Grade One Betfair Chase Guide 2022

This loveable grey horse is somewhat of a Haydock specialist, he just loves it at this course. He is 11 years of age now and not getting any younger, but for a horse who performs best around here he has to be in the mix with a case being made for him.

If you were to look at his form there are a few P’s that suggest he may not be in the best of nick but a chance is taken on seasonal reappearance to put those wrongs right and here is hoping he can run a decent race.

Jockey Daryl Jacob has been speaking in the media recently on the horses chances and he seems to be excited so that can only be a positive for Bristol De Mai.

Before pulling up when last seen in the Grade 1 Bowl Chase at Aintree, he ran a solid race at Haydock finishing second in the Grade 3 Grand National Trial Handicap Chase.

A slight drop back down in trip and a smaller field of just five runners may just suit the old boy more, therefore he has to be respected especially over this course and distance.

A player if he can stay the required 3m1f.

On ratings A Plus Tard is one of the best horses in training and he certainly has shown that from what he has achieved in recent years.

He won this race last year in emphatic style beating Royale Pagaille by a whopping 22 lengths, he went well clear on the bridle and jumped impressively throughout.

A month later he was close to backing that performance up in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown, but just got pipped in the final strides by a short head from the Gordon Elliot trained Galvin.

He was unlucky not to pick up another Grade 1 on that occasion, but that came soon after at the Cheltenham Festival.The Henry De Bromhead trained superstar won the Gold Cup where he actually beat a rival that he faces again here in Protektorat.

Plenty of racegoers backed A Plus Tard for the race, therefore he went off as the 3/1 favourite. He ended up beating stablemate and previous Gold Cup winner Minella Indo by 15 lengths so if he returns to anywhere near his best he is surely the one they will all have to beat.

Cannot look past him.

Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen finished a respectable second to King George favourite Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall when trying to concede 3lb last time out and will be looking to put in a big run here as he does go well fresh.

With that race in him now he may just have plenty to give this time round and rates an interesting player for a trainer who has recently been in top form since the National Hunt season got back up and running again for this upcoming campaign.

He is yet to win a Grade 1 contest over fences, but has notched up a few respectable efforts in Grade 2 company.

This will be another step up, but he may be capable of even better and needs to put in a career best to have a chance of getting close to horses such as last year’s winner A Plus Tard.

Protektorat claimed his first Grade 1 success last year at Aintree over 2m4f in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase beating The Shunter by 3 ¾ lengths.

This run and his next outing that came after a 219 day break put him in really good stead for what was going to be a mammoth performance at the same course again, but this time stepped up in trip to 3m1f.

Jockey Bridget Andrews was on board that day and Protektorat put in a superb round of jumping and when he was shaken up after 3 out he stayed on strongly to win by some distance of 25 lengths leaving Native River back in second.

On his penultimate start, he managed to finish third in the Gold Cup, but found himself well behind the winner and favourite here A Plus Tard.

He has shown signs that he can progress nicely into winning Grade 1 Chases, but will have to bounce back to his best form on seasonal reappearance to have any chance of getting close to the market leader.

Has an entry for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and is not ruled out here. May be the one to follow the favourite home in second.

Frodon dipped his toe back in the handicap waters in the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton and returned to winning ways last time out in impressive style considering it was his first run for 235 days.

He beat Lord Accord by 2 ½ lengths and jumped really well so he certainly looked fresh and may just pick up another big race this season, but this does look really tough for the very popular 10 year old.

There are similarities with Frodon and another rival that he faces here in Eldorado Allen and that is race fitness. Both horses have had a run before this year’s Grade One Betfair Chase so that may be beneficial to both.

Jockey Bryony Frost will probably look to get Frodon to the front of the pack early on in the race as that is where he is seen to best affect.

The outsider of the small field who stays the trip, but will most likely find a few of these too good.