Home / Horse Racing / Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner Makes Reappearance At Haydock

Betfair Chase Betting Preview: Long Run set to start as odds on favourite

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Long Run is set to start as the hot favourite for his much-anticipated seasonal return in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday. Bet 365 price Nick Henderson's gelding 4/5 on in the betting for the 3 mile contest, with seven others set to go to post for a high quality renewal.

Long Run stormed to victory in the King George last year before underlining his class by winning the Cheltenham showpiece from Denman and Kauto Star. The 6-year-old produced his best when he was finely tuned in terms of fitness and how ready he is on his seasonal reappearance is open to question. He was beaten on his seasonal debut in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last year and we fancy he could be vulnerable again on his first outing this weekend.

It could be worth backing against Long Run at this early stage of the season and Diamond Harry is the next best in the betting with B365. Nick Williams' gelding has received plenty of support in recent days and has been clipped into 6/1, although he too has plenty to prove fitness-wise. The 8-year-old has not been seen since winning the Hennessy Gold Cup last year and his planned reappearance at Wetherby last month was postponed when he was found to be lame at the track.

Weird Al took full advantage of Diamond Harry's absence at Wetherby by winning the Charlie Hall Chase on his first start for Donald McCain Jr. The 8-year-old gelding was making a first appearance since moving from the stables of Ian Williams and can be backed at a tempting industry best price of 7/1 with Bet365.com.

Also at 7/1 is three-time Betfair Chase winner Kauto Star, who has earned the praise of connections in recent days. The dual-Gold Cup winner finished an excellent third in the Cheltenham Festival feature in March but pulled up at Punchestown six weeks later. That disappointment led many to assume that the 11-year-old would be retired but trainer Paul Nicholls is having none of it.

The run at Punchestown may have come too soon after Cheltenham and Nicholls believes that his gelding is as good as ever. The experienced star could yet have the legs for another Grade One victory, particularly with this week's dry weather forecast looking favourable.

Elsewhere, Paul Webber's up-and-coming Time For Rupert is an 8/1 shot. The 7-year-old won two of three starts over fences as a novice last season before disappointing when 7/4 favourite in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham Festival. The gelding was later found to have burst a blood vessel but has plenty to find after being well beaten by Weird Al at Wetherby last month.

Nacarat was fourth at Wetherby and the Aintree Totesport Bowl winner is a 25/1 shot after finishing fourth in this race last year.

Robert Hennessy's Rubi Light is the sole Irish entry and the 6-year-old will be hoping for a change in fortune after falling to hand Sizing Europe victory at Gowran Park last month. He had looked set to win that day and Hennessy is expecting his entry to improve further on his first start over 3 miles, although rain would be preferred for the 12/1 punt.

Old Roan Chase runner-up Pure Faith (66/1) completes the field for Peter Bowen, who won this race with Snoopy Loopy in 2008.

Betfair Chase Latest Betting

4/5 Long Run
6/1 Diamond Harry
7/1 Weird Al
7/1 Kauto Star
8/1 Time For Rupert
12/1 Rubi Light
25/1 Nacarat
66/1 Pure Faith

Odds provided by Bet365.com bookmakers.

Posted: Tuesday, 15th November 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: betfair chase, long run, kauto star, bet365,

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