Irish quintet in Becher

Goonyella, winner of the Midlands National at Uttoxeter and second in the Scottish version at Ayr, is one of five Irish runners in the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has headed the ante-post market for some time due to his staying exploits, but trainer Jim Dreaper feels dropping back down in trip from four miles is against him.

Dreaper said: "He ran a couple of very good races over four miles in the spring and has his handicap mark for that, but now he's coming back in trip and runs off the same mark, obviously."

He added: "I suppose it's the equivalent of an Ebor horse running in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot off the same rating.

"He's in good form and we know he's a horse who stays well, but he isn't blessed with speed.

"Hopefully soft ground will make the other guys go a bit slower."

Vics Canvas was second in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last season and ran respectably in the "Fixed Brush" Hurdle at Haydock last month.

"He's got a fair bit of weight, but he's a tough horse and is quite experienced now," said trainer Dermot McLoughlin.

"He's won on good ground, he's won on soft ground and he's won on heavy ground, so it all comes the same to him.

"He's done well since Haydock and we think he'll go very well."

Compatriot Portrait King, trained by Patrick Griffin, is all about stamina, having won an Eider Chase at Newcastle in February 2012.

He also ran very well in the Grand National for a long way before falling at the third-last.

Assistant trainer James Griffin said: "Portrait King has improved for the run at Bangor when nothing went right.

"If he reproduces his Grand National performance on ground that he should love, we would be quietly confident of a prominent showing.

"He has won an Eider and the Grand National Trial at Punchestown. He wants a real test of stamina on testing ground and there are not too many of those races around.

"Bangor was always a stepping stone to the Becher.

"I ride him every day and he has definitely improved.

"Johnny Burke has ridden him in work and was delighted, and Adrian Heskin schooled him the other day over the Grand National fences at the Curragh and loved him.

"We have got the cheekpieces back on, with Derek Fox claiming 3lb, and I would be disappointed if he is not in contention with four to jump.

"Derek's style is to drop out and hunt around, which is what we want to do."

The Irish challenge is further boosted by the winner of the Irish National, Sandra Hughes' Thunder And Roses, who had a recent spin over hurdles at Clonmel.

"I think if he puts in a clear round he's got to be there or thereabouts," she said.

"This is a trial with April (Grand National at Aintree) in mind.

"If all goes well, we'll then be planning everything around that. He's rated high enough to get in so we'll have to mind him.

"He's schooled over National fences at home and there's no reason he shouldn't take to them. They're not what they were and once a horse can see the birch they are invited to jump them.

"His first run of the season was over hurdles and it just came at the right time.

"We wanted to get a run into him before this as I didn't want him going three-mile plus on his first run. It did exactly what we wanted. It's so far, so good and we're looking forward to it."