Lucy Turner added her name to the Aintree history books to became the first female jockey to win the BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase – run over the famous Randox Grand National fences – with Chambard (18-1) on Saturday afternoon.
And now she can dream of potentially following Rachael Blackmore by winning also the world's greatest steeplechase back at Aintree Racecourse with the gallant Venetia Williams-trained 11-year-old. For now, though, that can wait with the Grand National on April 13 in the New Year a long way off.
A delighted Turner, who had partnered Chambard to Cheltenham Festival glory in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup in 2022, was celebrating her biggest success in the saddle. The amateur jockey started riding at Williams' Herefordshire stable the same year as the trainer won the Grand National with Mon Mome in 2009. Carrie Ford (Forest Gunner 2004), Nina Carberry (On The Fringe 2015), Tabitha Worsley (Top Wood 2019) and Gina Andrews (Latenightpass 2022) had all won the Foxhunters' Chase run over the Grand National fences for amateur riders. But Turner became only the second woman – after Blackmore's success on Minella Times in the big one in 2021 – to win a race over the big obstacles that is open to both amateurs' and professionals.
At an increasingly wet and gloomy Aintree, the Becher Chase was an attritional contest that saw just five finishers and it was Chambard, who had been close up for much of the 3m2f contest, who stayed on best to win by 13 lengths from Gordon Elliott's top weight Coko Beach (6-1). The admirable Laura Morgan-trained Percussion (6-1), who had finished third in both the Grand Sefton Chase and last year's Becher as well as being runner-up to Gesskille in last month's Grand Sefton, again showed his liking for the National fences. But having been at the head of affairs for much of the race, he faded coming to the final couple of fences before staying on for third, three-and-a-quarter-lengths back. Celebre D'Allen was fourth with Lounge Lizard, another who had been prominent throughout, the final finisher some 99 lengths adrift in fifth.
Turner said: "He was fantastic. I have always wanted to ride a winner over these fences, so it means the world (to me). It was a little bit hard going turning into the home straight with the headwind and the rain. But he was very good. I think he surprises people and shows he can do that. The way he jumped around Cheltenham last time, I thought he would be fine around here. He jumped the first couple well and he was loving it. You are just always wary of the loose horses, like Charlie (Deutsch on Lounge Lizard) nearly got taken out. But he was fantastic. This is the best day in racing for me. Aintree is such a marvellous place. It is an absolute dream."
“Chambard has been fantastic for me, and I am so pleased for David and Carol, who have been great supporters of mine over the last few years, so it is nice to get another big one for them. He hasn’t jumped these fences before, so we said we’d see how he takes to them, but that was the best spin I’ve ever had round there and he just loved it and kept galloping. As soon as they came to him, he quickened again. I could sort of hear the others coming, but he’s gone again, and at the last he was like a fresh horse. I’ve always wanted to ride a winner over these fences, so to do it on him means the world.
“It was a little bit hard going trying to see coming into the home straight with all the rain coming down and the headwind, but he was a total professional. I think he surprises people; they think, ‘Can he go and do that?’ but then he shows them he can. I thought the way he jumped round Cheltenham last time, if he jumped like that round here he’d be absolutely fine (despite not having raced over the Grand National fences before), and as soon as he was over the first couple I knew he was loving it. In the final furlong you just want to keep kicking until you are over the line, but I had a little look at the big screen and I could see we were clear. After the line, I was thinking, ‘Has that actually just happened?’
“If I can inspire someone from the next generation by winning here today, that’s wonderful. Chambard is a lovely horse; he’s very laidback and always has a smile on his face, as you can see – he’s always got his teeth out – and he’s a real yard favourite.”
She added: “This is probably the best day I’ve ever had in racing. Aintree is such a marvellous place, so to have a winner here is fantastic. April [and the Grand National] is a long way away and we will think about that when the time comes, but this is a dream."
Owner David Shaw, who lives in Cheshire, said: “We’ve been lucky enough to have a few winners with Venetia – we thought Cheltenham was the pinnacle, but this gets pretty close to that. We love having Lucy on board!”
The Paul Nicholls-trained French import Liari (11-4) made it two wins from two starts since switching to the Ditcheat stable in the Listed Boylesports Moneyback 2nd Everyday Juvenile Hurdle. Under Harry Cobden, the three-year-old son of Group One-winning Flat star Cracksman.
Liari joined Nicholls from Arc-winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget’s French yard recently. The Ditcheat handler said: “He’s improved since his last run, and he’ll just keep improving. He doesn’t want to run again too quick; he’s one for the future. I’ll give him time and he’ll tell us when he’s ready. He’s a big horse; there’ll be plenty for him in the spring and he’ll have an entry in the Triumph, but I won’t rush him. Today was the target.”
Nicholls doubled up with Sonigino saw (10-3 favourite) winning the finale, the Boylesports Extra Places Daily Handicap Hurdle.