A field of five have been entered in the £85,000 Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase including multiple Grade 1 winning Shishkin, whilst the £85,000 Grade 2 Betfair Game Spirit Chase has received six entries including Harry Fry’s Boothill and Alan King’s Edwardstone. Newbury Racecourse’s inaugural Premier fixture, Betfair Super Saturday, takes place on Saturday.

 

The Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin, who agonisingly stumbled and unseated Nico de Boinville when in front two from home in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, having refused to race on his previous start, holds an entry in the Betfair Denman Chase. Protektorat, who finished runner-up in the recent Fleur De Lys Chase for the Skelton’s has been entered along with the Kim Bailey-trained Does He Know who finished fourth. Paul Nicholls’ Hitman who finished 9^th behind Ga Law at Cheltenham last month, his first run since wind surgery, also holds an entry, as does 12-year-old Sam Brown, winner of the Veteran’s Chase Series Final at Warwick last time out for trainer Anthony Honeyball.

 

Entries for the Grade 2 Betfair Game Spirit Chase include Harry Fry’s Boothill who enjoyed two wins under regular jockey Jonathan Burke in November, before falling in the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase at Kempton last time out. The Gary Moore-trained eventual winner, Editeur du Gite, also holds an entry. The gelding finished last in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase, reportedly having made a jumping error early on.

 

Trainer Harry Fry said: “Altobelli is all set to run in the Betfair Hurdle having run well in two competitive handicap hurdles at Ascot so far this season. The experience of those races won’t be lost on him and, with hopefully slightly slower underfoot conditions, that can only play to his strengths and he can be competitive, all being well on Saturday.”

 

Alan King’s Grade 1 winning Edwardstone finished fourth in the Silviniaco Conti Chase last time out, having been stepped up in trip and hampered by a faller at the last. The gelding reportedly hung left handed and may return to his favoured trip on Saturday.

 

Last year’s winner, Funambule Sivola, trained by the in-form Venetia Williams, may bid to retain his title. After a lengthy time off, Joe Tizzard’s Amarillo Sky holds an entry and Dan Skelton’s yard could be represented by Calico.

 

Betfair spokesman, Barry Orr, commented today: ‘’As you would expect, for the prize money on offer, the Hurdle is a fiendishly tricky race to unpick but punters have found, Ocastle des Mottes, who is having his first run for Willie Mullins, and is 7/1 co-fav from 10/1. They also want to be with Altobelli who is 8/1 from 12/1 ‘’

 

The 2024 Betfair Super Saturday meeting takes place at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday 10^th February. Tickets can be purchased on the Newbury Racecourse website here.

 

A parade of legends of Betfair Super Saturday will take place in the parade ring ahead of the Betfair Denman Chase (between the 2^nd and 3^rd race): Altior, Native River and Sceau Royal.

 

The only horse to win the Betfair Exchange Game Sprit Chase on three occasions in 2017, 2018, 2020, Altior will parade in front of his home crowd at the track at which he became synonymous. Having nearly lost his life to colic early last year, it will be a treat for racegoers to see him fit and healthy once again. Native River, the most successful horse in the history of the Betfair Denman Chase – winning the race in 2017, 2018 and 2020 – as well as the now Coral Gold Cup in 2016, will also return. The recently-retired Sceau Royal completes the line-up. Winner of the 2021 Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase, he provided connections with some memorable days racing including Grade 1 success in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

 

The Betfair Hurdle: 7/1 Iberico Lord, Luccia, Ocastle des Mottes, 8/1 Altobelli, Lookaway, 10/1 Go Dante, Brentford Hope, 12/1 Aurigny Mill, Spirit d’Aunou, Hansard, Tellherthename, Under Control, 14/1 Doddiethegreat, 16/1 Knickerbockerglory, Kamsinas, 20/1 Jilaijone, L’Eau du Sud, Norman Fletcher, Onlyamatteroftime, 25/1 Donnacha, Our Champ, Moveit Like Minnie, Our Champ, 33/1 Faivoir, Ito Ditto, Alvaniy, 50/1 Yorksea

*EACH-WAY 1/5 ODDS 5 PLACES

 

The Betfair Denman Chase: 2/5 Shishkin, 3/1 Protektorat, 7/1 Hitman, 16/1 Does He Know, 20/1 Sam Brown

 

The Betfair Game Spirit: 6/4 Boothill, 2/1 Edwardstone, 4/1 Funambule Sivola, 5/1 Editeur du Gite, 10/1 Calico, 14/1 Amarillo Sky

 

Full list of entries and weights in 2024 Betfair Hurdle following confirmation stage: