Gold Cup winner all set for Betfair repeat

SOME of the stars of the National Hunt game are in action today, with the leader of the pack, A Plus Tard, hoping to repeat last year’s success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Henry de Bromhead’s eightyear-old was staggeringly good when winning by 22 lengths 12 months ago, and he looked just as special when sprinting to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in March, beating stablemate and defending champion Minella Indo by 15 lengths.

Some have suggested the likely testing Haydock ground will not play to his strengths, but he won a Listed four-yearold hurdle in France on heavy before joining De Bromhead and his 2019 Festival win was also on soft ground, admittedly in a handicap. In short, he will have to run more than a stone below his best to be beaten.

Paul Nicholls’ Tahmuras looked a very nice prospect when winning at Chepstow and can follow up in the Betfair Weighed In Podcast Newton Novices’ Hurdle.

While the five-year-old has yet to run on any ground worse than good to soft, he looked a really relentless galloper on his hurdling debut and at this stage the sky is the limit.

Mick and David Easterby’s Albert’s Back ran a fine race on his comeback at his beloved Wetherby when beaten by the improving Parisencore and while a 3lb rise seems harsh, the booking of Harry Cobden takes the eye in the Extra Places Any Day Betfair Handicap Hurdle.

David Pipe’s Brinkley has gone well when fresh on more than one occasion and reappears off a mark 2lb lower than when he last won over timber in the Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.

At Ascot, all eyes will be on Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill in the Coral Hurdle.

Already favourite for the Champion Hurdle, despite Honeysuckle having won the last two renewals, it remains to be seen if he really is as good as he looked when trouncing

Jonbon in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. We are unlikely to find out this weekend with him already rated 13lb and more ahead of his rivals in this Grade Two, and it should just be a case of point and shoot for Nico de Boinville.

Another star on show is Venetia Williams’ L’Homme Presse in the Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase, while Edwardstone is another Festival winner in action in the Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Handicap Chase.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images > Rachael Blackmore celebrates after riding A Plus Tard to victory at Cheltenham in March