MY WAY DE SOLZEN PRIMED TO TAKE ON KAUTO STAR IN THE BETFAIR CHASE
A fantastic renewal of the £200,000 Grade One Betfair Chase is in prospect with last season’s winner and undisputed champion chaser Kauto Star just one of a star-studded cast expected to line up for the three-mile Haydock Park showpiece on Saturday, November 24, the first day of the tremendous Northwest Racing Masters weekend.
Wiltshire trainer Alan King is hoping to take on Kauto Star with the 2007 Grade One Irish Independent Arkle Trophy hero My Way De Solzen, who also won the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle over three miles at the previous Cheltenham Festival.
King revealed today: “It’s pretty likely that My Way De Solzen will go to the Betfair Chase as that would be the first logical step. He’s fine and ready to run but we need the rain.
“If all goes well, we’ll then look at the King George VI Chase and after that decide whether he goes for the Ryanair Chase or the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March - time will tell.
“We’re looking forward to getting him started this season as he’s in wonderful form but we’ll just have to be patient as he wants a bit of cut in the ground and we’ll wait for that.”
The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star will be a formidable rival, having gone through a six-race campaign unbeaten last term, with his wins in the Betfair Chase, Stan James King George VI Chase on Boxing Day at Kempton and the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, thus netting the lucrative Betfair Million for his sporting connections.
The Betfair Chase is also likely to include last season’s second top-rated chaser Exotic Dancer, who was runner-up to Kauto Star in both the King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup while winning four prestigious contests, culminating with the Grade Two Betfair Bowl at Aintree in April.
Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer, making their seasonal debuts, finished second and third respectively to the top-class Nicky Richards-trained grey Monet’s Garden in the Grade Two bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase over two and a half miles at Aintree on October 28.
Recent Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase winner Ollie Magern was upsides Kauto Star going to the last fence in the 2006 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park before finishing fourth and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ revitalised charge could also renew rivalry on November 24.
The Ferdy Murphy-trained Aces Four, winner of the Grade Two Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, may head for the Betfair Chase despite being pulled up in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on November 3, when connections said he needed the run.
The Michael Hourigan-trained Beef Or Salmon, a 10-time Grade One winner in his native Ireland, is set to bid to make it third time lucky at the age of 11, having filled the runner-up berth in the first two runnings of the Betfair Chase.
Other top horses, like Monet’s Garden’s stable companion Turpin Green, who was third in the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the David Pipe-trained Our Vic, a close second in the Ryanair Chase, are also intended runners in the 2007 Betfair Chase.
The Betfair Chase on Saturday, November 24 is race 11 in the Order Of Merit and is the highlight on day one of the Northwest Racing Masters weekend, which continues the following day at Aintree.
Kauto Star drew 17 lengths clear of runner-up Beef Or Salmon in the 2006 Betfair Chase. The inaugural running of the exciting new chase in 2005 went to the Robert Alner-trained Kingscliff, who also denied Beef Or Salmon, with that year’s totesport Gold Cup hero Kicking King in third.
The Northwest Racing Masters, now in its third year, continues at Aintree on Sunday, November 25, when the thrilling six-race card features two contests over the world famous Grand National fences - the £100,000 totesport.com Becher Chase (2.50pm) and the £70,000 totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (1.40pm).
NORTHWEST RACING MASTERS CONTINUES TO GROW
The 2007 Northwest Racing Masters is set to attract even more visitors from all over the UK and Ireland.
Julian Thick, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, home of the John Smith's Grand National, commented: “You don't have to be a racing fanatic to enjoy the Northwest Racing Masters. This race meeting is the only other time in the year when Aintree races over the famous Grand National fences and is now a firmly established Grand National trial, with many of jump racing's stars going on from this meeting to the showcase event in April, the John Smith’s Grand National.
“Adding a taste of the festive season to the weekend will surely encourage many first-time racegoers to sample the best our North West racecourses have to offer.”
Dickon White, Managing Director of Haydock Park which hosts the first day of the Northwest Racing Masters, said: “The Northwest Racing Masters is only in its third year, but it is growing in popularity very rapidly.
“The fact that this year's event falls into the Christmas party season, as well as the growing reputation of the event as one of the most exciting new race meetings in the UK, means we are due to increase the attendance significantly.”
Located in one of the most vibrant regions in the country, the Northwest Racing Masters meeting offers a great opportunity to discover England's Northwest. It is an ideal time to combine a love of racing with a visit to Liverpool, European Capital of Culture, and the rest of the region.
Haydock Park, St Helens, is the most visited racecourse in the UK, offering first class racing all year round. It is located half-way between Liverpool and Manchester, just off junction 23 of the M6 motorway.
Aintree Racecourse is home to the John Smith's Grand National and is between Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008, and Southport - the perfect destination for a weekend break with beautiful beaches, great attractions and superb shopping.
BOOKING TICKETS
Two-day tickets, available from the sales offices of both Haydock Park and Aintree, are on sale now. For both racedays, accompanied children aged 16 and under are admitted FREE.
Log on to www.visitliverpool.com/northwestmasters for more details.
1. The Northwest Racing Masters is delivered by Aintree and Haydock Park Racecourses and sponsored by The Mersey Partnership and St Helens Council with support from Sefton Council, Merseytravel, Liverpool Culture Company and European Regional Development Fund.
2. The Mersey Partnership (TMP) is a unique alliance representing over 420 businesses across the Liverpool City Region. These include household names such as Littlewoods and Royal SunAlliance. Its members represent manufacturing and trading companies, six local authorities, government agencies, universities, media organisations and professional agencies who are all working together for the future economic growth of Merseyside. Its mission is to build a dynamic team to champion the Merseyside advantage campaigning for the Liverpool City Region as a great place, to live, work, invest and visit generating greater returns for all. It has three areas of activity: Economic Development - co-ordinating Merseyside's economic development activity through the Action Plan for the City Region 2002 - 2005; Investment - bringing new business into Merseyside and encouraging growth in existing businesses; Tourism - promoting Merseyside's tourism assets to increase visitor numbers and grow the economic benefit to the Liverpool City Region. TMP is supported by the European Regional Development Fund under the Objective One programme for Merseyside.
3. Southport
Eighteen miles north of Liverpool is Southport, 'England's Classic Resort', where you will find glorious sandy beaches, a Victorian pier and superb shopping. Southport has a wide variety of attractions, including the new Splash World Water Park, and also stages some of UK's largest events such as the Southport Flower Show and the Southport Airshow. With Royal Birkdale hosting The Open Championship in 2008 and 15 top courses nearby, Southport justifiably claims to be England's Golfing Capital. With 21 miles of beach, sand dunes, woodland and farmland the Sefton Coast is the perfect setting for those who want to get away from it all and explore. www.visitsouthport.com
4. St Helens
Explore the hidden delights that make this a destination of choice for visitors to the Northwest. An eclectic mix of glorious countryside, fascinating heritage, vibrant nightlife and quality sporting events, St Helens has something to offer everyone. Located midway between the cosmopolitan cities of Liverpool and Manchester, this thriving borough is the perfect base from which to explore the whole of the Northwest and beyond. For more information go to www.visitsthelens.com or telephone 01744 755150
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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