3.05 Haydock
Betfair Chase (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (Grade 1)
(Class 1) (5YO plus)
Winner £112,540
Advice: 1 pt win Diamond Harry (5/1 general), 2 pts Diamond
Harry w/o Long Run (5/2 Hills)
Diamond Harry: Only beaten by Miakel D’Augenet as a novice
hurdler, and slammed Burton Port giving him a stone in weight over brush
hurdles; Quickly turned to chasing after coming solid third behind Big Bucks in
Long Walk (rescheduled) and impressed majorly when winning on his debut, but
made mistakes in scrappy win here, before error strewn round in the RSA Chase
(which came too soon for him) saw him pulled up; Only run once since, when
imperious in winning the Hennessy Gold Cup, travelling all over the winner; Off
since with injury but known to run very well fresh and should go close here.
Kauto Star: One of the hall of famers of jump racing, his
place in the record books confirmed following a hat – trick of King George
wins, and two Cheltenham Gold Cups (overall he has 14 Grade 1’s); Came back
seemingly as good as ever when beating Sizing Europe at Down Royal but well
beaten behind Long Run in King George and Gold Cup, although he rallied bravely
on both occasions (made Gold Cup into one of all time great races) before age
showed, while also being pulled up at Punchestown; Not as good as he once was
but stable exuding confidence about a big show. 
Long Run: Went from pretender to undisputed champion last
term, storming home in King George and Gold Cup with tremendous late pace last
year on both occasions; Had started that season being beaten off 158 in the Paddy Power Gold
Cup and while he’s vastly improved now, should come on for this run and does
face a tough task. 
Pure Faith: Career best by some way when running Albertas
Run all the way in the Old Roan; Trainer pulled off a massive shock before in
this but a new trip asks a whole lot more of him and this a better race in any
case. 
Time For Rupert: Quickly transformed into one of leading novice
chasers of last season, bolting up on two chase starts before disappointing at
Cheltenham Festival, although that should be readily forgiven (unfit for the
race and broke blood vessel); Travelled well on comeback in Charlie Hall Chase
at Wetherby before being well beaten in the end and while he should improve a
lot for that, he’s 3lbs worse off with Weird Al and some have suggested course
might not suit him totally. 
Weird Al: Unbeaten over fences as a novice, having marked
himself down a major RSA Chase candidate before injury with 2 impressive wins
at Cheltenham before winning Towton Novice’s Chase over C&D; Only eighth in
Hennessy and then pulled up in Gold Cup after successful comeback from injury,
but back to best on first start since when winning Charlie with relative ease
despite having to give 3lbs and a contender here for sure.
VERDICT: A top quality renewal with more than a few outcomes
possible. It’s staggering to think that Long Run is only 6 and already a
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner but that’s the score and while he’s far clear based
on that form, he was beaten in the Paddy Power off 158 last season; This is a
far harder task and while he should win, odds on quotes are a little short.
DIAMOND HARRY has long been touted as a Gold Cup winner in waiting by some and
his Hennessy win shows he truly is of the utmost class, while he’s unbeaten
here and also 5-5 on his seasonal debut. Sadly the real value is gone, but 5/1 that
he can upset Long Run is more than worth taking while the 5/2 with Hills that
he wins regardless of the favourite is worth taking. Charlie Hall 1-2 Weird Al
and Time For Rupert should stay the same, while a big effort from Kauto Star
would not surprise despite the fact that younger rivals are preferred.
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