Betfair Chase 2021: Bristol De Mai 2nd fav in bid to emulate Kauto Star

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules

The Betfair Chase 2021 is shaping up to be one of the best races of the National Hunt season so far with nine slick stayers confirming their entries for Saturday’s big one at Haydock.

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BRISTOL DE MAI is seeking to emulate the iconic Kauto Star by winning the Betfair Chase for a fourth time. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ grey gelding got the better of Clan Des Obeaux by 2l in last year’s renewal to add to victories in 2017 and 2018. A specialist on testing ground, Bristol De Mai was last seen pulling up in April’s Grand National when carrying top weight at Aintree.

BETFAIR CHASE 2021 RUNNER-BY-RUNNER GUIDE TO SATURDAY 15.00 AT HAYDOCK

It’s A PLUS TARD who tops our antepost betting market at the time of writing. Henry de Bromhead has never had a competitive runner at Haydock but the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up has the credentials ahead of what is set to be an unseasonably dry running of the Betfair Chase.

ROYALE PAGAILLE would need to reverse the form with the favourite after finishing a distant sixth in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, but the progressive seven-year-old loves it round Haydock with two wins from two starts at the Merseyside track.

Paul Nicholls’ leading hope is NEXT DESTINATION, who was second behind Galvin in the National Hunt Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival.

BETFAIR CHASE 2021 RUNNERS AND RIDERS, HAYDOCK RACECARD & HOW TO WATCH

WAITING PATIENTLY won a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Haydock in January 2017 and hit the post in last year’s King George VI Chase at Kempton. 2020 Cheltenham Festival winner IMPERIAL AURA boasts decent form on typical Betfair Chase ground conditions and is set to make his seasonal reappearance.

The veteran of the field, NATIVE RIVER, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2018 but trailed Bristol De Mai by 4l in that year’s renewal of this race. CLONDAW CASTLE and CHATHAM STREET LAD round off the nine to stand their ground at the five-day stage.