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Northwest Racing Masters

Northwest Racing Masters (incorporating The Betfair Chase) North West Masters Logo  Betfair Logo

The highlight of Haydock's jump season is without doubt the exciting £225,000 Grade One Betfair Chase, part of the Northwest Racing Masters which is staged at Haydock Park on Saturday 21st November 2009 and Aintree on Sunday, November 22nd 2009. 

Following its successful inauguration in 2005 the race is coming into it's 4th year.  A cracking first Betfair Chase in 2005 attracted a high-class field and the Robert Alner-trained Kingscliff beat the Irish pair of Beef or Salmon and Kicking King, who started favourite and had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup the previous season.  However, The Betfair Chase's initiative really captured the public's imagination in its 2nd year when the Betfair Million Bonus - an opportunity for the top-staying chasers in the country to earn a fantastic £1million bonus by winning 3 of the most prestigious prizes in the jumps calendar - was collected in wonderful style by Kauto Star.

Kauto Star, trained by Paul Nicholls and owned by Clive Smith, enjoyed a remarkable campaign, culminating in his Gold Cup victory in March 2007.  His prestigious career really kick-started when, seven months after falling when favourite for the Champion Chase at the 2006 Festival, he reappeared in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and put up an outstanding performance, drawing clear effortlessly to win by 21 lengths. Expectations were high when he then travelled to Haydock a month later for his first attempt over 3 miles in the Betfair Chase.  A hot favourite, Kauto Star gave an exhilarating exhibition, never putting a foot wrong and quickening clear from before the last, hardly coming off the bridle.  His nearest pursuer, multiple Grade One winner Beef or Salmon, finished 17 lengths adrift.  Kauto then completed a 6-week hat trick of Grade One wins in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, the middle leg of the Betfair Million, again won convincingly, despite serious errors at 2 of the final 4 fences. Despite his near-flawless record, doubts as to Kauto's jumping persisted in the run up to the 2007 Gold Cup, even though he went off a very well-supported favourite.  But on the day, Kauto confirmed himself as the season's outstanding chaser and completed the treble required to land the Betfair Million.  His merit was put into context by Timeform, who, in their Chasers & Hurdlers Annual, declared him worthy of a rating which is the joint highest (with Moscow Flyer) of any jumper since Desert Orchid - an accolade which delighted his owner, Clive Smith. In November 2007 Kauto Star repeated his incredible success by winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock and again keeping alive his chances of landing the £1m bonus for the second year in a row. This time he was ridden by Sam Thomas after Ruby Walsh dislocated his shoulder at Cheltenham the week before. Kauto Star was 4-5 on favourite despite a loss at Aintree in the September, took the lead at the 12th of the 16 fences and held off a strong challenge from Exotic Dancer in the final stages. Thomas, the number 2 jockey at Nicholls' stable, repaid the faith shown in him by his boss by confidently hanging on to his lead to claim victory and claimed it "... a great milestone in my career".  A delighted Clive Smith said: "He is just a star. He jumped beautifully and Sam took the initiative coming into the straight.  He settled so well - and is a better horse than last year perhaps. It'll be the King George next and then hopefully on to Cheltenham."

The card at Haydock Park on November 22 is entirely sponsored by Betfair and also features the £100,000 Betfair 'Fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle over three miles, as well as the three mile £50,000 Timeform Betfair Racing Club Handicap Chase and the £50,000 Betfiar Hurdle for four-year-olds over an extended two miles.  Total prize money for the day comes to a massive £505,000 – the richest-ever day for jump racing at Haydock Park and an increase of £50,000 on the 2007 figure

The second day of the North West Racing Masters takes place at Aintree with a thrilling race programme that includes the £120,000 totesport.com Becher Chase and the £80,000 totesuper7 Grand Sefton Chase, both run over the Grand National Course, This makes the day unique as it is the only raceday to feature two races over the Grand National Fences.  So, there is no need to wait until the John Smiths Grand National in April to experience the unique thrills of witnessing the spectacle of racing over the Grand National course. The day is now firmly established as a trial for the Grand National, with three winners also being successful in the world's greatest chase.  The day attracts some of jump's racing best known horses. The initial running of the totesport.com Becher Chase in 1992 went to the Sue Smith-trained Kildimo and the Yorkshire trainer gained a second success a decade alter when Ardent Scout prevailed under an excellent ride from Dominic Elsworth to get the better of 2004 John Smith's Grand National hero Amberleigh House by 24 lengths. The 2004 Grand National saw previous winners of the Becher Chase fill the first two places as Clan Royal was runner-up to Amberleigh House after being successful in this event by a short-head from that same rival in 2003. Three favourites have prevailed – Young Hustler (1995), Young Kenny (2000) and Silver Birch (2004) – but there have also been three shock results – Amberleigh House was a 33/1 chance in 2001, while Garvivonnian was 33/1 in 2005 and Eurotrek (25/1 – 2006) also caused upsets.

The totesuper7 Grand Sefton has attracted good fields since its revival five years ago after a 38-year break.  The handicap chase is run over the Grand National Course, with 18 fences jumped during the two miles, five and a half furlongs. The 2005 renewal was the first under the umbrella of the Northwest Racing Masters.  The John Spearing-trained Hakim took the honours under Paddy Brennan who soon had his mount in front.  They were never caught as Hakim jumped for fun and stayed on gamely at the business end to defeat Fiori by two and a half lengths.  There were 20 runners in the 2006 contest, which went the way of I Hear Thunder, a12/1 chance, who jumped well and stayed on strongly for conditional jockey Daryl Jacob to come home seven lengths clear of Shannon's Pride.  The race was even more popular in 2007 when 22 lined up before the starter.  There was a shock result as 66/1 – chance Lampion Du Bost, trained by Jim Goldie in Scotland for the Dodoz Partnership, won entirely on merit, with his jumping being near exemplary. Located in one of the most vibrant regions in the country, the Northwest Racing Masters meeting offers a great opportunity to discover England's northwest.  It is an ideal time to combine a love of racing with a visit to Liverpool and the rest of the region. Haydock Park, St Helens, one of the most visited racecourses in the UK, offers first-class racing all year round.  It is located half-way between Liverpool and Manchester, just of Junction 23 of the M6 motorway.

Aintree Racecourse is home to the John Smith' Grand National and is between Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture and Southport – the perfect destination for a weekend break with beautiful beaches, great attractions and superb shopping.