Look: the Grand National’s two most brutal fences aren’t just obstacles, they’re career-defining moments. One misstep at Becher’s and you’re flat-out on the ground; a slip at the Chair and you’ll hear the crowd gasp.

Becker’s Brook – the raw animal

Here is the deal: a 5-ft drop, a water trough, and a fence that seems to swallow horses whole. The water isn’t decorative; it’s a shock absorber that can turn a smooth stride into a belly-flop. Riders who underestimate the depth end up with a soaked steed and a ruined race.

The Chair – the sky-high nightmare

And here is why the Chair is legendary: 4-ft 9-in height, a massive ditch on the landing side, and a sheer drop that feels like falling off a cliff. You don’t walk it, you launch it. Miss the take-off and you’ll kiss the turf.

Technical breakdown

By the way, both fences demand a perfect blend of speed and timing. Too fast, you’re airborne; too slow, you hit the fence. The secret is a tight rhythm, a controlled burst, and a rider who can read the horse’s breath like a metronome.

Training tricks

Training isn’t about brute force; it’s about conditioning the horse to trust the jump. Repetitive drills over lower fences, then a sudden increase in height, simulate the shock. The rider’s cue must be crisp – a single “up” that the horse obeys instantly.

Real-world consequences

Miss Becher’s and you risk a broken leg, a bruised reputation, and a possible ban. Slip at the Chair and you could see a catastrophic fall, media frenzy, and a lifetime of “what-ifs”. The stakes are massive; the margin for error, zero.

What the pros say

Veteran jockeys swear by the “eye-level” approach: visualise the fence as a doorway, not a barrier. They say, “If you see it, you’ll clear it.” Simple, but in the heat of the moment, that mental picture can be the difference between glory and disaster.

Bottom line

Here’s the actionable advice: before you even mount, walk the course, memorize the exact drop, and rehearse the rider’s cue in your head. Then, when the thunder of hooves hits the starting line, you’ll be ready to own Becher’s Brook and the Chair, not fear them.