Betfair Chase
Encyclopedia
The Betfair Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt
Steeplechase
in Great Britain
which is open to horses
aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park
over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in November.
, offered a sum of £1,000,000 to leading contenders for successful performances in two subsequent races.
The initial version of the Betfair Million was awarded if the winner of the Betfair Chase went on to win both the King George VI Chase
and the Cheltenham Gold Cup
. The Lexus Chase
was included as an alternative second leg for the next two years, and Kauto Star
won the prize by taking the original route in 2006–07. The format was changed in 2008–09, when the bonus became available to any first-three finisher achieving first or second at the Cheltenham Festival
and then winning the Grand National
. The Betfair Million was dropped the following year.
The Betfair Chase is familiarly known by its sponsored name, but its registered title is the Lancashire Chase. It is now the first Grade 1 event of the British National Hunt season.
Most successful horse (4 wins):
----
Leading jockey
(3 wins):
----
Leading trainer
(4 wins):
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
Steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
which is open to horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
aged five years or older. It is run at Haydock Park
Haydock Park Racecourse
Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Haydock, Merseyside, England. The track is a mostly flat left-handed oval of around 1 mile 5 furlongs with a very slight rise on the run-in. There are courses for flat racing and National Hunt racing...
over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in November.
History
The event was established in 2005, and it originally served as the first part of a bonus scheme called the Betfair Million. Its sponsor, BetfairBetfair
Betfair is the world's largest Internet betting exchange. The company is based in Hammersmith in West London, England. Since Betfair was launched in June 2000 it has become the largest online betting company in the UK and the largest betting exchange in the world. Betfair claim to have over 3...
, offered a sum of £1,000,000 to leading contenders for successful performances in two subsequent races.
The initial version of the Betfair Million was awarded if the winner of the Betfair Chase went on to win both the King George VI Chase
King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
and the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in the United Kingdom which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 2½ furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
. The Lexus Chase
Lexus Chase
The Lexus Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped...
was included as an alternative second leg for the next two years, and Kauto Star
Kauto Star
Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....
won the prize by taking the original route in 2006–07. The format was changed in 2008–09, when the bonus became available to any first-three finisher achieving first or second at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
and then winning the Grand National
Grand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
. The Betfair Million was dropped the following year.
The Betfair Chase is familiarly known by its sponsored name, but its registered title is the Lancashire Chase. It is now the first Grade 1 event of the British National Hunt season.
Records
Most successful horse (4 wins):
- Kauto StarKauto StarKauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England....
– 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011
----
Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
(3 wins):
- Ruby WalshRuby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...
– Kauto Star (2006, 2009, 2011)
----
Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
(4 wins):
- Paul NichollsPaul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...
– Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 2005 | Kingscliff | 8 | Robert Walford | Robert Alner Robert Alner Robert Alner is a British racehorse trainer specializing in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Droop, near Sturminster Newton in Dorset, England. He trained the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Cool Dawn in 1998.... |
| 2006 | Kauto Star Kauto Star Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England.... |
6 | Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:... |
Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |
| 2007 | Kauto Star Kauto Star Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England.... |
7 | Sam Thomas | Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |
| 2008 | Snoopy Loopy | 10 | Seamus Durack | Peter Bowen |
| 2009 | Kauto Star Kauto Star Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England.... |
9 | Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:... |
Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |
| 2010 | Imperial Commander Imperial Commander (horse) Imperial Commander is a 9 year old throughbred racehorse.-Racing career:Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by jockey Paddy Brennan, Imperial Commander won the Gold Cup in 2010 at the Cheltenham Festival. The horse finished ahead of favourites Kauto Star and Denman... |
9 | Paddy Brennan Paddy Brennan (jockey) Paddy Brennan, is an Irish jockey who rode the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2010.A native of Ardrahan, County Galway, Brennan was a keen GAA player with dreams of becoming a county hurler. He only became involved in horseracing after a neighbour noticed his talent with hunt horses... |
Nigel Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire.... |
| 2011 | Kauto Star Kauto Star Kauto Star is a French-bred National Hunt racehorse, who is currently trained by Paul Nicholls in Somerset, England.... |
11 | Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh Ruby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:... |
Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing) Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money... |