Royal Aintree Report: Clan Royal just edged out Amberleigh House in a thrilling renewal of the Tote Becher Chase at Aintree yesterday. Only four of the 15 starters completed the course in the three miles, three furlongs contest, from which the Chair was omitted because of the low-lying sun.
And three of those were still in contention after the 2002 Grand National winner Bindaree, who was in front at the time, and Wonder Weasel fell five out. Of the trio Ardent Scout, winner of the race last year, was the first to crack, leaving Clan Royal and the 2001 winner, Amberleigh House, to fight out an epic battle, with the former just edging in front in the final strides to win by a short head under Liam Cooper.
Winning handler Jonjo O'Neill failed to get round in a Grand National as a jockey, but he is enjoying must better luck over the big fences as a trainer, having now added the Becher to the Topham Chase, which Clan Royal won last season, and the Sefton in which he teamed up with Cooper to win with Dark Room on Saturday.
He now has the Martell Cognac Grand National firmly in his sights and said: "Nothing deserved to get beaten, it was magic, that is what jump racing is all about and it is great to be part of it." Clan Royal is owned by JP McManus, and when it was suggested that the latter had always wanted a National horse O'Neill added: "He has got one now! We were not sure if he would get the trip today, but there is more hope now of him getting the four and a half miles of the National."
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