Haydock Park

Dreaper Aiming Notre Pere at Betfair Chase
Mon 16th Nov 09 - 11:46

Trainer Jim Dreaper is leaning towards letting Ireland’s leading staying chaser Notre Pere take on Kauto Star in the Grade One Betfair Chase (3.00pm), highlight of the first day of the Northwest Racing Masters at Haydock Park on Saturday, November, 21.

The eight-year-old made a successful raid over the Irish Sea last December when storming to victory in the Grade Three Welsh National at Chepstow, and ended the campaign with a brilliant display of jumping to take the Grade One Punchestown Gold Cup in stunning fashion.

He was sent off a warm order for his seasonal return on his favoured soft ground in the Grade One Down Royal Champion Chase on November 7, but a rare error saw him depart five fences from home.

Kilsallaghan-based Dreaper revealed: “Notre Pere is a possible runner for the Betfair Chase as things stand. He came out his fall at Down Royal fine and it was just one of those things that can happen in racing.

“We will do a more serious schooling session on Tuesday - his jumping seems to be fine - and we will delay a final decision until after that. At the moment, there is a good chance that he will come over to Haydock Park, especially if the ground is soft. 

“I wouldn’t be concerned about taking on Kauto Star - we need to get Notre Pere running after that blip the other day. We could wait until the Hennessy, which is always a very competitive race, but we are inclined to go for the first race that is available to him.”

This year’s renewal of the Betfair Chase looks set to be another top-class affair, with the outstanding chaser of recent years, Kauto Star, bidding for a third victory in the race to go with his two Cheltenham Gold Cups and three King George VI Chases.

Apart from Notre Pere, the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser is set to take on last season’s Grade One Ryanair Chase victor Imperial Commander, from the in-form stable of Nigel Twiston-Davies. The Nicky Henderson-trained Barbers Shop may make his seasonal return at Haydock after coming seventh behind Kauto Star in the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Albertas Run, Madison Du Berlais and Nacarat may also line up in the three-mile contest.

About the Northwest Racing Masters
       
A superb seven-race card on the first day of the Northwest Racing Masters at Haydock Park on Saturday, November 21 is headed by the Betfair Chase, now in its fifth year and won by the great Kauto Star in 2006 and 2007. Day one also includes the £100,000 Listed Timeform Betfair Racing Club "Fixed Brush" Handicap Hurdle and the £50,000 Tune Into Timeform Radio Hurdle.

The second day of the Northwest Racing Masters at Aintree on Sunday, November 22, features two excellent contests over the world-famous Grand National course among six races, the totesport.com Becher Chase and the totesuper7 Grand Sefton Chase.

Tickets for both days can be booked online at www.aintree.co.uk and www.haydock-park.co.uk

The Northwest Racing Masters, from the first running in 2005, has established itself as an event, giving racegoers the opportunity of experiencing two different historic courses within a short journey of each other.  Haydock Park is between Manchester and Liverpool, close to St Helens, Wigan and Warrington. Aintree is on the northern edge of Liverpool.

The two racecourses are easily accessible by motorway, with Haydock Pak within a mile of the M6 off junction 23 and Aintree close to the end of both the M57 and M58. Both courses boast superb facilities and are ideal for a day out. The whole family can come, with accompanied children aged 16 and under admitted FREE OF CHARGE.

Why not make a weekend of it and enjoy what the region has to offer….

http://www.visitsthelens.com/
http://www.visitsouthport.com/
http://www.visitliverpool.com/
                                           
For further information on the Northwest Racing Masters, please contact:
Dickon White, Managing Director at Haydock Park, on 01942 725963 or 07798 928924 or e-mail: dickon.white@jockeyclubracecourses.com
Emma Owen, Marketing & PR Manager at Aintree, on 0151 522 2906 or 07917 266511 or e-mail: emma.owen@jockeyclubracecourses.com