Balbriggan has Becher option Gordon Elliott's Balbriggan is among the 28 horses left in at the confirmation stage for Saturday's Betfred Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree. The seven-year-old has been on an upward curve this year and won the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan recently. There are two other Irish entries, the Jim Dreaper-trained Goonyella and Tom Gibney's Lion Na Bearnai, winner of the 2012 Irish Grand National. Chance Du Roy won the race last year and could be set for a repeat bid. That victory set Philip Hobbs's charge up for a crack at the Crabbie's Grand National in which he finished a respectable sixth to Pineau De Re. Ballybough Gorta was fourth 12 months ago and could try again while his trainer Peter Bowen also has Scottish National hero Al Co, who is now top weight. Sue Smith's Mr Moonshine could try to improve on his third place in this race last year. Others in the mix include Burton Port, Mendip Express, Mon Parrain and Oscar Time, who was second in the 2011 Grand National and fourth in 2013.
