Thunder set to rumble to a victory in the Becher Chase

White Pepper

1.30, 2m1f juvenile fillies’ Listed hurdle

Gavin Cromwell has won this twice in recent years and he has a big chance of striking again with White Pepper.

She won just one of 14 Flat races but made it second time lucky in this sphere at Galway last month, taking it up at an early stage and setting a tempo that none of her rivals could match. That form sets a clear standard in this field.

Six Feet Apart is another Irish raider to consider. Joseph O’Brien’s three-year-old was beaten in each of two Flat maidens but she looked a decent hurdler at Fairyhouse recently, jumping well and showing a good attitude.

Best alternative:

Six Feet Apart

Al Boum Photo 2.05, 3m1f Grade 2 chase

Al Boum Photo will be very hard to beat if making the journey across from Ireland.

The dual Gold Cup champion lost his crown last season but the form of that third or even his subsequent second at Punchestown are better than anything the rest of these have produced recently.

He has won first time out in the last four seasons and is still only nine years old so his powers shouldn’t be waning.

Protektorat is next best. Wind surgery helped him bounce back with an Aintree Grade 1 win in April and he ran even better in defeat at Cheltenham recently, finishing strongly to get within a length of Midnight Shadow . He is unproven at this trip but connections have long had one eye on this target.

Best alternative: Protektorat

Becher Chase 2.40, 3m2f handicap chase

Lucinda Russell’s string are in great shape and she has every chance with

MIGHTY THUNDER.

Last season’s Scottish Grand National winner found the 3m Charlie Hall Chase an insufficient test at Wetherby last time out but he progressed steadily over fences last winter and remains capable of better in just his eighth chase.

Last year’s 1-2 Vieux Lion Rouge and Kimberlite Candy both return for another try and should be thereabouts again.

Vieux Lion Rouge hasn’t been in great form recently but he saves his best efforts for this unique test, with a win in the 2016 renewal in addition to last season’s 24l success. He won’t be far away.

Kimberlite Candy was hampered a couple of times when pulled up in the Grand National and he lost a shoe when no match for Vieux Lion Rouge here 12 months ago so is better than that effort suggests too. He is a danger.

1 MIGHTY THUNDER 2 Kimberlite Candy

3 Vieux Lion Rouge

Pounding Poet 3.15, 2m4f handicap hurdle

Pounding Poet had to settle for second over this course and distance last time out but he can go one better.

Tom Lacey’s gelding won both handicaps before a summer break and was far from disgraced on his comeback, as only Mackelduff proved too strong in a race run at an unsuitably slow tempo.

Tamar Bridge is an interesting alternative. He made a good impression at Wetherby in October, easing 13l clear.