Defending champion Bristol De Mai and Altior headline 11 entries revealed today for the £200,000 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday, 23 November, Betfair Chase Day.

The first G1 of the British Jump season is also the initial contest in The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown, which offers a £1-million bonus for any horse who can follow up victory in the Betfair Chase by taking the G1 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, 26 December and the G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham on 13 March.

In addition to the insured £1-million bonus, connections of any horse that can win The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown will receive The Kauto Star Trophy, commissioned in 2017 and thought to be the only piece of silverware in sport never to have been won. Kauto Star won all three contests in the 2006/07 campaign and collected a £1-million bonus offered at the time by Betfair.

Bristol De Mai, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, is bidding to become the third horse to win at least three renewals of the G1 event, following on from Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2009 & 2011) and Cue Card (2013, 2015 & 2016). A fine third in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup at The Festival™ in March, the eight-year-old son of Saddler Maker was fourth on his final start last term in the G1 Betway Bowl at Aintree in April.

Gloucestershire handler Twiston-Davies is relishing the return of his stable star as he targets a fourth success in the G1 contest overall, with Imperial Commander landing the 2010 renewal of the extended three mile and a furlong event. Bristol De Mai was initially meant to start his season in the G2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on 2 November, before connections decided to head straight to Haydock Park with the 170-rated chaser.

Twiston-Davies said: “Bristol De Mai is in good form. Everything is fine with him and we just decided to head straight for Haydock.

“We did it last year and it worked well, so hopefully things can go well again this time around.

“He had a great season last term and we were delighted with his third in the Gold Cup. Hopefully he can continue improving this term.”

Bristol De Mai could be joined by stable companion Ballyoptic following his tenacious victory in the Charlie Hall Chase. The nine-year-old son of Old Vic was a three and three-quarter length winner of the three mile event and is a possible starter for Haydock Park on 23 November.

Twiston-Davies continued: “Ballyoptic has come out of the Charlie Hall fine.

“We were always going to enter him in the Betfair Chase after that victory and he could also run.”

Superstar Altior is unbeaten in his last 19 starts over obstacles and connections have decided to step the dual G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase hero up in trip this season.

The 175-rated chaser culminated last season with a comfortable victory in the two-mile G1 Celebration Chase at Sandown Park and the four-time Cheltenham Festival winner is one of three entries for Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson along with Might Bite and Valtor.

Might Bite captured the 2017 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park and was a fine second to Native River in the 2018 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 10-year-old was a well-beaten last of five when the Evens favourite in last year’s renewal of the Betfair Chase and was pulled-up on his latest start in the 2019 edition of Jump Racing’s Blue Riband event at The Festival™ in March.

Valtor made an impressive British debut at Ascot in December, 2018 when landing a Listed handicap by eight lengths. The 10-year-old was 18th in the G3 Randox Health Grand National at Aintree in April.

Paul Nicholls has dominated the Betfair Chase with six victories. In addition to Kauto Star’s four victories, the 11-times champion Jump trainer also took the honours with Silviniaco Conti (2012 & 2014).

The Somerset-based trainer has two contenders this year. The G1 Ryanair Chase hero Frodon was third in the G2 Virgin Bet Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase on his reappearance at Aintree in October, whilst 2017 G1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase winner Black Corton, was a creditable third on his return to action in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot on 2 November.

Lostintranslation is one of two entries for Colin Tizzard who is seeking a fourth success in the Betfair Chase following Cue Card’s hat-trick. The seven-year-old was an impressive six-length winner of the G1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April and returned to action with an imperious victory in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle on 3 November.

He could be joined at Haydock Park by stablemate and 2018 Welsh Grand National winner Elegant Escape. The seven-year-old son of Dubai Destination was sixth in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and finished a staying-on three and three-quarter length second to Ballyoptic in the Charlie Hall Chase on his seasonal debut.

An Irish-trained horse has yet to win the Betfair Chase, but leading Irish owner Gigginstown House Stud is responsible for the two Irish entries this year. The 2018 Ryanair Chase winner Balko Des Flos has struggled to rediscover his G1 winning form of late and finished fourth on his reappearance for Henry De Bromhead in G3 company at Punchestown in October. The entries are completed by the Noel Meade-trained Tout Est Permis. He finished ahead of Balko Des Flos in third at Punchestown in October and was a G2 winner over fences at Thurles last season.

Betfair spokesman, Barry Orr, commented today: “The Betfair Chase is shaping up to be a vintage renewal with Lostintranslation vying for favouritism with hattrick seeking Bristol de Mai, while, Frodon, will stripe fitter for his seasonal debut.

“Following his victory in the in Carlisle, Lostintranslation is the momentum horse and is now 15/8 from 7/2 to give Colin Tizzard a fourth win in the Betfair Chase.”

Betfair Chase, Betfair bet: 7/4 Bristol De Mai, 15/8 Lostintranslation, 7/1 Frodon, 8/1 Altior, 12/1 Ballyoptic, 14/1 Balko des Flos, Black Corton, Might Bite, 20/1 Tout Est Permis, Elegant Escape, 33/1 Valtor

Any Horse to win The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown: 14/1

The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown Odds:

40/1 Lostintranslation

100/1 Bristol De Mai

150/1 Frodon, Might Bite

Betfair Chase Day also features the £100,000 G3 Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers’ Handicap over three miles. Won by subsequent G1 Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle winner Paisley Park last season, G1 Long Walk Hurdle victor Sam Spinner also features on the roll of honour.

A total of 39 entries for the three-mile contest include G1 winner Top Notch (Nicky Henderson, odds), G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle scorer Kilbricken Storm (Colin Tizzard, odds) and G1-placed Clyne (Evan Williams, odds).

Weights for the Betfair Exchange Hurdle will be revealed on Wednesday, November 13.

The Betfair Chase

£200,000 Total Prize Fund. 3m 1f 125y. 3.00pm Haydock Park, Saturday, November 23. For five-year-olds and upwards, which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including the day prior to confirmation. Horses which are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible providing the handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day prior to confirmation would merit a minimum rating of 130. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. Weights: 11st 7lb Mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed Tuesday, November 5 (11 entries), five-day confirmation & £10,000 supplementary entry stage November 18, final declaration stage, 10.00am, November 21.

 

Horse	Age	Owner	Trainer
Altior (IRE)	9	Mrs Patricia Pugh	Nicky Henderson
Balko des Flos (FR)	8	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
Ballyoptic (IRE)	9	Mills & Mason Partnership	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Black Corton (FR)	8	The Brooks Family & J Kyle	Paul Nicholls
Bristol de Mai (FR)	8	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Elegant Escape (IRE)	7	J P Romans	Colin Tizzard
Frodon (FR)	7	P J Vogt	Paul Nicholls
Lostintranslation (IRE)	7	Taylor & O'Dwyer	Colin Tizzard
Might Bite (IRE)	10	The Knot Again Partnership	Nicky Henderson
Tout Est Permis (FR)	6	Gigginstown House Stud	Noel Meade IRE
Valtor (FR)	10	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson

 

11 entries

2 Irish-trained

 

 

The Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle

£100,000 Total Prize Fund. 3m 58y. 2.25pm, Haydock Park, Saturday, November 23. For four-year-olds and upwards. Entries closed Tuesday, November 5 (39 entries), five-day confirmation stage November 18, final declaration stage 10.00am November 21. Penalties, after November 10, for each hurdle race won 5lb. Maximum field of 17 plus 2 reserves. 

 

Horse	Age	Owner	Trainer
Acey Milan (IRE)	5	Owners For Owners: Acey Milan	Anthony Honeyball
Ask Ben (IRE)	6	Liz Prowting	Graeme McPherson
Bialco (FR)	8	The Vikings	Lucinda Russell
Breaking Waves (IRE)	5	Colin Peake & Julie Slater	Noel Williams
Buckhorn Timothy	10	The Buckhorn Racing Team	Colin Tizzard
Canyon City	6	A Whyte, J Bone, D Nott & B Smith	Neil King
Cat Tiger (FR)	5	David Maxwell Racing Limited	Paul Nicholls
Clyne	9	David M Williams	Evan Williams
Diomede des Mottes (FR)	6	Belbroughton Racing Club	Dan Skelton
Dolphin Square (IRE)	5	David Maxwell Racing Limited	Philip Hobbs
Donna's Diamond (IRE)	10	D&D Armstrong Ltd	Chris Grant
Dragon d'Estruval (FR)	6	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
Echiquier (FR)	5	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Eight And Bob	6	Act D Wagg Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
Flash The Steel (IRE)	7	John J Reilly	Dan Skelton
Geordie B	6	C Boultbee-Brooks	Venetia Williams
Highland Hunter (IRE)	6	T Barr	Paul Nicholls
Kilbricken Storm (IRE)	8	A Selway & P Wavish	Colin Tizzard
Lil Rockerfeller (USA)	8	Davies Smith Govier & Brown	Neil King
Liosduin Bhearna (IRE)	6	The FOB Racing Partnership 4	Fergal O'Brien
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE)	6	Racing for Fun	Rebecca Curtis
Man of Plenty	10	G Thompson	Sophie Leech
Mason Jar (FR)	5	Foxtrot Racing Mason Jar	Dr Richard Newland
Mega Yeats (IRE)	5	The Mount Fawcus Partnership	Ruth Jefferson
One For The Team	5	Forty Winks Syndicate 2	Nick Williams
Poker Play (FR)	6	The Angove Family	David Pipe
Potters Corner (IRE)	9	All Stars Sports Racing & J Davies	Christian Williams
Remastered	6	Brocade Racing	David Pipe
Sirobbie (IRE)	5	Richard J Gurr	Harry Whittington
Skandiburg (FR)	5	Kate & Andrew Brooks	Olly Murphy
Smackwater Jack (IRE)	5	Par Four	Olly Murphy
Stoney Mountain (IRE)	6	Trevor Hemmings	Henry Daly
Sykes (IRE)	10	Bradley Partnership	Nicky Martin
Tedham	5	M Tedham	Jonjo O'Neill
The Big Galloper (IRE)	5	Byrnes Bloodstock Ltd	Charles Byrnes IRE
The Butcher Said (IRE)	6	McNeill Family	Olly Murphy
The Wolf (FR)	5	McNeill Family & Prodec Networks Ltd	Olly Murphy
Top Notch (FR)	8	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
Umbrigado (IRE)	5	John White & Anne Underhill	David Pipe

 

39 entries

2 Irish-trained