danger to these two. He has won two Grade 2 races in the past. Outlander, the fourth contender, will sit and watch from a distance.

3:15PM THE VIRGIN BET GRAND SEFTON HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 2)

The final race on the card uses the National Fences again, and another tough race to call. I will leave my punt as small stakes each-way on the French raider, IT’S JENNIFER. Felix de Giles is a regular over these obstacles in Europe and in cross country chases in the UK. This is right up his street.

Honourable mentions go to two-time Topham Chase winner, Ultragold, and recent Ascot winner Flying Angel.

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