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Betfair Chase |
Betfair Chase 2007
24/11/0
1st 3 Kauto Star 4/5 FAV
2nd 2 Exotic Dancer 8/1
Kauto Star Still Shines the Brightest
24/11/07
Kauto Star proved he is still the best chaser in the land as he bounced back to his brilliant best to win the Betfair Chase at Haydock for a second successive year.
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Travelling sweetly for new jockey Sam Thomas, a huge leap at the third-last took him clear of My Way De Solzen.
Exotic Dancer, who chased home Kauto Star in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, emerged as a real threat after the last, but Paul Nicholls' star (4-5 favourite) showed real grit and determination to win by half a length.
“I could shoot that Kauto Star!” was trainer Jonjo O’Neill’s
reaction after Exotic Dancer was beaten half a length by Kauto Star.
This is the third time the seven-year-old has finished runner-up to the
same rival, having also chased him home in the Stan James King George
VI Chase and the totesport
Cheltenham Gold Cup last season.
O’Neill’s continued: “The winner is a right horse, isn’t he?
“Exotic Dancer has run a blinder. I could only be more pleased if he had won! You can’t be disappointed really.
“I think he will probably go for the King George now.
“He has to travel out the back the way he does, otherwise he is no good.”
A further 18 lengths back in third was Beef Or Salmon and his trainer
Michael Hourigan was delighted too.
He said: “Beef Or Salmon hadn’t run since April and Denis
(O’Regan, jockey) said he really needed it today.
“I thought halfway round when I saw how he was travelling that
I would have to make a statement announcing his retirement! He then picked
up and stayed on really well.
“He will go for the Lexus Chase at the Leopardstown’s Christmas
meeting now.
“He is a wonderful horse. I am really pleased.”
The fourth horse home was Turpin Green, another 16 lengths back.
His trainer Nicky Richards said: “Turpin Green ran OK.
“He hates that ground and hadn’t had a prep run.
“We will look at the King George and the Lexus Chase for him now
and we may also consider the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
“There is still all to play for.”
MY WAY DE SOLZEN FIFTH
Alan King was taking My Way De Solzen’s fifth place in the Betfair
Chase firmly on his own shoulders.
He said: “I am very disappointed with myself as he was unfit.
He was blowing for 35 minutes after the race and was very tired.
“I thought that I had done plenty with him at home, but I clearly hadn’t. He will go for the King George now.”
Jockey Robert Thornton added: “He didn’t get home.”
HAYDOCK HAPPY
Dickon White, Managing Director at Haydock Park, was very satisfied
after the first day of the Northwest Racing Masters and Kauto Star’s
victory in the Betfair Chase.
He said: “Everyone at Haydock Park today was privileged to see
another superb effort from Kauto Star as he won his second Betfair Chase.
“The Betfair Chase field consisted of the very best chasers from
Britain and Ireland and Kauto Star demonstrated once again he was at
the top of the tree.
“The racing throughout the day has been highly competitive and
seen some superb performances. Jockey Sam Thomas will certainly not forget
today.
“The Northwest Racing Masters, now in its third year, continues to go from strength to strength and we all look forward to another superb day at Aintree tomorrow.”
BETFAIR CHASE (GRADE 1)
3m £200,000 Guaranteed For 5yo+ Weights 11st 7lb Allowances mares
7lb Penalty value 1st £114,040 2nd £42,780 3rd £21,420
4th £10,680 5th £5,360 6th £2,680
1 KAUTO STAR (Clive Smith) Paul Nicholls 7-11-07t Sam Thomas 4/5 Fav
2 EXOTIC DANCER (Sir Robert Ogden) Jonjo O’Neill 7-11-07p Barry
Geraghty 8/1
3 BEEF OR SALMON (B J Craig) Michael Hourigan IRE 11-11-07b Denis O’Regan
28/1
4 TURPIN GREEN (Trevor Hemmings) Nicky Richards 8-11-07p Tony Dobbin
14/1
5 MY WAY DE SOLZEN (B Winfield, A Longman, J Wright & C Fenton) Alan
King 7-11-07 Robert Thornton 11/4
6 OLLIE MAGERN (Roger Nicholls) Nigel Twiston-Davies 9-11-07 Paddy Brennan
20/1
UR OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (Brian Polly) Charlie Swan IRE 7-11-07 David Casey
40/1
Distances: 0.5, 18, 16, 7, dist
Breeder: Mme Henri Aubert
Breeding: bg Village Star- Kauto Relka (Port Etienne)
Tote: Win: £1.80; pl £1.50, £3.10 exacta £6
Winning Trainer: PAUL NICHOLLS Date of birth: 17/05/62 Based: Heighes House, Manor Farm Stables, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset Date of first trainer’s licence: 01/11/91 Previous Occupation: Professional jockey 1980-89. Rode 130 winners including Hennessy Gold Cup (1986 & 87), Irish Gold Cup (1988), Welsh Grand National (1987) Aintree Festival Wins include: John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase (1999 Flagship Uberalles, 2002 Armaturk, 2003 Le Roi Miguel, 2007 Twist Magic), John Smith’s Melling Chase (2001 Fadalko), John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase (2006 Star De Mohaison), Citroen C4 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Natal), John Smith’s Fox Hunter Chase (2002 Torduff Express), Betfair Bowl (2000 See More Business) Cheltenham Festival Wins (17): Irish Independent Arkle Novices’ Chase (1999 Flagship Uberalles, 2003 Azertyuiop), Queen Mother Champion Chase (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop), totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (1999 See More Business, 2007 Kauto Star), Christie’s Foxhunter Chase (2004 Earthmover, 2005 Sleeping Night), Johnny Henderson Grand Annual (2004 St Pirran, 2007 Andreas), County Hurdle (2004 Sporazene, 2006 Desert Quest), Ryanair Chase (2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis), Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Noland), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2006 Star De Mohaison, 2007 Denman) Other big race wins: Aon Chase (2000 See More Business, 2001 Shotgun Willy, 2003 Valley Henry, 2007 Kauto Star), Betfair Chase (2006 Kauto Star), Betfred Gold Cup (2001 & 2003 Ad Hoc), Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Neptune Collonges), Bula Hurdle (2003 Rigmarole), Challow Novices’ Hurdle (2003 Cornish Rebel, 2006 Denman), Charlie Hall Chase (1999 and 2000 See More Business), totesport Classic Chase (2006 Eurotrek, 2007 Ladalko), Desert Orchid H’cap Chase (2000 Fadalko, 2002 Valley Henry), Feltham Novices’ Chase (1993 See More Indians), Game Spirit Chase (2000 lagship Uberalles, 2005 Azertyuiop), Greatwood Hurdle (2003 Rigmarole), Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (1995 Captain Khedive, 1999 Fadalko, 2002 Azertyuiop, 2003 Thisthatandtother), King George VI Chase (1997, 1999 See More Business, 2006 Kauto Star), Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Be Be King), Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase (2000 Rockforce), Scottish Champion Hcap Hurdle (1999 Fadalko), Rehearsal Chase (1996 Belmont King, 1997 and 1998 See More Business), Pendil Novices’ Chase (2006 Napolitain, 2007 Natal), Peterborough Chase (2004 Le Roi Miguel), Pillar Chase (1998, 2001 See More Business), Scottish Grand National (1997 Belmont King), Tingle Creek Chase (2005 Kauto Star), Tolworth Hurdle (2003 Thisthatandtother, 2006 Noland, 2007 Silverburn), totesport.com becher Chase (2006 Eurotrek), Vodafone Gold Cup (2006 Cornish Sett), Coral Welsh National (2004 Silver Birch, 2005 L’Aventure), William Hill Haldon Gold Cup Chase (1998 Lake Kariba, 1999 Flagship Uberalles, 2004 Azertyuiop), Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (2007 Gungadu) 1000th Domestic Winner: Noble Action (Bumper, Folkestone, November 15, 2004) First Trainer to Saddle Six Winners on One Card: Saturday, January 21, 2006, at Wincanton Number of Winners (1992/03-2006/07): 20; 29; 28; 53; 56; 82; 110; 71; 83; 136; 152; 127; 152; 148; 124 Wins this Season: 34
Winning Jockey: Sam Thomas Born: June 22, 1984 Background: The son of a maths teacher from Abergavenny, South Wales. Rode in point to points and spent one year with David Evans before moving to Venetia Williams’ stable, where he has been since training at the British Racing School. Big Race Wins: Amlin 1965 Chase (2006 Cerium); Paddy Power Amateur Riders Handicap Chase (2003 Its Onlyme - last ride as amateur); Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (20004 Limerick Boy); Pendil Novices’ Chase (2005 Limerick Boy); First Winner Under Rules: Indian Sun (Western Wines Selling Hurdle, Ludlow, April 2, 2003) First Professional Winner: I Tina (G D Environmental Services Selling Hurdle, Chepstow, November 26, 2003) Wins (2002/03-2006/07): 1; 47; 55; 55; 73 Wins This Season: 25
