Entries are unveiled today for the first G1 chase of the 2020/21 season in Great Britain, the £160,000 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday, 21 November.

Staged over an extended three miles and one furlong, the Betfair Chase was first run in 2005 and quickly established itself as the first target for the very best three-mile chasers. This was in no small part due to the great Kauto Star, who landed the spoils a record four times – 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011.  Kauto Star’s handler, the 11-times champion Paul Nicholls, recorded further success with Silviniaco Conti in 2012 and 2014, meaning that he is the winning-most trainer in the history of the Betfair Chase.

This time around Nicholls has two entries – Clan des Obeaux, who has won the G1 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day for the past two years, and Topofthegame, winner of the G1 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in March 2019 but not seen out since chasing home Lostintranslation in the G1 Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree the following month.

Clan des Obeaux, a 6/1 chance with Betfair, is Nicholls’ intended runner at this stage, with Topofthegame more likely to head to Newbury the following week. Eight-year-old Clan des Obeaux has made two previous appearances at Haydock Park – he won a graduation chase on Betfair Chase Day in 2017 and was fourth, beaten just under nine lengths, behind Bristol de Mai in the 2018 Betfair Chase.

Nicholls said: “Clan des Obeaux is in great form at home and will head for the Betfair Chase.

“Physically, he seems to have improved on years past. He is working hard and is on well schedule for Haydock.

“Two years ago, we went to the Betfair Chase just to put our toe in the water to see if he could run in Graded races and he ran a really good race. He then went on to win the King George.

“He will be ready to put up a good performance at Haydock – there is no point going there thinking he is going to need the run. He will be ready and then that is nice timing for him to go to Kempton again on Boxing Day."

Clan des Obeaux winning at Haydock Park in 2017

The winners of the past three renewals of the Betfair Chase are also entered – last year’s victor Lostintranslation (Colin Tizzard) and Bristol de Mai (Nigel Twiston-Davies), who was triumphant in both 2017 and 2018 before finishing runner-up last year. Lostintranslation subsequently disappointed at Kempton Park but ended the campaign with a creditable third in the G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup. Lostintranslation heads the market at 7/4 with Betfair, with Bristol de Mai at 2/1.

Lostintranslation on his way to victory in the 2019 Betfair Chase

 Bristol de Mai lands the 2017 Betfair Chase

The Betfair Chase is one of the few major prizes to have eluded six-times champion Jump trainer Nicky Henderson, with Long Run (runner-up to Kauto Star in 2011) faring best for the master of Seven Barrows. This year Henderson has entered Santini, winner of the G2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January before going on to beat all bar Al Boum Photo in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.

There has also yet to be an Irish-trained winner of the Betfair Chase, with Beef Or Salmon coming closest when runner-up in the inaugural staging in 2005. The one Irish-trained entry in 2020 is A Plus Tard (Henry de Bromhead), who has raced over shorter distances for most of his career and most recently came home third in the G1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Lord du Mesnil (Richard Hobson) has something to find on ratings to be competitive but has a definite liking for Haydock Park. After two handicap successes at the course in December, the seven-year-old went on to take second in the G3 Unibet Grand National Trial in February and rounded off the campaign with a game second in the G2 National Hunt Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Gloucestershire-based Hobson said: “Lord du Mesnil is in good form and the Betfair Chase is a possibility.

“I haven’t been able to get a run into him yet this season. He has got some entries over the weekend but we are yet to decide if he will run.

“The Betfair Chase may therefore come too quick, but he is entered and we will make a decision nearer the time.

“He has summered really well and I am delighted with him at home. He will just come into his own when the ground gets soft.

“Lord du Mesnil will probably be aimed at a couple of races at Haydock this season. The Grand National Trial is a target, as is the Tommy Whittle.

“We don’t really have a long-term plan for him this season, he will just run in all of those good staying chases and we are looking forward to seeing him back in action."

Completing the entries are Bellshill (Sandy Thompson), successful in the G1 Irish Gold Cup in 2019 for former trainer Willie Mulllins, Keeper Hill (Warren Greatrex), who won a graduation chase on Betfair Chase Day in 2019, and Saint Calvados (Harry Whittington), another who could also step up in trip having come home second to Min in the G1 Ryanair Chase over an extended two and a half miles when last seen at Cheltenham in March.

The five-day acceptance stage for the Betfair Chase is on Monday, 16 November, when there is also an £8,000 supplementary entry stage.

Betfair Spokesman Barry Orr commented today: “It’s a great list of entries with Lostintranslation and Bristol de Mai, who fought out a memorable finish in 2019, currently heading the market at 7/4 and 2/1 respectively’’

“Dual King George winner, Clan Des Obeaux, at 6/1 is sure to be popular, while Gold Cup runner-up, Santini, is 3/1 to give Nicky Henderson a first win in the race.”

Betfair Chase, Betfair odds: 7/4 Lostintranslation; 2/1 Bristol de Mai; 3/1 Santini; 6/1 Clan des Obeaux; 16/1 A Plus Tard; 20/1 Saint Calvados, Topofthegame; 25/1 Bellshill; 33/1 Keeper Hill; 50/1 Lord du Mesnil

Entries are also revealed today for the £80,000 Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle, staged over an extended three miles on Betfair Chase Day. This contest has been a very good guide to future success at the highest level, with both Sam Spinner (2017) and Paisley Park (2018) going on to G1 honours.

Recent impressive Cheltenham winner Honest Vic (Henry Daly) heads the 35 entries and could aim to give trainer his second victory in the contest following Stoney Mountain’s triumph in 2019.

Heading the market at 7/1 with Betfair is Relegate (Colm Murphy), one of three Irish-trained entries and winner of the G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2018 when trained by Willie Mullins. He was last seen out when fifth in the G3 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle, Betfair odds:

7/1 Relegate; 8/1 Imperial Alcazar; 10/1 Collooney;  12/1 Honest Vic, Tea Clipper, Third Wind; 14/1 Ask Ben, Cill Anna, Duc de Beauchene, Fauburg Rosetgri, Lil Rockerfeller, Portrush Ted, Wholestone; 16/1 Debestyman, Dolphin Square, Highland Hunter, Decor Irlandais, Glinger Flame, West To The Bridge;  20/1 Kepagge, Umbrigado, Main Fact, Who Dares Wins; 25/1 Ask Dillon, Clyne, Eden du Houx, Justatenner, Kalashnikov, Mount Mews, The Jam Man; 25/1 I K Brunel; 33/1 Silva Eclipse, Shang Tang; 40/1 Flashjack; 66/1 Chocolat Noir

The Betfair Chase

£160,000 Total Prize Fund. 3m 1f 125y. 3.00pm Haydock Park, Saturday, November 21. 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 3 (10 entries), five-day confirmation & £8,000 supplementary entry stage November 16, final declaration stage, 10.00am, November 19.

 

Horse	Age	Owner	Trainer
A Plus Tard (FR)	6	Cheveley Park Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
Bellshill (IRE)	10	D & D Armstrong Ltd & L Westwood	Sandy Thomson
Bristol de Mai (FR)	9	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Clan des Obeaux (FR)	8	Mr & Mrs P Barber, G Mason, Sir A Ferguson	Paul Nicholls
Keeper Hill (IRE)	9	McNeill Family	Warren Greatrex
Lord du Mesnil (FR)	7	Paul Porter & Mike & Mandy Smith	Richard Hobson
Lostintranslation (IRE)	8	Taylor & O'Dwyer	Colin Tizzard
Saint Calvados (FR)	7	Kate & Andrew Brooks	Harry Whittington
Santini	8	Mr & Mrs R Kelvin-Hughes	Nicky Henderson
Topofthegame (IRE)	8	Chris Giles & Mr & Mrs P Barber	Paul Nicholls

 

10 entries

1 Irish-trained

The Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle

£80,000 Total Prize Fund. 3m 58y. 2.25pm, Haydock Park, Saturday, November 21. For four-year-olds and upwards. Entries closed Tuesday, November 3 (35 entries), five-day confirmation stage November 16, final declaration stage 10.00am November 19. Penalties, after November 8, for each hurdle race won 5lb. Maximum field of 17 plus 2 reserves.

Horse	Age	Owner	Trainer
Ask Ben (IRE)	7	Mrs Liz Prowting	Graeme McPherson
Ask Dillon (IRE)	7	4 The Fun Partnership	Fergal O'Brien
Chocolat Noir (IRE)	7	Javas Charvers	Martin Todhunter
Cill Anna (IRE)	5	The Stewart Family	Paul Nicholls
Clyne	10	David M Williams	Evan Williams
Collooney (IRE)	6	J P McManus	Olly Murphy
Debestyman (IRE)	7	The Plumpton Party	Suzy Smith
Decor Irlandais (FR)	7	John Devine	Noel Kelly IRE
Dolphin Square (IRE)	6	David Maxwell Racing Limited	Philip Hobbs
Duc de Beauchene (FR)	7	J P McManus	David Pipe
Eden du Houx (FR)	6	Prof Caroline Tisdall	David Pipe
Fauburg Rosetgri (FR)	8	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies
Flashjack (IRE)	10	Charles Whittaker & Belinda Clarke	Henry Daly
Glinger Flame (IRE)	8	James Westoll	Nicky Richards
Highland Hunter (IRE)	7	T Barr	Paul Nicholls
Honest Vic (IRE)	7	Carole Daly & Partners	Henry Daly
I K Brunel	6	McNeill Family and Prodec Networks Ltd	Olly Murphy
Imperial Alcazar (IRE)	6	Imperial Racing Partnership 2016	Fergal O'Brien
Justatenner	9	The Whartons	Tristan Davidson
Kalashnikov (IRE)	7	Paul Murphy	Amy Murphy
Kepagge (IRE)	6	Mrs Sarah Ling	David Pipe
Lil Rockerfeller (USA)	9	Davies Smith Govier & Brown	Neil King
Main Fact (USA)	7	Munrowd's Partnership	David Pipe
Mount Mews (IRE)	9	The Blue Nuns	Donald McCain
Portrush Ted (IRE)	8	McNeill Family	Warren Greatrex
Relegate (IRE)	7	Paul McKeon	Colm Murphy IRE
Shang Tang (IRE)	6	T Syder & N Mustoe	Emma Lavelle
Silva Eclipse	7	The Acre Bottom Syndicate	Sue Smith
Tea Clipper (IRE)	5	Jerry Hinds & Ashley Head	Tom Lacey
The Jam Man (IRE)	7	Ronan M P McNally	Ronan McNally IRE
Third Wind	6	Mouse Hamilton-Fairley	Hughie Morrison
Umbrigado (IRE)	6	John White & Anne Underhill	David Pipe
West To The Bridge (IRE)	7	J Tierney	Dan Skelton
Who Dares Wins (IRE)	8	HP Racing Who Dares Wins	Alan King
Wholestone (IRE)	9	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nigel Twiston-Davies

 

35 entries

3 Irish-trained