General / Maxliu / 16 November 2009 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

Betfair layers could be out to get Paul Nicholls' gelding on heavy ground, so will he start at odds against?

Kauto Star is available at [2.0] to net a third Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday - and he really ought to have been going for a four-timer in the £200,000 Grade 1 contest at the weekend.

Kauto announced himself as one of the best staying chasers of recent years when beating Beef Or Salmon by 17 lengths in this race in 2006. He wasn't as impressive in beating regular foe Exotic Dancer by half a length on soft ground the following year, and was trading at [1.11] in running on Betfair when unseating his rider at the last when coming with what looked like a winning run 12 months ago.

This year's renewal promises to be a sterner test still for Kauto Star if his main rivals at the five day stage stand and fight, even though Timeform have him a massive 14lb clear of the next highest horse in the race, Madison Du Berlais.

If he turns up in the same form as the horse who won this race in 2006, or who beat Denman by 13 lengths at Cheltenham in March, then the others are playing for places.

But Master Minded's defeat on Sunday was a timely reminder that even champions have their off days, especially first time up in testing conditions, and if it is heavy ground at Haydock on Saturday then many Betfair punters could take him on at odds-on.
Notre Pere is the second favourite on Betfair at [4.0], with Madison Du Berlais [6.8] and Imperial Commander at [9.2].

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "For all his brilliance, it doesn't look as though Kauto Star has scared off the opposition this time, and he could just be sent off at odds against on Betfair, with the proviso that his main rivals stand their ground and it is heavy going come the weekend.

"And, having spoken to the course today, both scenarios are a distinct possibility.

"It is currently soft and a wet and a windy week is forecast. Who would have thought Kauto Star could possibly start at odds against on his next start after trouncing the Gold Cup field by 13 lengths in March?"

To win the Betfair Chase: [2.0] Kauto Star, [4.0] Notre Pere, [6.5] Madison Du Berlais, [10.0] Imperial Commander, [11.0] Barbers Shop, [14.0] Tidal Bay, [21.0] Nacarat, [26.0] Halcon Genelardias, [34.0] Nozic, [40.0] Rambling Minster, Albertas Run, [140.00] The Sawyer, [200.00] Seymour Weld.

Tags: Denman, Haydock Races, Horseracing betting, Horseracing Betting odds, Horseracing Tips, Kauto Star, Master Minded, Max Liu, The Betfair Chase, Tony Calvin