Betfair Official Blog

Haydock Betting: It's the start of the Betfair Million and more on a huge weekend in jumps racing

Click here to view market

Timeform Radio pundit and National Hunt 'don' Jeremy Grayson looks at the Betfair-sponsored card at Haydock where the highlights include another classic duel between Kauto Star and Exotic Dancer.

The North West Masters, which takes in Haydock on Saturday and Aintree on Sunday, has rapidly established itself as a two-day racing event of substance and quality, and Timeform Radio will be live at Haydock to cover that venue's Betfair-sponsored card in its entirety.

The feature Grade 1 Betfair Chase at 2.15 represents the first leg of the Betfair Million, and the first three home in the race will remain in the running for the seven-figure bonus prize. Kauto Star just edged out Exotic Dancer in last season's renewal, and these two old rivals are set to reoppose again on Saturday, with Paul Nicholls' eight year-old seeking a third straight win in the race and an eighth career victory over the Jonjo O'Neill inmate without reply.

Both contenders come to Haydock on the back of very pleasing efforts, Kauto Star having sauntered to victory in a Down Royal Grade 1 three weeks earlier and Exotic Dancer having recorded his best ever seasonal debut performance in running Knowhere to 1l in the Old Roan Chase last month.

Other contenders Snoopy Loopy (only 2 ½l adrift of Exotic Dancer last time), Cloudy Lane, Ollie Magern and Tamarinbleu are all extremely gifted animals in their own right, but they look to be playing for third place behind two of the very finest chasers of their generation.

Interest in the preceding Betfair Hurdle (1.40) for four-year-olds has been bolstered by the intended participation of current Champion Hurdle favourite Binocular. Nicky Henderson's Supreme Novices' Hurdle second was last seen drubbing a field of quality juveniles 7l and upwards at Aintree last April, reinforcing his effectiveness over flat, left-handed courses such as the one he will face on Saturday.

A winner on his hurdling debut last season, and at least 16lb better off with all his rivals compared to a handicap, he is likely to be sent off at prohibitive odds in a bid to get his 2008-9 campaign off to the best possible start. The 128-rated pair of Los Nadis and Lazy Darren appeal as the next best, but neither should prove Binocular's equal.

A superb undercard also includes a 3m handicap at 1.05 over Haydock's "fixed brush" French-style hurdles, a race which frequently attracts many horses having their first run of the season en route to the big staying chases over Christmas. 2006 Royal & SunAlliance Chase hero Star De Mohaison is the most striking of such candidates this time, although Paul Nicholls will want his fragile star to return with cold legs in the morning just as much as the £62,000 first prize on what is only his second start in as many years.

Should Star De Mohaison fail, the hat-trick seeking According To Pete may be the likeliest to capitalise, although Nicholls himself also saddles a lively each-way proposition in Oberon Moon, whose bottom weight may be all the more useful if the going deteriorates.

The champion trainer could get the day off to a perfect start with a victory for Font in the opening Listed hurdle at 12.30. The winner of the Jewson Hurdle series final at Cheltenham in October is best forgiven a failure at Ascot last time, in which he failed to recover from a catastrophic error at halfway.

However, the presence of Doeslessthanme, Sea Storm and Bolodenka, already winners over timber, plus the dual Listed Flat winner Alfie Flits, should ensure that Font doesn't have things entirely his own way.