Northwest Racing Masters
Northwest Racing Masters (incorporating The Betfair Chase) 
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
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
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
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
Aintree Racecourse is home to the John Smith' Grand National and is between Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture and
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