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Betfair Chase: Can Long Run get beaten

The Betfair Chase run over three miles is the pinnacle race on Haydock’s Saturday card and with any one of the top five horses in the betting capable of winning the race, this year’s contest could provide some valuable information for the season ahead. Cheltenham Gold Cup and King George VI Chase winner Long Run is the even money favourite with BlueSQ and despite having not raced since his Cheltenham triumph, the six-year-old is expected to make a winning start to the new National Hunt season. Can Long Run get beaten?


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The Nicky Henderson horse will face some tough opposition in his bid to win the first Grade 1 event of the British National Hunt season but with positive vibes coming from the Henderson stable, you can back Long Run with confidence. If anything the evens is a massive price when looking at the official Timeform ratings with Long Run 14lb clear of the rest of the field.

Last season’s Hennessy Gold Cup winner Diamond Harry is the 6/1 second favourite (Ladbrokes and Coral) for the Nick Williams stable and if Long Run fails to deliver, the eight-year-old could be the one to take advantage under new stable jockey James Reveley. The Williams charge looks a great each-way bet and with there being no doubts about his ability of running well fresh, the 6/1 should get snapped up.

Next in the betting comes the Charlie Hall Chase winner Weird Al and former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star, who are both available at 7/1 (VC & totesport). Weird Al come to Haydock in fine form and after making an impressive winning debut for the Donald McCain yard, the eight-year-old is guaranteed to have his supporters. Kauto Star on the other hand is now coming towards the end of a fine career and at the age of 11 it would take a massive performance to overcome his younger rivals. You can’t take anything away from what the Paul Nicholls charge has achieved over the years but after being pulled up for the first time in his career when beaten last time out at Punchestown in May, it would be a massive surprise to see Kauto crossing the line in first.

The final horse that could upset the odds is the Paul Webber trained Time For Rupert. The seven-year-old is available at 9/1 (Coral) and despite having finished three and a half lengths behind Weird Al in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, the chestnut gelding by Flemensfirth is expected to run a big race especially is there is a strong gallop set. The only real negative for backers of Time For Rupert is that his abundance of stamina may not come into effect at Haydock.

The last horse entered into the race is the Old Roan Chase runner-up Pure Faith (80/1 with Coral) for the Peter Bowen yard.

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