Horse Racing Tips
Haydock Horse Racing Tips: Betfair Chase Day 2025
As the first Grade One chase of the new season, the Betfair Chase is a race that not only attracts record crowds, but also potential Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders with the legendary Kauto Star regularly using this race on his way to further success at The Cheltenham Festival.
Here, I look through all seven races on Betfair Chase day at Haydock Park racecourse – and I have a selection in every race on the card.
12.10pm – 2m Newton Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (4yo+)
An impressive winner on his sole start in an Irish point-to-point back in the spring, the four-year-old MASKED MAN (NAP) puts his unbeaten record and lofty reputation on the line in the Grade 2 Newton Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday.
His first run under rules for Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies saw him bolt up in a novice hurdle at Chepstow last month, beating a subsequent winner in Blue Carpet by 12 lengths. This level of early form should see the double-green colours of Munir and Souede carried to victory here.
12.40pm – 2m½f Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130)
GENTLEMAN BILL, from the Cheshire stable of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, ran a lovely race at Aintree last month and can kick on from the experience.
The seven-year-old is an Irish point-to-point scorer, so he will clearly be at home over these Haydock fences.
1.15pm – 2m3f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (4yo+)
A speculative each-way chance can be given to Brian Ellison’s CORMIER in this handicap hurdle, with the nine-year-old coming here after a win on the Flat a month ago.
With the ground in his favour, odds of 18/1 in our horse racing betting look generous enough.
1.50pm – 2m5½f Graduation Chase (Class 2) (4yo+)
IROKO was second in this race last season before going on to run a commendable fourth in the Grand National.
It appears the same route is being plotted with him again this campaign, and connections will be keen to throw down a marker in this contest.
2.25pm – 3m½f Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 1) (4yo+)
This race is so wide open that I am going to suggested two each-way selections to get involved with in our sports betting.
NAVAJO INDY made a pleasing return at Cheltenham last month, and his high cruising speed will be better suited to this track than at Prestbury Park.
Nicky Richards rarely turns up at Haydock without a live chance and his NAB WOOD was a smart winner of a staying hurdle at Ayr at the start of the month. He is nicely treated in the weights here too.
3.00pm – 3m1½f Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+)
ROYALE PAGAILLE has landed the last two runnings of the Betfair Chase and another success would see him join Cue Card and Bristol De Mai as a three-time champion.
Many will be of the view that the going won’t be attritional enough for the veteran chaser on Saturday, but believe you me, that water table at Haydock Park will have taken a hammering over the course of Storm Claudia and from the subsequent rain thereafter.
The eleven-year-old cannot be ruled out and is a tasty price in the betting.
3m1½f Handicap Chase (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145)
This is a race that the Sue Smith yard has targeted several times down the years, and the yard arrives with some decent ammo again with the imposing stamp of a horse – KONFUSION.
The seven-year-old was almost foot perfect at Wetherby last time and a repeat performance would give him an outstanding chance today.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
