racing_news/

West End Rocker Rocks Up in Becher Chase
03/12/11

1 West End Rocker 10/1
2 Niche Market 9/1
3 Ballyvesey 20/1
NR: Mad Max (IRE)
14 ran Distances: 22l, 32l, 1l
TIME 7m 15.60s (slow by 37.60s)

West End Rocker made it second-time lucky over the famous Grand National fences with a determined performance in the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree.

West End Rocker
Grossick Racing Photography

Alan King's nine-year-old was brought down at just the sixth fence in Hello Bud parted company with Sam Twiston-Davies at the Canal Turn.

Wayne Hutchinson, completing a double on the day, said: “I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed it. What a ride he was!

“I schooled him on Thursday morning upsides Walkon and he was quicker than him - Choc (Thornton) pulled up at the top and said ‘you lucky sod!’

“This horse has been fantastic to me. I won a handicap chase on him at Newbury and then the totesport Classic at Warwick last year.

“The key to him is that he has to find his gear - he jumps from fence to fence and he wants these big, galloping tracks. Forget the last day at Cheltenham - the undulations didn’t suit him.

“The ground is certainly heavy up round by the Canal Turn - it’s soft and heavy in places. My lad was foot-perfect and he thoroughly enjoyed himself out there.

“The fences have ridden lovely and we will certainly be back for the big one in April.

“West End Rocker got into this wonderful rhythm and he was jumping super. He has handled the ground very well.

“The big thing is find the rhythm that he is happy with.”