15:00 Haydock

Saturday 20 November 2021

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

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

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 29.79s

A Plus Tard^t²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 172

11/10

Top-class Irish chaser who bagged Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown before fine second in Cheltenham Gold Cup last term. Fluent jumper. Yard among the winners, so he's very much the one to beat.

Form: 213/212-

Bristol De Mai²²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 166| CD

11/4

Likeable grey who landed this event for the third time in 4 years 12 months ago with a typically brave front-running display. Hails from an in-form yard too, so he must enter calculations once more.

Form: 229/12P-

Chatham Street Lad⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Winters| OR: 151

28/1

Made up into a very smart chaser last term when bagging four wins. Only seventh in 3m Limerick handicap on his seasonal return though and he has lots to find on form here.

Form: 11341-7

Clondaw Castle²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 157

33/1

Progressed well last term and signed off with good second in Betway Bowl at Aintree. Not disgraced when third in Charlie Hall at Wetherby on his return but this demands a clear personal best.

Form: 13212-3

Imperial Aura^t²⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 161WS

12/1

Looked a top-class chaser in making when emphatic winner in Grade 2 at Ascot 12 months ago but pulled up in Ryanair at Cheltenham (bled). Back after a wind op, so no surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: 21/11UP-

Royale Pagaille²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 163| CD

13/2

Made massive strides last season and scored most impressively here in Peter Marsh. Didn't jump so well as usual when below-par sixth in Cheltenham Gold Cup and his best form has come in the mud too.

Form: 23/1116-

Waiting Patiently^p²²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Christian Williams| OR: 164| C

15/2

Top-class chaser in 2018, but winless since and he didn't prove so good last term, pulled up in Aintree's Betway Bowl on his final start. Not discounted though if yard switch sparks a revival.

Form: 233/23P-

Non-Runners

Next Destination²⁴⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Forecasts

A Plus Tard (11/10), Bristol De Mai (11/4), Next Destination (5/1), Royale Pagaille (13/2), Waiting Patiently (15/2), Imperial Aura (12/1), Chatham Street Lad (28/1), Clondaw Castle (33/1)

A PLUS TARD holds a clear edge on form and is fancied to become the first Irish-trained victor of this Grade 1 and thwart Bristol de Mai's bid for a record-equalling fourth success. Nigel Twiston-Davies has his string in great nick though, so his course specialist seems sure to push Henry de Bromhead's Gold Cup runner-up close. Next Destination and Imperial Aura look the pick of the rest.