Which horses have won the Becher Chase and the Grand National?

Like the Grand National itself, the Becher Chase is what the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) now terms a ‘Premier Handicap’ run over the iconic Grand National fences at Aintree. Indeed, like the sixth obstacle on the Grand National Course, Becher’s Brook, the race is named after pioneering steeplechase jockey Martin William Becher.

However, the Becher Chase is run in early December, as opposed to late March or early April, and over a distance of approximately three miles and two furlongs, as opposed to approximately four miles and two-and-a-half furlongs. In fact, the race starts after the ninth obstacle on the Grand National Course, Valentine’s Brook, so runners cover a circuit-and-a-half and must negotiate 21 fences, rather than two full circuits and 30 fences.

Proven course form is not a prerequisite to winning the Grand National but, like the other early-season race over the Grand National fences, the Grand Sefton Chase, the Becher Chase remains open to horses aged six years and upwards. The Becher Chase is often used by trainers to provide a ‘sighter’ over idiosyncratic fences ahead of the Grand National the following April, or in susbequent years.

Two horses have won the Becher Chase and the Grand National, but neither did so in the same season. Earth Summit, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, actually won the Gradn National first, in April 1998, before returning to Aintree to win the Becher Chase the following November. Amberleigh House, trained by the legendary Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain, won the Becher Chase in November 2001 and the Grand National, as a twelve-year-old, in April 2004.