Saturday's Betfair Chase has always provided a top quality, early season field of Gold Cup hopefuls and leading protaganists running against each other on the Lancashire turf.
The first running of the Betfair, or Lancashire Chase as it was registered in 2005, was won by the rising star Kingscliff for Robert Walford and the Alners, narrowly beating Beef Or Salmon under Paul Carberry, with the odds on favourite Kicking King, a way back in third.
He came back in 2006 to try and defend his crown, but was beaten over 100 lengths in last, as the then 'young pretender' Kauto Star routed the top class field by 17 lengths pushed out by Ruby Walsh. Little did we know that this was only the start of his many Grade 1 successes.
2007 came around, and in monsoon like conditions, his main market rival My Way De Solzen couldn't cope, but it was the improving Exotic Dancer who gave Kauto and stand in Sam Thomas a real race, getting within half a length under Barry Geraghty, a result that would become a very familiar association with this lovable bridesmaid, who got his day in the sun by winning the Lexus Chase in December 2008.
They were both back again in 2008, but this time, things didn't go to plan. Kauto Star was a 2/5 market leader in the hands of Sam Thomas going for his third Betfair, and with only five rivals, surely he would prevail, but from quite a way out, as Tamarinbleu got a very good tactical ride by Tom O'Brien at the front, he really turned the screw and got the others in trouble. Kauto was under pressure from three out, and as he came to join Tamarinbleu at the last, he stumbled on landing and unseated a helpless Thomas. The crowd gasped with horror as their horse was left to wander home riderless, with a brutal battle going on in front of him, won by the late run of Snoopy Loopy under Seamus Durack, who was never to win another race, showing how tough a renewal this was.
2009 provided one the classic jumps racing finishes of recent times as Kauto Star locked horns with the Ryanair winner Imperial Commander in a titanic rain swept battle up the Haydock straight, flashing past together. Kauto got the verdict by a nostril, but Imperial Commander came back to his favoured Cheltenham to dethrone Kauto in the Gold Cup in the following March.
In 2010, Kauto Star was sent to Northern Ireland to contest the JN Wine Champion Chase at Down Royal, therefore leaving gthe door open for Imperial Commander to gain a deserved win in this race after his defeat by a nose the year previous, scoring very comfortably from the enigmatic Tidal Bay a length and a quarter back in second.
But, the Betfair Chase that will live long in the memory for years to come will definitely be the 2011 running, a race that I am proud to say I was there for. I, amongst many other delirious racing fans, watched a Rocky style comeback from Kauto Star, to win his fourth Betfair chase aged eleven, beating his challenger Long Run by eight lengths, with a flawless display of jumping and galloping. The atmosphere was electric with the amount of people cheering him home, even if they hadn't backed Kauto, they were screaming. It was astounding. Then the crowd rushed to the paddock when he came back in to a rapturous reception, Paul Nicholls the conductor, three cheers reverberated around Haydock as people stood and admired, taking pictures to make sure they would never forget it. Even now when I see it again, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, god knows what it must have been like at Kempton!
This year though, Kauto is only at Haydock to parade after his retirement was announced a few weeks ago. Long Run remains in the small, but very good field of six. He ran behind Kauto Star twice in the Betfair and the King George, but was then only third in the Gold Cup, with his sketchy jumping in all three of those partly to blame for the defeats. If he sorts the jumping out, he will be tough to beat. Silviniaco Conti is this years young buck on the scene, and after an easy Charlie Hall Chase win last time at Wetherby, he is a fascinating contender bidding to give Paul Nicholls another win in this race. The Giant Bolster finished ahead of Long Run in the Gold Cup, but may be a little vulnerable away from there. Weird Al is very good fresh and is a big danger for me with the Donald McCain string flying. Wayward Prince and Cannington Brook have work to do, but the latter could outrun his odds if it came up bottomless.
I hope you have enjoyed reminiscing and looking forward to this great race on Saturday, I can't wait!!
Will
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