Betfair Chase 2024

The Betfair Steeplechase, established in 2005, is held annually in November at Haydock Racecourse. This Grade 1 race is open to horses aged five and older, covering a distance of three miles and one and a half furlongs, with competitors facing nineteen fences along the course.

Betfair Chase Overview

The Betfair Steeplechase is a Grade 1 race, run over nearly three and a quarter miles, featuring nineteen fences and offering a first prize of around £110,000. Held in late autumn at Haydock racecourse, the race often takes place on soft or heavy ground, demanding a horse well-suited for such conditions. Last season, Royal Pagaille surprised many by outlasting the odds-on favourite, Bravemansgame.

Often regarded as a Gold Cup trial, the Betfair Chase serves as a key stepping stone for horses targeting the Cheltenham Festival in spring. Notable Cheltenham winners, including Kauto Star, Imperial Commander, Protektorat, and A Plus Tard, have all competed in this race as part of their path to subsequent success.

Betfair Chase Betting Trends and Statistics

Paul Nicholls holds the title of leading trainer in the Betfair Steeplechase, with six victories – four from Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2009, and 2011) and two from Silviniaco Conti (2012 and 2014). Nigel Twiston-Davies is the only other trainer to have multiple wins in the race, with four wins to his name. The leading jockey is Daryl Jacob, who has triumphed with Bristol De Mai in 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Wetherby Racecourse has produced the most Betfair Steeplechase winners, with seven horses competing there prior to their victories. Aintree follows as the second most successful course in producing winners. Competing in the Betfair Chase demands proven chasing ability, as reflected in the impressive list of past winners who have conquered its challenging fences.

Betfair Chase History

Established in 2005, the Betfair Chase initially launched as part of a bonus initiative called the Betfair Million, with Betfair offering a £1,000,000 prize for top performances in two subsequent races. Originally, the Betfair Million prize was awarded if the winner of the Betfair Chase also triumphed in both the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Lexus Chase was later added as an alternative second leg, and in 2006–07, Kauto Star claimed the bonus by following the original path.

The format shifted in 2008–09, with the bonus now awarded to any horse finishing in the top three in the Betfair Chase, placing first or second at the Cheltenham Festival, and then winning the Grand National. This version of the Betfair Million was discontinued the following year.

In 2015, the £1,000,000 prize returned as the “Chase Triple Crown,” offered by Jockey Club Racecourses to any horse that won the Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase, and Cheltenham Gold Cup. Cue Card came close in the 2015–16 season, winning the first two legs but falling during the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Since 2016, the Kauto Star Trophy has been awarded to any horse completing the Chase Triple Crown.

While commonly known as the Betfair Chase, its registered name is the Lancashire Chase, and it serves as the first Grade 1 event of the British National Hunt season. Initially run over approximately three miles, the distance was extended in 2017 to provide a longer run from the start to the first bend.

Betfair Chase Winners