HORSE RACING: THE BETFAIR CHASE - PREVIEW Nicky Henderson believes his Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth will have to raise the bar again if he is to make a winning return to action in what promises to be a thrilling renewal of the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday. The eight-year-old made just two appearances last season, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury before claiming a glorious victory in the blue riband at Prestbury Park in March. He encounters different surroundings this weekend as he makes the journey north from Lambourn to Merseyside and Henderson admits the less demanding nature of Haydock represents an different challenge. Henderson said: It is a great race, which is because there arent really any other races for these horses to run in. There is the Hennessy, but neither Bobs Worth or Long Run would run in that as theyd be carrying Arkle-type weights. I think the big encouragement for us is the changing of the track at Haydock. It will be interesting to see how it rides, but the inside track there wasnt great and by pushing it out, hopefully it is a more galloping track, which will suit our horses. Bobs Worth is as fit and well as he was going into the Hennessy last year, but at the same time you would have to think hell have to raise the bar again in a race like this. Three and a quarter miles at Cheltenham is great, three and a quarter miles at Newbury is great. Three miles on a Flat track like Haydock is not the same thing, but there is nowhere else for him to go. The master of Seven Barrows also saddles 2011 Gold Cup hero Long Run, runner-up in the last two runnings of the Betfair Chase. However, he is on a retrieval mission after finishing outside the first three for the first time over fences when only fifth in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby at the start of the month. Long Run has technically had a run. All right the wheels came off a bit, but were happy that we know what happened and why it happened, said Henderson. He does seem in very good form. He has jumped beautifully all week - hes done plenty of it. Long Runs owner, Robert Waley-Cohen, is similarly hopeful his pride and joy can show his true colours on Saturday. He said: We wouldnt be running if we didnt think he was ready to do himself justice, so we just have to hope for the best. If he runs up to his best form then hopefully hell shake them up. If he doesnt run up to his best, then he certainly wont. It looks like a great race. All the top horses are there, apart from Willie Mullins horse (Sir Des Champs). Whatever wins on Saturday will have to be on their best form. Hendersons great rival Paul Nicholls has an outstanding record in the race, thanks largely to the exploits of his legendary four-times winner Kauto Star. Silviniaco Conti took over where his former stable companion left off with a brilliant front-running effort a year ago and is back to defend his title. Nicholls said: The Betfair Chase is always a good race, we were lucky to win it quite a few times with Kauto Star and Silviniaco Conti last year and were looking forward to it, but it does look a vintage race. After his triumph 12 months ago, Silviniaco Conti tackled the Gold Cup and was still in contention when falling three fences from home. Nicholls is looking forward to the rematch with Bobs Worth. Our horse was travelling well when he fell three out last year and you never know what would have happened afterwards. We are hopeful that we can beat him, thats what makes for such good competitive racing, he told Talksport. Asked whether he thought Bobs Worth might need the run having not been seen since the Gold Cup, Nicholls said: I wouldnt have thought so, not many of Nickys horses need the race, when you run those good horses you dont want to be running them with big weights and needing a run. It will be very competitive and all of them will improve a bit. With regular rider Ruby Walsh no longer attached to the Nicholls yard and new number one Daryl Jacob in action at Ascot on Saturday, the Ditcheat handler has called up on Noel Fehily to partner his big hope at Haydock. Fehily said: Its great that Ive been asked to ride him and its a great race to be involved in. Hopefully we can win it, it would be brilliant. It looks a very hot race. Basically it looks like what is going to be in the Gold Cup runs on Saturday, it will be a fair pointer towards the Gold Cup anyway, thats for sure. Nicholls saddles a second major challenger in Tidal Bay, runner-up behind Bobs Worth in last years Hennessy before winning one of the races of the season in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. Injury curtailed his campaign, but the 12-year-old appeared as good as ever when winning over hurdles at Wetherby recently and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies is thrilled to have kept the ride. Hes a pleasure to ride, my instructions (at Wetherby) were not to hit the front too soon and try not to hit him, and it worked out well. To get the chance to ride him again is very cool and Im very much looking forward to it, the jockey told At The Races. When youre riding him hes tickling your nose with his ears, hes one of those you need to whisper in his ear come on buddy, just a stride faster would be great and sometimes you might want to swear at him, but at the same time hes a pleasure to ride. Hes easy as he travels, he jumps and does everything you want, he picked up well after the last at Wetherby. Hes beaten the Gold Cup second (Sir Des Champs) and was only a couple of lengths behind Bobs Worth in the Hennessy. His form is rock solid and I wouldnt want to swap him anyway. Weve had a run so weve got fitness on our side and hopefully he can run a massive race. Everything he is doing now is just a bonus. Hes a 12-year-old but Paul thinks he has got him as well as he has ever been. I can jump off, mosey on round, and hopefully pick them off late on when theyve been scrapping. Last seasons Ryanair Chase hero Cue Card adds another fascinating angle to the race for father-son combination Colin and Joe Tizzard. The seven-year-old finished a distant fifth on his only previous attempt at three miles in last years King George VI Chase, but jockey Joe is confident the distance will not be a problem this weekend. Cue Card has the benefit of race-fitness, having finished third in the Haldon Cup at Exeter earlier this month. Tizzard jnr said: He came out of the race at Exeter really well. Hes schooled well this week and worked well. He goes to Haydock in good shape. Its a tremendous race, but our lad is one of the best horses in the country, there arent many options and he deserves his place in the field. Dad and I have always been confident he would get three miles. As hes got older and stronger hes settled better and hes giving himself a chance. He stayed two miles and five (furlongs) really well in the Ryanair at Cheltenham. The question about three miles is still unanswered, but were hopeful hell be fine. One of last seasons leading novice chasers Dynaste looks to make the grade in open company. Trainer David Pipe said: Its a hot race but were in good form. Three miles round there should be ideal for him. Well see how we get on. Hopefully its on to Kempton (for the King George) afterwards. Jockey Tom Scudamore is relishing the prospect of seeing Dynaste test his talents against the best horses in the staying division. Scudamore said: We always thought he was a very good horse. Cheltenham was disappointing because he got beaten but then to come out and do what he did at Aintree proved he was no flash in the pan. A lot of people were saying he wasnt a spring horse, maybe he was this or maybe he was that but at the end of the day hes just a very, very good horse. How good he is, well find out on Saturday. The only Irish-trained runner in the field is Gordon Elliotts Roi Du Mee, a shock winner of the JNwine Champion Chase at Down Royal last time. Eddie OLeary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud, admits it would be a surprise if he is good enough to get seriously competitive at this level. OLeary said: Weve probably bitten off more than we can chew - it looks a fantastic race - but were happy to let him take his chance. Hes a horse who won six races last season and he just keeps on surprising us. I hope he keeps on surprising us. It was a step up for him at Down Royal and this is another big step up, so well see how he goes. The field is completed by David Bridgwaters The Giant Bolster, second and fourth in the last two runnings of the Gold Cup and third in this race a year ago. It is a measure of the calibre of the field that he is a rank outsider for the race. Bridgwater said: Hes in good form and could run a fantastic race and finish fifth or sixth. As long as were happy with him, thats all that matters and hopefully we can kick on from here. If he can pick up a bit of prize-money that would be wonderful, but he has a lot of good horses to beat before we can do that. Denis (ORegan) rides him for the first time, but that shouldnt be a problem. Hes a good jockey and good jockeys get on with any horse.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 09:07:34 +0000
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