The Betfair Chase runners for 2024 are taking shape ahead of Saturday’s big Haydock race. With the latest entry being Capodanno, who was supplemented by Willie Mullins in what is setting up to be a cracking renewal.
Betfair Chase Runners Headed By Exciting 7 Year-Old Grey Dawning
According to the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, the Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning is the one to beat in this weekend’s Grade One Betfair Chase.
His exciting 7 year-old heads the market with most firms and is expected to remain solid in the market in the build-up to the contest at 3:05pm this Saturday at Haydock.
Grey Dawning was last seen running third in the Manifesto Chase at Aintree at their Grand National Meeting in April. While prior to that landed the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (watch below) – both races came over 2m4f.
He’s back up in trip here in the Betfair Chase (3m 1 1/2f) but has winning form over 3m when winning at Warwick last season.
The horse will need to put in a good performance here in order to keep in contention for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
He’s also expected to run in either the Ryanair Chase or the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Festival next year.
His trainer Dan Skelton also won the Betfair Chase in 2022 with Protektorat so will be looking for his second success in this horse racing Grade One.
Capodanno Set To Be First Betfair Chase Runner For Willie Mullins
Top Irish handler Willie Mullins, who was also crowned the leading British jumps trainer last season, has never won the Betfair Chase (first run in 2005). However, in his defence, he’s not actually had a runner in the race before.
But that looks set to change in 2024 as the JP McManus-owned Capodanno was supplemented by Mullins earlier this week.
The horse is also no stranger to heading to the UK to win a big jumping prize – having landed the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last season (watch below).
Capodanno has since failed to build on that win though – running fourth in the Ryanair Chase at the Festival and also featured in the Grand National, when 16th behind his stablemate I Am Maximus.
Betfair Chase Race Details 2024
📅Date: Saturday 23rd November 2024
⌚Time: 3:05pm
🏇Racecourse: Haydock
🔄Trip: 3m 1 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: £116,029
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
You can also watch SportsCasting’s Andy Newton on this week’s Final Furlong podcast.
2023 Winner Royale Pagaille Back To Defend His Betfair Chase Crown
There is probably no horse still in training that loves Haydock Park as much as last year’s Betfair Chase winner Royale Pagaille.
Over the years this race has seen many repeat winners – Kauto Star, Cue Card, Silvinaco Conti and Bristol Da Mai.
The latest horse to try and join that illustrious list will be the 2023 winner Royale Pagaille.
Owned by Rich Ricci and trained by Venetia Williams, this 10 year-old powered home to win this Grade One by 6 1/2 lengths 12 months ago (watch below) and has a record second-to-none over these Haydock fences.
He’s raced at the Lancashire track five times – winning four of those and finishing second in the other. Which came as runner-up in this race in 2021.
The Last Two King George VI Chase Winners Could Also Be Betfair Chase Runners In 2024
The 2024 Betfair Chase runners could also include two past King George VI Chase winners – Bravemansgame and Hewick.
Bravemansgame was also runner-up in this race 12 months ago. However, the worry for backers of this Paul Nicholls-trained horse is that his last win came in that mentioned King George VI Chase.
Which was back in 2022 and is now eight races winless.
The same can sort of be said for the 2023 King George VI Chase winner Hewick as he’s not won a race since either (5 runs).
But returned earlier this month to run a close second (staying on well) in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal behind Envoi Allen.
Hewick will be hoping the Haydock ground doesn’t get too much softer, with his best form on quicker surfaces.
See the full Betfair Chase runners for 2024 below.
Betfair Chase Runners 2024 In Full
- Ahoy Senor
- Bravemansgame
- Capodanno
- Gold Tweet
- Grey Dawning
- Hewick
- Minella Drama
- Royale Pagaille
- The Real Whacker
- Limerick Lace
Note: The final Betfair Chase runners will be declared on Thursday 21st November 2024.
