Rocker rolling on to Aintree

West End Rocker’s emphatic victory in the Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree has lifted him to near the top end of the market for the Grand National at the same course this year.

The Alan King-trained chaser finished 22 lengths ahead of the remaining field that was headed by Niche Market back in December over the trip of 3m2f. Anyone looking at the antepost Grand National odds online will have been very impressed.

The success was the horses first since winning at Warwick back in January, as Wayne Hutchinson rode him clear in the closing stages on heavy ground at the Merseyside track.

West End Ricker was part of the 40 runner field that took part in the Grand National in 2011 but was unfortunate to be brought down in the race that was won by Ballabriggs. Before the incident he appeared to be travelling well but didn’t get the stroke of luck needed to complete the trip over the big obstacles.

The 10-year old started his campaign this time around at Cheltenham but was pulled up in a Grade Three Handicap Chase at Prestbury Park where he looked like he needed the run following the summer break.

King has never won the Grand National and neither has his stable jockey Robert Thornton who is set to return to ride the horse in the world famous steeplechase race in April.

The man who took over the reins from former British champion trainer David Nicholson, where he was assistant trainer until his retirement, may decide to go straight to the National with West End Rocker without another run this season. Connections will be able to rate their chances for the big race next month when the weights are published.