Capodanno will deputise for Corbetts Cross and carry the green and gold silks of JP McManus in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday – in the process becoming a first runner in the race for Willie Mullins.
Winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, the Emmet Mullins-trained Corbetts Cross met with an unsatisfactory scope at the weekend.
Instead it will be Capodanno who travels from Ireland to Merseyside for the Grade One showpiece, having been added as a supplementary entry to the field on Monday. Fourth in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, although he finished down the field in the Grand National.
“Willie is happy with him and our other horse has had a bad scope and is not running, so we decided we’d let him take his chance,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.
“Corbetts Cross had a bad scope on Saturday morning and he isn’t fit to travel, it just all came too quick.
“Everybody was very happy with Capodanno and the John Durkan looks like it’s going to be a very hot race on Sunday so he’ll take his chance at Haydock on Saturday instead.”
Grey Dawning is now 7/4 favourite ahead of Ahoy Senor, Royale Pagaille and Hewick.
Gold Tweet, the Cleeve Hurdle winner of 2023, is set to represent France.
Trainer Gabriel Leenders said: "Everything is very good with him, he’s been prepared for this race and it is his target. We’re really happy with him and looking forward to bringing him over, he’s been in good form at home. All the lights are green now for the race.”
Paul Nicholls could run Bravemansgame despite disappointing on his return in the bet355 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Speaking on his Betfair Ditcheat Diary the trainer said: “I’ve confirmed Bravesmansgame for the Betfair Chase. We always like to have a runner in that race. It looks like it’s a mixed week weather-wise with a bit of cold and sleet and snow, not a lot of rain. But Saturday could be very wet.
“It’ll be an interesting forecast for the weekend so we’ll keep an eye on that. Let’s hope there’s some proper rain coming at last.”
The Betfair Chase – Sponsors Betting: 7/4 Grey Dawning, 7/2 Ahoy Senor, 11/2 Royale Pagaille, 11/2 Hewick, 7/1 Bravemansgame, 10/1 The Real Whacker, 10/1 Capodanno, 12/1 Gold Tweet, 14/1 Limerick Lace, 33/1 Minella Drama
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