by Nick Seddon
Olly Murphy is hopeful that The Wolf can take his first steps on the road to the Randox Grand National by producing a good performance in Saturday’s Boylesports Becher Chase at Aintree Racecourse.
The eight-year-old will be having his first try over the unique Grand National fences, but he’s shown plenty of ability over staying distances so far, finishing seventh in last season’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr before catching the eye on his first run back at Cheltenham in October.
The Wolf hasn’t always convinced with his jumping but Murphy, who has yet to have a runner in the Aintree showpiece, is hoping that his charge just might take to the unique test that the world famous fences can provide.
He said: “The Wolf is grand and in good form. His chances will all depend on whether he’ll take to the fences or not, but if he does he’ll have a little each-way chance. He’s a bit of a quirky character so I think we’ll try and surprise him on the day with the fences rather than prepare him in advance!
“He’s definitely got a chance if he takes to the fences – he stays very well and he had a good run at Cheltenham on his last start. A race like the Becher for a quirky character like himself could just suit him and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Gesskille and Ashtown Lad head betting for Becher Chase as 25 entries remain
Saturday’s race looks set to be an excellent one, with 25 runners standing their ground at the five-day confirmation stage on Monday afternoon.
Those entered include last year’s winner Snow Leopardess and the 2021 Grand National favourite Cloth Cap and when asked about what he would be hoping to see from The Wolf on Saturday, Murphy added: “You’re going to want him to take to those fences if he’s going to be a National contender and he’d want to be running really well if not winning it if we’re going to get him up in the ratings enough to earn a run in the big race. He’s a horse with plenty of ability and one day it will hopefully all click for him and he’ll win a nice race.
“I had a couple of Grand National entries last year with Itchy Feet and Jett and neither ended up running, but it’s a race we’d love to have runners in. The Grand National is arguably the biggest horse race in the world and you’d want to be having something fancied in it rather than making the numbers up – but it would be nice if I could have a runner or two in it before too long and hopefully The Wolf can run well at the weekend.”
The Wolf is part-owned by the charismatic Max McNeill alongside the Stone family. McNeill is harbouring dreams of having as many as three runners in the big race in April. He explained: “We’re probably 6 or 7lbs short of getting a run in the National at the moment, so we’re going to need to win a nice race like this if we’re going to get him in and this will tell us where we are. If he wins you’ve got to look at the National and if he doesn’t win but runs well it becomes a case of trying to win somewhere else to qualify and get us into the field of 40 runners.
“We had Walkon run in the race in 2014 and then Escaria Ten was ninth in April, while Senior Citizen was second in last year’s Grand Sefton, so we’ve had some good days over the big fences at Aintree without scoring.
“The prize money is so good that you’ve got to be a really good horse just to get in these days, but we’ve got three that we’re hoping to aim at the race this year. We’ve got Escaria Ten and Threeunderthrufive who we’re already aiming at the race, and if The Wolf can pull his socks up and qualify we could have three.
“It’s a long road between now and April, but (having three Grand National runners) is a lovely prospect and something to dream about. The National is like no other race it would be lovely if we could get them all there. We’re going to concentrate on Saturday first though, which is a great race in its own right.”
Trainer Oliver Greenall eyes 'special' Aintree win with Gesskille
Saturday's card also features the Grade Two Boylesports Many Clouds Chase, won last year by Proktektorat – who recently landed victory at the top level in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.
This year's 3m1f contest, run over the Mildmay course, has attracted 10 entries headed by Grade One winner Ahoy Senor, while last season's Grand National winner Noble Yeats could return to Aintree in the same contest.
The seven-race card on Boylesports Becher Chase day sees the action start at Aintree at 11.50am with the opening contest, the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Novices Hurdle. The finale, the Boylesports Extra Places Daily Handicap Hurdle, is due off at 3.15pm. Gates open at 10.15am and tickets are priced from £25 for adults, if booked in advance. For more information and to buy tickets go online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/becher-chase/
Entries for the Boylesports Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m1f188y at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, December 3 (2.05pm)
(Horse name, age, weight, owner, trainer)
1 Caribean Boy (FR) 8-12-00 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
2 De Rasher Counter 10-11-13 Makin' Bacon Partnership Emma Lavelle
3 Francky du Berlais (FR) 9-11-13 Mr Roddy Owen Peter Bowen
4 Snow Leopardess 10-11-12 Andrew Fox-Pitt Charlie Longsdon
5 Hill Sixteen 9-11-11 J Fyffe & S Townshend Sandy Thomson
6 Fortescue 8-11-11 Mrs L Nixon Henry Daly
7 Top Ville Ben (IRE) 10-11-10 Harbour Rose Partnership Philip Kirby
8 Recite A Prayer (IRE) 7-11-10 The Turner Family WP Mullins Ireland
9 The Jam Man (IRE) 9-11-10 Ronan MP McNally Ronan MP McNally Northern Ireland
10 Fantastikas (FR) 7-11-06 Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Nigel Twiston-Davies
11 Cloth Cap (IRE) 10-11-06 Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
12 Dr Kananga 8-11-06 Tootell, Tomkies & Tory Ben Clarke
13 Ashtown Lad (IRE) 8-11-04 Darren & Annaley Yates Dan Skelton
14 The Wolf (FR) 8-11-04 McNeill Family & Stone Family Olly Murphy
15 Gesskille (FR) 6-11-03 The Nevers Racing Partnership I Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
16 Rapid Flight 6-11-03 Mr D Mills James Moffatt
17 Fagan 12-11-03 Stowe 100 Club Alex Hales
18 Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 7-11-01 Kanga Racing & Brett Graham Syndicate WP Mullins Ireland
19 Enqarde (FR) 8-11-00 Off The Clock Partners & Dr RDP Newland Dr Richard Newland
20 Domaine de L'Isle (FR) 9-10-12 Mr L M Power and Mr Ian Hutchins Sean Curran
21 Five Star Getaway (IRE) 8-10-12 Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott Christian Williams
22 Now Where Or When (IRE) 7-10-10 Mrs Margaret McCrudden SRB Crawford Northern Ireland
23 Percussion 7-10-10 Mr ER Hanbury L J Morgan
24 Didero Vallis (FR) 9-10-07 Normans, Ramsay, Tufnell & Bishop Venetia Williams
25 Minella Bobo (IRE) 9-10-00 Moran, Outhart, McDermott, Hyde & Hill Rebecca Curtis
25 entries (Four Irish-trained)
Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Becher Handicap Chase, Boylesports bet: 4-1 Gesskille; 9-2 Ashtown Lad; 7-1 Captain Kangaroo; 10-1 Hill Sixteen, Snow Leopardess; 12-1 Five Star Getaway, The Wolf; 14-1 Dr Kananga, Recite A Prayer; 16-1 Enqarde, Fortescue; 20-1 Cloth Cap, Fantastikas; 22-1 Caribean Boy, Percussion; 25-1 Didero Vallis, Francky du Berlais, Now Where Or When, Rapid Flight, De Rasher Counter; 28-1 Top Ville Ben; 33-1 The Jam Man, Minella Bobo; 40-1 Domaine de L'Isle, Fagan.
