The Betfair Chase. Top Class long distance steeplechase
Started in 2005 this race became a valuable starting point for the King George VI held on boxing day and the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham festival as any horse to win all three would win the Betfair £1,000,000 bonus.
Perhaps now that the bonus has been dropped the race is not quite pertiogus but the race is still a valuable early winter prize and the field is usually high quality and this year looks to be no exception with last seasons Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander in the line up.
| 1 | Atouchbetweenacara | 9 11-7 | Miss Venetia Williams | A.Coleman |
| 2 | Chief Dan George | 10 11-7 | James Moffatt | Paddy Aspel |
| 3 | Imperial Commander | 9 11-7 | N A Twiston-Davies | Paddy Brennan |
| 4 | Nacarat | 9 11-7 | T R George | Paul Moloney |
| 5 | Planet Of Sound | 8 11-7 | P J Hobbs | Richard Johnson |
| 6 | Tidal Bay | 9 11-7 | J Howard Johnson | Brian Hughes |
| 7 | What A Friend | 7 11-7 | P F Nicholls | Sam thomas |
Atouchbetweenacara
Winner of the 2009 grade 2 ESN silver trophy chase at the festival and this was the highlight of hi career to date.
A lightly raced horse with 4 falls and 2 PU in his 15 races to date. with 2 of the PU and 1 Fall this year. Difficult to assess his form or class but looks to have too much to do in a race of this class...
Chief Dan George
A really smart hurdler who has turned into a good chaser. This bay gelding ended last season with a fine win in the William hill trophy at the festival. Also has been 5th in the Scottish national he seems to run on most ground of good or better.
Nice chaser but will have to improve somewhat to win this race.
IMPERIAL COMMANDER
Absolute top class chaser and winner of last season’s blue ribbon chase The Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Second in this race last year behind the country’s best chaser Kauto Star and without any real kinks in his amour looks to be the obvious winner of this race.
NACARAT
A good consistent chaser who rarely puts in a bad performance. Winner of the BET 365 Charlie hall chase three weeks ago will benefit from having a really good run and will be fit and raring to go.
Although this grey acts on good ground a bit more cut in the ground would be to his advantage. Could run in to a place.
Planet Of Sound
Very smart chaser last seen when winning the grade 1 Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup in April beating a good field with Denman War of Attrition and Cooldine all in behind.
Has won once at this distance but other good wins have come at a few furlongs below this distance. On the upgrade and not without a chance if the favourite disappoints.
TIDAL BAY
A classy consistent chaser who is another sure to go well. After struggling to get his head in front for a little while he returned to hurdling and won the Cleave Hurdle at Cheltenham last January and then campaigned all the rest of the season over hurdles running with great respect in the World hurdle finishing 7th behind Big Buck’s
He has run once this season in the John Smiths Hurdle at Weatherby where he made a few mistakes but still finished 3rd. Three weeks later he should be spot on for this race but looks to have plenty to do with this classy field and will have to improve on his chase runs to have a chance.
What A Friend
What A Friend has not done much wrong in his career to date and could be the main danger to the favourite.
Second in last season’s Hennessey and then wins in two grade 1 races, the Lexus chase and Totesport bowl shows that the horse has a touch of class. Only 7 rising 8 he should still have improvement in him and looks to be the progressive sort to challenge this sort f field. Acts on any ground and gets the trip.
The Selection is IMPERIAL COMMANDER
Next Best Planet Of Sound
| 1 | Imperial Commander (IRE) 10/11F | 9 | 11-7 | N A Twiston-Davies | Paddy Brennan |
| 2 | Tidal Bay (IRE) 16/1 | 9 | 11-7 | J Howard Johnson | Brian Hughes |
| 3 | Planet Of Sound 17/2 | 8 | 11-7 t | P J Hobbs | Richard Johnson |
| 4 | Nacarat (FR) 7/1 | 9 | 11-7 | T R George | Paul Moloney |
| 5 | What A Friend 3/1 | 7 | 11-7 | P F Nicholls | Sam Thomas |
| 6 | Atouchbetweenacara (IRE) 80/1 | 9 | 11-7 | Miss Venetia Williams | Aidan Coleman |
| 7 | Chief Dan George (IRE) 33/1 | 10 | 11-7 | James Moffatt | Paddy Aspell |
Past Winners
| Year | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2005 | Kingscliff | Robert Alner | Robert Walford |
| 2006 | Kauto Star | Paul Nicholls | Ruby Walsh |
| 2007 | Kauto Star | Paul Nicholls | Sam Thomas |
| 2008 | Snoopy Loopy | Peter Bowen | Ben Gordon |
| 2009 | Kauto Star | Paul Nicholls | Ruby Walsh |
