William Hill, the sponsors of Saturday’s Becher Chase at Aintree, have dangled a £500,000 bonus carrot to the winners – should they also go onto land the 2026 Grand National.
Meaning the 2025 Becher Chase winning owners, who will bank £84k this weekend, can potentially have a shot at a million pound windfall in the world’s greatest steeplechase next April.
Becher Chase Winning Owners Could Become Millionaires 💰
With the sponsors of this Saturday’s Becher Chase at Aintree, William Hill, putting up a £500,00 bonus should the winner go onto land the 2026 Grand National – this means the winning owners have a shot of becoming millionaires.
This is because the National itself carries a first prize of £500,000 from their sponsors Randox – meaning there’s a cool one million on the table.
It wasn’t long too long ago that Betfair had in play a similar bonus – when they stumped up £1m should any horse win the Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
With Kauto Star landing the jackpot in 2007, when he won all three races for trainer Paul Nicholls.
That bonus is no longer in place, but the good news for the ITV Racing scheduled contest this Saturday – is William Hill are putting their money where their mouth is by offering this Becher Chase/Grand National bonus.
Hills man Lee Phelps said “19 runners have been confirmed for the William Hill Becher Chase, the first William Hill Half A Mill race of the season. Mr Vango heads the betting for Sara Bradstock, the progressive chaser was unlucky to be balloted out of the 2025 Randox Grand National but holds strong claims to book his ticket into the 2026 renewal, with a potential £500,000 bonus on offer.
Becher Chase Favourite 50/1 For The Grand National 🏇
It looks like the 2025 Becher Chase favourite is going to be Mr Vango, who will head to Aintree having won his last three races.
This Sara Bradstock stayer was last seen winning the Midlands Grand National back in March (watch below) and has been raised 9lbs as a result.
The nine year-old is now the clear top-rated in the race and as a result will have to shoulder 12st.
But if he is to win, Mr Vango will have to defy some key Becher Chase trends.
As, despite having a good record fresh, 18 of the last 22 winners had raced once already that season.
While 17 of the last 22 winners carried 10st 12lbs or less.
The Becher Chase favourite will also be having his first run over the National fences.
And the trends also tell us 14 of the last 22 (64%) winners of the race had tackled this tricky obstacles in the past.
If Mr Vango can kick these stats into touch though, his 50/1 Grand National odds are sure to shorten.
With his owners – Cracker and Smodge Partnership – then dreaming of that £1m payday next April in the Grand National.
WATCH: Mr Vango Winning The 2025 Midlands Grand National
2025 Becher Chase Race Details
📅Date: Saturday 6th December 2025
⌚Time: 2:40pm
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
🔄Trip: 3m 2f
💷Winning Purse: £84,195
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV
You can also see Andy Newton’s 1-2-3 ITV Racing tips from Sandown and Aintree on Saturday – including the Tingle Creek Chase and Becher Chase.
Have Any Becher Chase Winners Won The Grand National? 🤷♂️
So, with this £500,00 Becher Chase/Grand National bonus in play this season – is Saturday’s race a good trial for the big one?
In short – not really – but sort of.
Okay, that’s not really helpful.
But here’s why.
We are yet to see a horse win both the Becher Chase and Grand National in the same season.
However, three horses have won both races in their careers – just not in the same campaigns.
- Earth Summit – Won the Grand National in 1998 and the Becher Chase in 1998 (following season)
- Amberleigh House – Won the Becher Chase in 2001 and the Grand National in 2004
- Silver Birch – Won the Becher Chase in 2004 and the Grand National in 2007
The Becher Chase was first run in 1992, with the Sue Smith-trained Kildimo winning.
How Have Recent Becher Chase Winners Fared In The Grand National ❓
The 2024 Becher Chase was cancelled due to the weather – so the last winner was Chambard in 2023.
This horse didn’t run in that season’s Grand National though.
But since 2017 we have seen four Becher Chase winners run in the National at Aintree.
With 2018 Becher Chase winner Walk In The Mill going onto run fourth in the National later that season to Tiger Roll.
See here the record of recent Becher Chase winners in the National
- 2021: Snow Leopardess – Pulled up in 2022 National (10/1)
- 2020: Vieux Lion Rouge – Fell in 2021 National (66/1)
- 2018: Walk In The Mill – 4th in 2019 National (25/1)
- 2017: Blaklion – Brought Down in 2018 National (14/1)
WATCH: Walk In The Park Running Fourth In The 2019 Grand National
When Is The 2026 Grand National? 🗓️
The 2026 Aintree Grand National date is Saturday 11th April 2026.
With the race set to be run at 4pm.
