The
Betfair Chase is a Grade 1
National Hunt chase in
Great Britain which is open to
horses aged five years or older. It is run at
Haydock Park over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in November.
History
The event was established in 2005, and it originally served as the first part of a bonus scheme called the Betfair Million. Its sponsor,
Betfair, offered a sum of £1,000,000 to leading contenders for successful performances in two subsequent races.
The initial version of the Betfair Million was awarded if the winner of the Betfair Chase went on to win both the
King George VI Chase and the
Cheltenham Gold Cup. The
Lexus Chase was included as an alternative second leg for the next two years, and
Kauto Star won the prize by taking the original route in 2006–07. The format was changed in 2008–09, when the bonus became available to any first-three finisher achieving first or second at the
Cheltenham Festival and then winning the
Grand National . The Betfair Million was dropped the following year.
The Betfair Chase is familiarly known by its sponsored name, but its registered title is the Lancashire Chase. It is now the first Grade 1 event of the British National Hunt season.
Records
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Most successful horse (3 wins):
Leading jockey (2 wins):
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