The first Grade 1 staying chase in Great Britain this season is fast approaching. Only Native River was taken out at the declaration stage, so eight remain in the Betfair Chase. We’ve previewed each horse in the lineup alongside a superb offer from Bet365 where you can receive up to £100 in bet credits.
The Gold Cup runner-up from last season, A PLUS TARD would be the first Irish-trained runner in the race since Outlander in 2017.
However, Henry de Bromhead has always been certain that his charge would start his season here, as he firmly believes he needs to go left-handed. Haydock is set to have unusually quick ground for the race, which should suit A Plus Tard further.
Given how far clear he and stablemate Minella Indo pulled at Cheltenham, he could have quite a bit in hand against his rivals here. He’s never won on his seasonal debut, but as was the case for Bristol De Mai for many years, A Plus Tard falls firmly within the surprisingly young bracket: he’s still only a seven-year-old. With de Bromhead so forthcoming about this being his aim, you can be certain he’ll be ripely prepared.
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There have been 16 renewals of the Betfair Chase, but only eight horses have won the race between them. Kauto Star with four, Cue Card with three and Silviniaco Conti with two are all multiple winners of this contest.
We all know who the other is. BRISTOL DE MAI first won this as a six-year-old by 58 lengths in 2017. He then defied the doubters by doing it on good ground in 2018, before claiming back his title again last year from dual King George hero Clan Des Obeaux.
His record at Haydock is imperious and Nigel Twiston-Davies knows he is best fresh. He may now have reached double figures in terms of age, but this is his hunting ground and his Gold Cup. Plenty in this field will have latter targets, but if Bristol De Mai wins no other races this season, it won’t matter a jot if he joins Kauto Star on four Betfair victories.
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CHATHAM STREET LAD was one of the most impressive winners of last season at Cheltenham when he won the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup by 15 lengths.
That was one of three wins in his novice campaign, two of which came in open handicaps. The other came at Grade 3 level at Limerick when stepped up to three miles for the first time. There is one constant that links the three victories though: they were all won on deep ground.
His comeback run in the Munster National was perhaps disappointing and would leave him quite a lot to find here. On his best days, he’s displayed a serious engine, but it probably isn’t a Grade 1 winning machine.
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It’s been nearly two years since CLONDAW CASTLE finished out of the top three in any race. This speaks to the admirable consistency of Tom George’s nine-year-old.
Within that span, he has won handicaps at Warwick and Newbury, as well as Kempton’s Grade 3 Close Brothers Handicap Chase on his first attempt at three miles. That win off a mark of 154 entitled him to his first crack at open Grade 1 company in which he was a decent, albeit distant, runner-up to Clan Des Obeaux in Aintree’s Betway Bowl.
Like Chatham Street Lad, ground appears to be key for Clondaw Castle, but the reverse is true for him. His victories over fences have all been on good-to-soft or better, which he will likely get at the weekend. That said, he requires a lot more than he showed in the Charlie Hall on his reappearance when well-held and his excellent run of top-threes looks set to end.
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Just as IMPERIAL AURA looked set to wow racing fans with his exuberant performances at the big festivals, something went awry.
After having gained renown for his spring-heeled jumping, he made a clattering error in Kempton’s SIlviniaco Conti chase and unseated David Bass. It was the first non-completion of his career, which was swiftly followed by his second when pulling up in the Ryanair. He was found to have bled from the nose after that race.
Kim Bailey is reported to have wanted to try Imperial Aura over three miles for an extended period (he raced twice at the trip as a novice), as he was rather taken aback by the speed of the Ryanair.
He does not depend on ground, so is likely to turn up at Haydock. The star quality that was clearly evident may still remain, but this will be a tough race in which to prove it.
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In another universe, ROYALE PAGAILLE won the Festival Novice Chase at Cheltenham and would be an even shorter price for this race.
As it so happens, Monkfish, the most reputed novice chaser in training last season, is owned, like Royale Pagaille, by Rich Ricci. Therefore, given his extra year’s experience with Venetia Williams, the seven-year-old went for Gold and made no impression on Minella Indo.
He was found to have returned lame, and it was no disgrace finishing sixth in the race regardless. It’s likely best to ignore that run and remember what he had done prior.
Wins at Haydock and Kempton were earned with minimal fuss before he hacked up in the Peter Marsh Chase over course and distance. Despite the weak field, doing what he did off 156 speaks volumes and given what course specialist Bristol De Mai has done in this over the years, Royale Pagaille looks dangerous to all.
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Alas, we might just be WAITING PATIENTLY forever.
His Grade 1 breakthrough, defeating the veteran Cue Card, was nearly four years ago now. There have been near-misses since, including losing out by just a length in the 2019 Tingle Creek and flying home for second in last year’s King George, dispelling any stamina doubts.
However, he enters a new horizon now, having joined Christian Williams from Ruth Jefferson. He’s 10 going on 11 and was last seen pulling up in the Betway Bowl when never travelling.
He would be an enormously popular and deserving winner of a prize such as this. But for now, there are too many doubts for him to be trusted here, enviable though his talent may be on his best days.
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BIG RACE VERDICT
Rarely has a race been home territory for a horse as much as the Betfair Chase is for BRISTOL DE MAI. He would emulate Kauto Star by winning this for a fourth time and his Haydock record is clear for all to see. A Plus Tard is a clear danger after his Gold Cup second and this has been his target since the summer, while Royale Pagaille could turn into the next Betfair specialist in a race so many have won on multiple occasions.
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