Betfair Chase 2011

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.