Lancashire Chase Could See Gold Cup Contenders Make Reappearance

The Lancashire Chase at Haydock is one of the most valuable races in the National Hunt code of horse racing.

The Group One contest has £200,000 in prize money, which means all the leading trainers in the UK and Ireland target the race.

This year’s renewal at the Lancashire racecourse could see Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs make his first start of the 2023/24 campaign. His trainer Willie Mullins has yet to win the Haydock race, so he would be bidding for an opening success.

Victory in the Lancashire Chase would see Mullins steal a march on his rivals in the early stages of the 2023/24 British Trainers Championship. Last season, the Irishman picked up over £7 million in prize money in Ireland. Some of his big targets in the latest campaign could come in the UK.

Galopin Des Champs Tops Gold Cup Betting

The defending champion Galopin Des Champs is the 2/1 favourite in the horse betting online markets for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The seven-year-old has suffered just two defeats in eight appearances over fences so far.

As well as the Lancashire Chase, the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day is also likely to be a target for the Irish chaser. That race is worth £250,000 and it is the second most prestigious 3m chase contest behind the Gold Cup.

With an official rating of 179, Galopin Des Champs goes into the new campaign rated as one of the leading horses in the sport. If he can add to his CV over the next 12 months, he could cement his place as one of the best-staying chasers of all time.

Bravemansgame Likely to New His Rivalry with The Irish Horse

Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls will be hoping his horse Bravemansgame can reverse his form with Galopin Des Champs next season. The British chaser finished second behind the Gold Cup winner at Cheltenham.

The 2022/23 campaign was an excellent one for Bravemansgame, and he played a big part in providing the prize money needed to help his trainer defend his crown in the Trainers’ Championship, with wins coming in the Charlie Hall Chase and King George VI Chase.

Bravemansgame won a graduation chase at Haydock in 2021. Should he line up in the Lancashire Chase, it will be his first appearance on the course since that success two years ago.

Grand National Winner Corach Rambler Set Challenge at Highest Level

Few horses won more prize money than Croach Rambler last season in jumps racing. The Scottish-based horse prevailed in the Grand National at Aintree, landing his connections £500,000. That success came a month after a Cheltenham Festival victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old is set to jump up to the highest level next season, with the Gold Cup likely to be his primary target in March. The Lancashire Chase could determine whether he is good enough to compete against the best 3m chasers in the sport.

Whatever happens before and during the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, expect to see Corach Rambler attempt to defend his crown in the Grand National at Aintree in April.

The 2023 Lancashire Chase is set to take place on the 25th of November and it will be the 19th renewal of the race in its history.