The Betfair Chase is the third-most important Grade 1 steeplechase of the season, behind the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March (Cheltenham odds here) and the King George V1 Chase at Kempton in December.
The Haydock Park feature not only attracts a bumper crowd but also potential Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders with the legendary Kauto Star regularly using this Chase on his way to further success at The Festival.
The Betfair Chase will take place this year on Saturday 23 November. So how is the antepost market shaping up?
Here at 888sport we have installed the Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning as the early 6/4 favourite in our horse racing betting to win the 20th edition of the Betfair Chase.
Winner Market -
Last season's Turners Novices' Chase winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Grey Dawning will be bidding to follow in the footsteps of fellow grey Protektorat (16/1) who landed the race for the Skelton’s in 2022.
Grey Dawning followed his Grade 1 Cheltenham success with a slightly below par third behind Il Etait Temps in the Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree the following month, but he can be excused that run after being involved in some hard battles throughout the course of last season.
A 9½ length scorer here last November in the 2m5½f Graduation Chase, the seven-year-old should relish this longer trip and he wouldn’t be inconvenienced by testing conditions either. In the overall scheme of things he’s a very worthy market leader.
Last year's winner of the Betfair Chase, Royale Pagaille (5/1), is on course to defend his crown after suffering a set-back in his follow up run last season.
If the heavens open on the lead up to the race, Venetia Williams’ star chaser has to come into the reckoning once again.
Paul Nicholls made no excuses for Bravemansgame’s (8/1) defeat in the Betfair Chase last season.
The eight-year-old was the 8-11 favourite in just a four runner field, but despite jumping well, was ultimately outgunned by Venetia Williams’ six-and-a-half-length winner Royale Pagaille.
Nicholls was criticised in some quarters for running Bravemansgame so soon after a testing race in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, so I am pretty sure he won’t be running him in both events this season.
Another class horse towards the head of the market is Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor (7/1). I personally think his main target will be the Grand National this time around, and this race has also been used as a stepping stone to that event in the past.
Winner Market -
Ahoy Senor will launch his 2024-25 campaign at the scene of his second in the William Hill Bowl last April.
Russell told the Racing Post: "He's had a racecourse gallop and is going to go over two miles four at Aintree (Old Roan Chase). It's a little short for him but he finds it hard to stay early in the season. Then he'll go for the Betfair Chase”.
Throw the easy National Hunt Chase victor Corbetts Cross into the mix and we will have a hotly contested 20th anniversary contest.
At the time of writing it is nigh on impossible to suggest a big priced outsider for this renewal. The winner will come from one of the aforementioned horses.
Suggested bet: Royal Pagaille (WIN)
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Adobe*
