Bud back for Becher

LAST year’s winner Hello Bud (above) is one of 26 entries for the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained veteran made nearly every yard of the running 12 months ago and will no doubt adopt the same tactics again.

Paul Nicholls has won three of the last seven runnings and has entered Meanus Dandy and Niche Market, while Always Waining, winner of the Topham at Aintree in April, is, along with Ballyvesey and Sun Tzu, one of three possibles for Peter Bowen.