November 23 / 15.05 Haydock

15.05

Good

Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £116028.74
  • 3m 1f 125y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
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Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 6F/1F- CD

Last run: 301 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
10yo who has been absent since falling at final fence in Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January (fractured his shoulder); however, he was making his reappearance when winning this race in fine style 12 months ago (soft) and has an excellent four-from-five record at Haydock; the forecast rain is in his favour and he'll be a leading player if at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Royale Pagaille

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Five-time course winner including this race in 2021 and 2022 and the Betfair Chase in 2023 and 2024; reappeared with fine second in that Grade 1 here 56 days ago (good to soft); struggled last season after his reappearance win but this 12yo could have a big say if backing up his latest effort.

13/2

2

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Royale Pagaille

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

All wins on soft or heavy; he's been a class act at Haydock but did not show it in two visits there this year, including on his second attempt at a marathon trip, and his sixth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a remote one; some conspicuous negatives.

80/1

2

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Royale Pagaille

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

All wins on soft or heavy; he's been a class act at Haydock but did not show it in two visits there this year, including on his second attempt at a marathon trip, and his sixth in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a remote one; some conspicuous negatives.

80/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 12113- C BF

Last run: 226 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive novice last term, easily winning Grade 2 at Warwick (3m, soft) in January and following up in the Grade 1 Turners at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft); may have been ready for a break when below par at Aintree; effective on good to soft, unraced on good, and has won here; brings star potential to his second chasing season and could play leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Grey Dawning

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Two Grade 1 wins, namely the 2m4f novice chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (soft) and this season's Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft); ran well for a long way before fading into fourth in last month's Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m2f, good to soft); this drop back in trip could well be a positive move; effective here and respected in first-time cheekpieces.

2/1

4th

5

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Grey Dawning

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won the 2m4f novice chase at the 2024 Festival (soft) and added a second Grade 1 win in the Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) this season; a mistake two out proved costly when 5l third of four to Spillane's Tower in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase here (3m1f, soft) in January and he rallied up the hill; however, he may just lack the required class today.

12/1

3rd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 56y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Grey Dawning

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Top-class 9yo, successful in ten of his 18 races; better than ever on his last two starts, winning Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) on reappearance with plenty in hand; has run well on both his outings at Cheltenham; again looks the one to beat.

8/13

OUR TIP

Form: 2256-2 C BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 165

Form & Verdict
Won the King George (3m, soft) in December 2022 and second in the Gold Cup next time; didn't hit the same heights last term (soundly beaten second to Royale Pagaille in this) but he ran a big race when runner-up in the King George (3m, good) and could improve for his recent reappearance second to The Real Whacker in the Charlie Hall; not ruled out in first-time blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

13

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Bravemansgame

11st 0lb

J: James Reveley

T: Paul Nicholls

Won the 2022 King George and second in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup (he's unraced beyond that 3m2f); a run of seconds late in 2023 was creditable but more substantial doubts have now set in and various equipment has been tried; to look on the bright side, he makes his first foray outside Grade 1 or 2 for over three years and his handicap mark has plummeted.

40/1

15th

13

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Bravemansgame

11st 0lb

J: James Reveley

T: Paul Nicholls

Won the 2022 King George and second in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup (he's unraced beyond that 3m2f); a run of seconds late in 2023 was creditable but more substantial doubts have now set in and various equipment has been tried; to look on the bright side, he makes his first foray outside Grade 1 or 2 for over three years and his handicap mark has plummeted.

40/1

3rd

5

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 1

14:25 Newbury

Bravemansgame

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent, disputed lead from 5th

5/2

Form: 31-645

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
French-trained 7yo who has run just twice in Britain and one of those was a clear career best, when landing the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle in January 2023 (3m, soft); it's possible the return to Britain will prompt another surge in his form, and he's a Grade 2 chase winner in France, but others have far more substance to their chase form and he's been below par this autumn.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Gold Tweet

11st 10lb

J: Clement Lefebvre

T: Gabriel Leenders

Impressive in Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle here (3m, soft) in January 2023 and 7l runner-up in Grade 1 chase in France (3m3f, heavy) in November this term; rain would be a plus for this French raider but he was soundly beaten in the 2024 Betfair Chase on his last British start and would be a shock winner.

100/1

4th

4

23rd Nov 2024

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

15:05 Haydock

Gold Tweet

11st 10lb

J: Gabin Meunier

T: Gabriel Leenders

French-trained 7yo who has run just twice in Britain and one of those was a clear career best, when landing the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle in January 2023 (3m, soft); it's possible the return to Britain will prompt another surge in his form, and he's a Grade 2 chase winner in France, but others have far more substance to their chase form and he's been below par this autumn.

20/1

4th

4

23rd Nov 2024

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

15:05 Haydock

Gold Tweet

11st 10lb

J: Gabin Meunier

T: Gabriel Leenders

French-trained 7yo who has run just twice in Britain and one of those was a clear career best, when landing the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle in January 2023 (3m, soft); it's possible the return to Britain will prompt another surge in his form, and he's a Grade 2 chase winner in France, but others have far more substance to their chase form and he's been below par this autumn.

20/1

Form: 4362-3 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 169

Form & Verdict
Beaten on last nine starts going back to the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m1f, soft) in January 2023; however, since then he's twice been a fine second in the Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree (3m1f), and he stayed on for a highly creditable third off top weight in the Old Roan there (2m4f, good) on his reappearance; could have a big say now back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:40 Musselburgh

Ahoy Senor

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Very much the class act in this field but he's become hugely frustrating as a chaser and tailed off (after making the running) when he reverted to hurdles in a Grade 2 at Newbury on latest outing; thrown in if he can even remotely get his act together.

14/1

1

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

10yo who was underwhelming in the main last season and soundly beaten in the Grade 1 Bowl here in April, having finished runner-up in the previous two runnings of that 3m contest; a longer trip than this would probably be preferable but he's 7lb lower than when a close third in this last year and is well worth a second look in view of his record at this track.

13/2

5th

1

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Ahoy Senor

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Comes with some risk having failed to complete in his last three starts (had wind surgery prior to latest); however, comes alive at Aintree and has performed well in this race for the last two years, taking form figures at this meeting to 1122 (gained the wins in Grade 1 novice events over hurdles/fences); big player provided that pattern is sustained.

6/1

Form: 3140-8 D

Last run: 206 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
His form is up and down and he was tailed off on his last two starts in the spring; however, he won the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m1f, good to soft) in January before a creditable fourth in the Ryanair there over an inadequate 2m4f (soft); supplemented for this race at a cost of £7,200 and represents all-conquering Irish trainer Willie Mullins; in with a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Capodanno

12st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Neil Mulholland

Capable of smart form for Willie Mullins and landed the Cotswold Chase two years ago; however, badly lacks recent match practice having been absent since finishing third in the Bobbyjo last February; remains with same owner; market may offer further guidance.

14/1

3rd

2

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 1f 165y

15:25 Fairyhouse

Capodanno

11st 8lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, mistake 4 out, pressed leaders 2 out, no extra before last

10/1

Form: 12110- BF

Last run: 224 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Thrived last season, finishing second of 20 in the Troytown Handicap at Navan (3m, soft to heavy) last November and winning the Grade 2 mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft); also effective on good to soft (unraced on good); further improvement is required today but this 7yo is in excellent hands to continue to progress and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Limerick Lace

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gavin Cromwell

edgy, in touch with leaders, overjumped 1st

13/2

2nd

2

1st Jan 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 110y

14:25 Fairyhouse

Limerick Lace

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

raced in fourth, niggled along briefly before 7th, pushed along briefly after 8th, went third 5 out

100/30

2nd

2

1st Jan 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 5f 110y

14:25 Fairyhouse

Limerick Lace

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

raced in fourth, niggled along briefly before 7th, pushed along briefly after 8th, went third 5 out

100/30

Non-runners

Hewick, The Real Whacker

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.30
Straight Forecast £8.19
Tricast £31.85
Trifecta £65.00

Selections

The Times:

Grey Dawning

Daily Mail:

Ahoy Senor

SPOTLIGHT:

Royale Pagaille

POSTDATA:

Bravemansgame

TOPSPEED:

The Real Whacker

Telegraph:

Limerick Lace

Daily Mirror:

Grey Dawning

The Sun:

Grey Dawning

D Express:

Ahoy Senor

Daily Record:

Ahoy Senor

WEST COUNTRY:

Bravemansgame

The Guardian:

Royale Pagaille

The Star:

Royale Pagaille