Protektorat 'fresh and ready' ahead of bid for second Betfair Chase victory at Haydock Park

Protektorat is 'fresh and ready' ahead of his bid for a second successive victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on November 25.

Skelton's eight-year-old won the Grade One feature at the Merseyside track by 11 lengths last year and is among the 15 entries revealed for this year's £200,000 contest. Protektorat, who is part-owned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, was last seen in action at the Cheltenham Festival when he was fifth behind Willie Mullins' Galopin Des Champs in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Proktektorat is a former Grade One Novices' Chase winner at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse. He also won the Grade Two Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December 2021. And it's all systems go for a return to Merseyside three weeks on Saturday.

Trainer Skelton said: “We will be going to Haydock Park fresh and ready for the Betfair Chase. From what I’ve seen, he has not gone backwards in any way. The way we will have him ready for that race is that we will have him properly ready. I think it will take a good one on the day to beat him.”

The 15 entries also include last season’s Ladbrokes King George VI Chase winner and Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-upBravemansgame from the Ditcheat stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls. He could make his seasonal reappearance in this Saturday's bet365 Charlie Hall Chase – a race he won 12 months ago – at Wetherby before heading to Haydock. He is a 7-2 chance with Betfair for the first Grade One chase of the season at Haydock. Nicky Henderson's Shiskin is also entered. He excelled when stepping up to three miles for the first time, winning the Grade One Aintree Bowl Chase at the Randox Grand National Festival back in April. He is 6-1 to score again on Merseyside.

Also among the entries is last season's Grand National winner Corach Rambler, who made his return to action at Kelso over the weekend. He is one of two entries from the Lucinda Russell stable with Aintree Grade One winner Ahoy Senor also engaged. The eight-year-old could also run in this Saturday's Charlie Hall Chase. While another Grand National-winning trainer, Merseyside-born Cheshire-based Donald McCain, has Minella Drama as a possible runner following his second-placed finish in Sunday's Old Roan Chase at Aintree.

There are five Irish-trained entries including 2021 Betfair Chase and 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard, from the Henry de Bromhead stable, and Gordon Elliott's triple Grade One winner Gerri Colombe.

Betfair odds: 3-1 Protektorat;7-2 Bravemansgame; 5-1 Gerri Colombe; 6-1 Shishkin; 10-1 L’homme Presse; 14-1 Ahoy Senor, Conflated; 16-1 Royale Pagaille; 20-1 Minella Indo, Corach Rambler, Midnight River; 25-1 Minella Drama, A Plus Tard; Galia Des Liteaux; 50-1 Envoi Allen.

Entries for the Betfair Chase (Grade One) 3m1f125y, Haydock Park Racecourse, Saturday, November 25 2023

(horse, age, weight, owner, trainer)

Ahoy Senor (IRE) 8-11-10 Wymer & Russell Lucinda Russell
A Plus Tard (FR) 9-11-10 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead (Ireland)
Bravemansgame (FR) 8-11-10 Bryan Drew Paul Nicholls
Conflated (IRE) 9-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland
Corach Rambler (IRE) 9-11-10 The Ramblers Lucinda Russell
Envoi Allen (FR) 9-11-10 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Gerri Colombe (FR) 7-11-10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland
L'homme Presse (FR) 8-11-10 DFA Racing (Pink & Edwards) Venetia Williams
Midnight River 8-11-10 Mr Frank McAleavy Dan Skelton
Minella Drama (IRE) 8-11-10 Green Day Racing Donald McCain
Minella Indo (IRE) 10-11-10 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead Ireland
Protektorat (FR) 8-11-10 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L Hales Dan Skelton
Royale Pagaille (FR) 9-11-10 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams
Shishkin (IRE) 9-11-10 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson
Galia des Liteaux (FR) 7-11-3 Mr Michael Ariss Dan Skelton