ALAN KING knows Halcon Genelardais will like the testing conditions at Haydock, but he doesn’t expect him to be good enough to win tomorrow’s Betfair Chase.
The nine-year-old has not won since taking the 2006 Welsh National but he has been running in some of the top long distance chases with relative success.
He has since been second back in the Welsh National at Chepstow, and also filled the same position in the Scottish National and the Grade Three Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham. Arguably his best effort was when finishing fourth to Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2008.
Halcon Genelardais has not run since pulling up in this year’s renewal of the Gold Cup. But having won at Haydock over hurdles before his Welsh National success, King is hoping the ground at Haydock – where it is currently soft, heavy in places, will at least give his charge his ideal conditions to be competitive.
The Barbury Castle handler said: “Halcon Genelardais seems fine at the moment. We are going to Haydock because of the ground – I am hoping the going will slow some of the other horses up!
“I don’t envisage him winning the Betfair Chase but there is a lot of prize-money on offer and I am hopeful that he can run well.
“We can’t have any real pretensions of beating a horse like Kauto Star but it looks like the testing conditions will probably suit us more than some of the other runners.
“The aim is to go for the Welsh National with him after this race and it gives us a nice bit of time between the two races. He has done enough work at home – he usually comes to hand quite quickly – and our horses are coming into form now.
“I would be more worried about the opposition than I would about him needing the run.”
Kauto Star is currently the 5-4 favourite with totesport, Stan James and Paddy Power after nine horses were declared for the three-mile Grade One contest.
Jim Dreaper’s Notre Pere is currently second favourite at 9-4 with Coral, Victor Chandler, Betfred and BlueSquare. The trainer is hoping the ground can help him get the better of the more naturally speedier Kauto.
He said: “He had a school earlier in the week, which went fine, and as far as we can see, he’s none the worse for his fall at Down Royal. He normally needs his first run but unfortunately he didn’t get that at Down Royal as he only went about a mile and six furlongs.
“It normally takes him a race or two to get fully wound up but he’s certainly ready to go.
“He would go on any ground except firm or good to firm but because of his lack of real pace, and I’m talking about Kauto Star pace, he’s more effective when it becomes difficult for the others.
“At this stage, I don’t worry too much about the result. All we hope is that he runs up to his best and we think he is a better horse this year. But thinking is one thing – seeing is what we need to do.”
As well as Kauto Star Paul Nicholls runs Nozic, while Imperial Commander and Madison Du Berlais would appear the main threats. Rambling Minster, Seymour Weld and The Sawyer complete the line-up.
TODAY’S NAP: Pretty Star (3.15pm Ascot).
