Oscar Time claims Becher Chase Aintree specialist Oscar Time gained a deserved moment in the spotlight as the 13-year-old claimed the Betfred Becher Chase over the famous Grand National fences. Now trained by owner Robert Waley-Cohen and ridden by his amateur son Sam, the 25-1 winner was second in the 2011 National when in the care of Martin Lynch and fourth last year. Always prominent, he was produced to perfection to collar the gambled-on favourite Our Father at the last, with the market leader having surged to the front three out. The notorious run from the Elbow was to prove gruelling for the Waley-Cohens as Mendip Express clawed into his advantage, but the line came in time for a three-quarter-length success. Saint Are was another three lengths back in third, with Alfie Spinner fourth. Waley-Cohen senior said: "That was the most enormous fun. "We bought him to run in the National and the first year he was second for us when brilliantly trained by Martin Lynch and then he was fourth but picked up an injury, so we took him home and nursed him back to health. "He won a point-to-point and a couple of hunter chases and even though he was 13 he showed that he still had it. "This was the target, he's better here than anywhere. He doesn't get the National trip and he will be 14 in a few weeks so he won't run." He added of his son, who has a tremendous record at Aintree: "Sam was exceptional on him - that's now five wins over the fences for him and he's been second three times and placed on a few other occasions." The winning rider said: "I didn't want to let Our Father get too far ahead, I just took my time. I thought he'd gone for home early enough anyway and if I'd chased him I wouldn't have got home. "The run-in felt very long as he doesn't do much in front and I could hear the other horse coming, but to be fair he has pulled out enough. "You've got to have the right horse and anyone could have ridden him today, as he's such a good ride over these fences." Irish raider Balbriggan, winner of the Troytown Chase, was pulled up and it was later confirmed he had suffered a fatal fracture of a leg.
