Defending champion Bristol De Mai headlines a classy field for the feature £200,000 Betfair Chase (3.00pm), the first G1 of the British Jump season at Haydock Park this Saturday, 23 November, Betfair Chase Day.

Bristol De Mai (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Daryl Jacob) is chasing a third consecutive victory in three mile, one and a half-furlong highlight, following a 57-length romp in 2017 and another dominant display in 2018.

The eight-year-old, who has not raced since finishing fourth in the G1 Betway Bowl at Aintree in April, is the 6/5 favourite with Betfair.

Next in the betting at 11/8 is rising star Lostintranslation (Colin Tizzard/Robbie Power). The seven-year-old jumped immaculately on his comeback victory at Carlisle on 3 November, having proved his stamina for staying trips with a faultless success in the G1 Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in April.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, said: “We could not be happier with Lostintranslation. He is in great form and this is the right next step for him.

“He jumped superbly and just ticked all the boxes at Carlisle and, whilst he needs to improve, he had a good blow after the race and will have come on for that.

“This is his sternest to date, but the Betfair Chase has always been the plan and hopefully he can run a big race.”

Paul Nicholls is the most successful handler in the Betfair Chase with six successes and the champion trainer is represented by Frodon, the mount of Jockey Club Racecourses ambassador Bryony Frost.

Frodon and Frost provided one of the moments of last season when repelling all challengers to win the G1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The four runners are completed by Bristol De Mai’s in-form stablemate Ballyoptic (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies), who enjoyed his biggest victory over fences to date in the G2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on 2 November.

Betfair Chase – Betfair prices:

6/5 Bristol De Mai

11/8 Lostintranslation

13/2 Frodon

14/1 Ballyoptic

Betfair spokesman, Barry Orr, commented today: “Despite support for Lostintranslation, the hat-trick seeking Bristol De Mai has been the favourite throughout and punters look set to keep the faith with Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable star.’’

An excellent seven-race card on Betfair Chase Day also includes the £100,000 G3 Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (2.25pm, 17 runners) over an extended three miles.

David Pipe landed the race three times between 2010 and 2013, including with future G1 victors Grands Crus and Dynaste, and the Somerset trainer is responsible for Betfair’s 4/1 favourite Umbrigado (Tom Scudamore, 11st 7lb).

Umbrigado won minor contests over hurdles at Southwell and Exeter last season before ending the campaign with a respectable sixth in the G1 Betway Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

Ireland’s champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins is represented by dual purpose performer Eight And Bob (Robbie Power, 11st 5lb), who captured a grade B handicap hurdle at Gowran Park on 5 October.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “Eight And Bob has been in good form mixing codes throughout the year.

“He won nicely back over hurdles at Gowran last time out and we have been happy with him since.

“He is obviously up in the weights, but hopefully there is more improvement to come from him."

Others to note include Lisnagar Oscar (Rebecca Curtis/Brian Hughes, 11st 6lb), Ask Ben (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods, 10st 12lb) and Stoney Mountain (Henry Daly/Tom O’Brien, 11st 3lb), who filled the first three places in the G2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle over the course and distance in February.

Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle – Betfair prices:

4/1 Umbrigado

6/1 Lisnagar Oscar

7/1 Highland Hunter

8/1 Tedham

10/1 Acey Milan, Ask Ben, Breaking Waves, Eight And Bob, Stoney Mountain

14/1 Flash The Steel

20/1 Echiquier

25/1 Diomede des Mottes, Liosduin Bhearna, Sirobbie

28/1 Mega Yeats, Potters Corner

33/1 Sykes

50/1 Man Of Plenty

Going

The going at Haydock Park is currently:

Good to Soft

There was one millimetre of rain on Sunday, with dry conditions from Monday to Wednesday.

Today is predicted to be dry, with light showers on Friday and Saturday. Conditions are forecast to be cool but comfortably above zero.