Betfair Official Blog

Betfair Million continues in 2008-09 National Hunt season - but in different format

Winning the bonus will be as easy as "3-2-1" next season

The late, lamented Ted Rogers may not be around to front up the campaign, but the Betfair Million will be as easy as "3-2-1" to win in the 2008-09 National Hunt season after the betting exchange decided upon a new format for the seven-figure bonus, now in its fourth year.

In the first year, the million pound bonus was offered to any horse winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March, while for the past two years the middle leg was widened to an and/or option, with the introduction of the Lexus at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

Betfair have always billed their million pound bonus as the "most valuable and winnable in horseracing", and that was underlined when Kauto Star brushed aside all-comers in the 2006-07 campaign and swept a seven-figure sum into the hands of owner Clive Smith, trainer Paul Nicholls, jockey Ruby Walsh and the Ditcheat stable staff.

And only stablemate Denman stopped them sharing another million at Cheltenham in March this year.

But now Betfair have widened the net to potential winners with a new format that utilises Ted's "3-2-1" concept. Here is how the bonus can be won in the 2008-09 season:

3: Finishing first, second or third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November; and

2: Being placed first or second in ANY race at the Cheltenham Festival in March; and

1: Winning the Grand National at Aintree in April

Betfair's Head Of Media, Tony Calvin, explained: "The Betfair Million has been a tremendous success in its three years to date, and that is largely down to the media, not to mention the likes of Jim Lewis, Robert Alner, Clive Smith, Paul Nicholls and Harry Findlay, in embracing and supporting the concept.

"And we were genuinely delighted when Kauto Star won the Million in 2007, as we deliberately set out to make it far more winnable than the horse racing bonuses already out there.

"But now we feel it is time to widen the net further to potential winners, and we believe that the new format achieves that.

"Whilst again underlining our financial commitment to the racing industry, our primary concern in offering the Betfair Million bonus is to get the best horses to our race at Haydock in November, and as competitive and high-class a renewal as possible. And, clearly, the number of potential winners of the bonus is increased by the new structure.

"The Betfair Chase is obviously a valuable and prized Grade 1 race in its own right. But by allowing the first three home in that race to then have a chance at remaining on the Million trail by being in the first two in any race at Cheltenham, we are really throwing down the gauntlet to connections of high-class horses who think they have a chance of winning the Grand National.

"The National is increasingly attracting some outstanding chasers, and the race has already been muted as a future target for Denman. And of course Clive Smith has already had an Aintree runner-up with Royal Auclair.

"The ideal scenario, though perhaps not for the Betfair finance boys, is that three horses are in with a live chance of winning the Million at Aintree next April. And, at around £1.5m all in with prize money and the bonus, they would be running for the biggest prize in National Hunt history.

"Time will tell if it is a Dusty Bin of an idea, or if we get some one and two digit responses from the racing fraternity.

"But let's hope not!"

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The Betfair Million bonus will be distributed as follows: £700,000 to the winning owner, £100,000 to the winning trainer, £100,000 to the winning jockey (s), with £33,333.33 for each leg ridden, and £100,000 to the winning stable staff.