Saturday’s Betfair Chase kicks off the three-leg Jockey Club Triple Crown, which offers a £1million bonus for any horse that can land Saturday’s feature along with December’s King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
The bonus is split up with 65% going to the owner(s), 15% to the trainer, 10% to the racing staff at the winning yard and the remaining 10% to the winning jockey.
The legendary Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star remains the only horse to have achieved the feat, doing so in a memorable 2006-07 campaign – where he remained unbeaten from his six races.
We will have a free runner-by-runner preview and selection available for this weekend’s race available on our free horse racing tips page, whilst below, we have taken a look at the six horses currently entered, assessing their chance of completing the bonus, along with providing a price on their chances.
Colin Tizzard’s Lostintranslation ended last season with victory in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, arguably confirming himself as the UK’s best-staying novice chaser in the process.
The Flemensfirth gelding made a winning seasonal reappearance at Carlisle earlier this month and looks open to improvement now stepping back up in trip.
He is currently the shortest price to complete the Triple Crown, and his proven Cheltenham form will come in handy were he to land the first two legs.
Chances Of Triple Crown Success: 5/10
This race is seen as something of an afterthought for Altior, with Saturday’s Ascot battle with Cyrname seen as his more likely destination.
With his stamina to prove – particularly over the gruelling extended 3m2f Gold Cup distance, he makes little appeal.
Chances Of Triple Crown Success: 2/10
The current favourite for this weekend’s Betfair Chase – where he will bid to land the race for the third race in succession – Bristol De Mai is currently 100/1 to complete the Triple Crown.
A close third in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, the concern for the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede-owned eight-year-old is the second leg of the Triple Crown – the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase – a race that he was well held in, in 2017, and an early faller in last season.
Chances Of Triple Crown Success: 3/10
Last season’s Ryanair Chase winner Frodon looks slightly overpriced at triple-figure odds.
Bryony Frost’s mount can be excused last month’s seasonal reappearance at Aintree – which turned into something of a sprint finish after many of the fences were bypassed due to low sun.
A winner at Kempton and Cheltenham in the past, his odds for the Triple Crown will surely tumble were he to land Saturday’s prize, albeit the Gold Cup distance may prove slightly beyond him from a stamina perspective.
Chances Of Triple Crown Success: 4/10
Along with race favourite Bristol De Mai, Nigel Twiston-Davies has recent Charlie Hall Chase winner Ballyoptic in line to race this weekend.
His latest win rates as a clear career-best performance and the yard has a strong recent record in the Betfair Chase, but another jolt of improvement will be needed for him to trouble the best of his rivals on Saturday, and even if he does manage to win – the King George and Gold Cup are both likely to be significantly tougher.
Chances Of Triple Crown Success: 1/10
Having justified favouritism to land the Welsh Grand National last season, Elegant Escape will not be failing for stamina on Saturday.
The sharp track at Kempton is unlikely to prove ideal for him, however, and he could only finish a distant sixth in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
On all known form, he faces an uphill battle trying to land Saturday’s contest, never mind the King George and Gold Cup
Chances Of Triple Crown Success: 1/10
Prices above are available – at the time of writing – with Paddy Power, who have a sign-up offer at hand on our free bets page.