INSIDE TRACK

This Saturday at 3pm Haydock hosts the Lancashire Chase - better known as the Betfair Chase, writes Julie Williams.

The Grade 1 showcase boasts a fantastic field including last year’s winner BRISTOL DE MAI ( 11/ 2), a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner NATIVE RIVER ( 3/ 1) and two King George VI victors – MIGHT BITE ( evs) and THISTLECRACK ( 8/ 1). The forecast ground is good to soft, good in places.

It is the first leg of an attractive triple crown with a £ 1 million bonus for connections of the horse who can follow up in the King George and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The front two in the betting fought out a thriller in the Gold Cup with MIGHT BITE looking every inch the winner as he turned for home and steeled himself for the Cheltenham Hill.

NATIVE RIVER came and nabbed him that day, running out a decisive winner.

Yet the victor goes into the Lancashire Chase second favourite to the even money shot.

Not so puzzling if we consider that race was run on testing ground, on a stiff track over three and a quarter miles.

Saturday’s showpiece is run on a flatter, sharper track over a shorter trip and if the market is to be believed this will suit Nicky Henderson’s mighty MIGHT BITE.

NATIVE RIVER has not raced since the totemic battle at the Festival but Joe Tizzard, son and assistant trainer to Colin, is bullish when he says: “Might Bite is favourite because they think the track will suit him better and that Native River is ground dependent but I don’t think that is true… I’m not afraid of Might Bite, that’s for sure.”

Bold words for a bold yard who, with the brilliant CUE CARD, won this race three times in the last 10 years.

The statistic that sends a shockwave through layers and a delight to backers is that of the last 12 renewals 10 of those winners were sent off as a short priced favourite. MIGHT BITE, as the price suggests, is the likeliest winner but should eight horses stand their ground there are each way prospects to tempt.

At 16/ 1 POLITILOUGE has decent prospects for at least a place. The 7- year- old grey gelding has an excellent record on seasonal debut; is 2 from 2 in November and 3 from 3 on forecast ground.

Racing off a mark of 168 this relatively young chaser has scope for improvement. It goes without saying he will have to if the Paul Nicholls trained horse is to vanquish classier rivals.

The fly in the ointment for this classy jumper is this will be a first attempt at the trip for this frontrunning speedster. If held up to get the trip he could be the one however to be finishing strong should NATIVE RIVER and MIGHT BITE get racing early in the long Haydock straight.

POLITILOUGE holds a dual entry with the more shorter trip of the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot perhaps his destination. He’d be my bet for that race should he end up there though there is unlikely to be any fancy prices about him. Follow @ RacingJulie