John Smith’s Grand National is the aim for Dessie Hughes’ Vic Venturi after victory in the totepost.com Becher Chase at Aintree

Nov 23 2009 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

VIC VENTURI is the new John Smith’s Grand National favourite after giving trainer Dessie Hughes back-to-back victories in the totesport.com Becher Chase at Aintree yesterday.

Totesport, the sponsors of the 3m2f chase run over Grand National fences, were impressed enough with Vic Venturi’s five-length success over Keenan’s Future yesterday to make him a 16-1 chance for the Aintree showpiece next April.

Coral go 20-1, while Ladbrokes and William Hill both offer a more realistic 25-1 for Hughes’ nine-year-old to supplement his Aintree win with victory in the big one next year.

Although Silver Birch and Amberleigh House have both won the Becher and the National in recent years, no horse has won the two races in the same season.

Last year’s Becher winner, the Hughes-trained Black Apalachi, was running a big race in the National this year before unseating jockey Denis O’Regan.

After Vic Venturi had landed the Becher at odds of 7-1, Hughes confirmed that both he and Black Apalachi would have the National as their main aim this season.

Hughes said: “I am very pleased with that as I was a little afraid of the weight, but he stays and Paddy was very good on him. He gave him a chance and he has stayed the trip well.

“He got into trouble at the third fence but after that he was fine and his jumping was very safe.

“There is only one race for him now and the Grand National will be the target.

“He may have a run over hurdles after Christmas to keep him ticking over and he’ll then go for the Bobbyjo Chase once the National weights have come out.

“We’ll have to come back for the National and Black Apalachi will also be back.

“We could have two contenders for the National this year – it is just a shame there are 38 others!”

Under jockey Paddy Flood Vic Venturi jumped the last fence alongside Keenan’s Future and last year’s Scottish Grand National winner Hello Bud, who had cut out much of the running in the 3m2f contest.

But Vic Venturi pulled clear to win by five lengths from Keenan’s Future with veteran Royal Rosa staying on for third. The 100-30 favourite Hello Bud faded back into fifth in the testing conditions.

Flood added: “Up the straight I was only going through the motions and I didn’t want to get there too soon.

“The main issue was whether he would jump round but he took to the fences like a duck to water.

“He will be a National horse. He’s a bit small but has plenty of class and jumps like a buck.”

Trainer Ian Williams was delighted with runner-up Keenan’s Future and will be trying to get his handicap mark up enough ahead of the unveiling of the National weights in February so he can make a return in the 4m4f marathon itself.

Williams said: “That was a lovely run – he jumped and stayed while not appreciating the ground. The question is now whether we can get him high enough to get into the National.

“He will go up in the weights for today but we will need to get him even higher. I think he would make a lovely National horse as he loved it out there.”

In the other contest over the Grand National fences yesterday rider Jamie Moore claimed his second success over the famous Aintree obstacles when scoring on Mick Quinlan-trained Dev (14-1) in the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase.

The 24-year-old jockey won the Topham Chase on Dunbrody Millar in 2007 and has only just returned to the saddle after breaking his ankle in August.

Moore always had the nine-year-old at the head of affairs and once his fellow front-runner Frankie Figg fell five out Dev was left in front. The duo had to hold off a determined challenge from Pak Jack to score by a length-and-a-half. The Topham is now on the agenda for Dev and Quinlan said: “That was fantastic. He was going two and a half miles on ground he didn’t like, but we thought we would take a shot and his jumping was everything.

“Now we know he acts around the course we will have to think about bringing him back for the Topham. I am also delighted for Jamie as this should give him a great fillip on returning from injury.”

Moore added: “He was very gutsy and found more when the other horse came to him.

“He is a two-miler really so wouldn’t stay in the Grand National in an aeroplane.”

There was a home success at Aintree for jockey Keith Mercer, who is originally from Altcar by Formby.

The 27-year-old rider managed to get back aboard John Forbes just as it appeared he would be beaten by Sam Lord in the Best Odds Guaranteed At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old, who returned at 20-1, looked to have relinquished the lead on the run-in and was trading at 359-1 in Betfair to win the race on the in-running betting. But Mercer galvanised his mount to score by a neck from Sam Lord. The Merseysider said: “He got tired but he is all stamina and the more I asked, the more he gave.

“In that ground the one who tries the hardest wins and he definitely tried the hardest.

“It is always great to have any winner here.”