Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Betfair Chase betting tips for the 3m 1f feature at Haydock on Saturday, 24 November. Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River is the highest rated in the Grade 1 contest, so looks value to land the spoils under regular pilot Richard Johnson. Might Bite, who finished runner-up to him in chasing’s blue riband contest, heads the betting and looks the obvious danger. Trainer Paul Nicholls has a tremendous record in the race, so his representative Clan Des Obeaux appeals each-way in a terrific renewal. Read our in-depth 2018 Betfair Chase betting tips preview for more details on these horses’ chances on a cracking card at the Merseyside venue.Native River the Betfair Chase bet Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River looks decent value to once again get the better of Might Bite and land the spoils in a mouthwatering renewal of the 3m 1f Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday (15:00). This Colin Tizzard trained eight year-old has won eight of his 13 starts over the larger obstacles and done nothing but progress.
The gelding enjoyed a terrific 2016-17 season when plundering three valuable prizes. After a battling half-a-length success in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, Native River put up a tremendous performance under top weight of 11st 12lb when following up in the 20-runner Welsh Grand National at Chepstow where he gamely held on to beat Raz De Maree, who won the following season’s renewal, by 1 3/4 lengths.
Native River them made all and ran on strongly to land the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury by 3 1/4 lengths, before rounding off the campaign with a cracking third of 13 to Sizing John in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when beaten just 2 3/4 lengths and losing second close home.
The son of Indian River had just two outings last season, winning both. After successfully defending his Denman Chase Crown when slamming Cloudy Dream by 12 lengths, Native River enjoyed his finest hour when beating Might Bite by 4 1/2 lengths in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
After racing at the head off affairs and being pressed throughout by the runner-up, Native River got narrowly headed two from home. However, he then responded well for pressure to take up the running again and lead at the last. A ding dong tussle then ensued until he forged two lengths clear 100 yards from home, and then drew further away despite drifting right to win with real authority.
That most taking display earned the bold jumping Native River an official rating of 176. That is the highest in this line-up and puts him 4lb clear of his nearest rival Might Bite. It makes him the one to beat, while his proven stamina and ability to handle underfoot conditions are both pluses.
So, with Johnson, who has a 71 per cent strike rate on him, once again in the saddle and the stable in fine form, there is nothing not to like about Native River’s chances in this. Thus he rates the main selection in our 2018 Betfair Chase betting tips.Market leader Might Bite the obvious dangerChampion trainer Nicky Henderson has surprisingly not saddled a winner of the race since it was first run in 2005. His sole representative in this year’s renewal in a bid to capture that elusive first success is the aforementioned Might Bite, the current red-hot favourite.
This nine-year-old has a terrific strike rate of 64 per cent over fences having won seven of his 11 starts over the larger obstacles. Those successes include a game win in the RSA Chase at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival and a battling length success over Double Shuffle in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton 11 months ago.
Might Bite then lost little in defeat when runner-up to Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when sent off the 4/1 favourite. Many thought that he was outstayed by the winner that day on ground which arguably ended up more testing that ideal.
However, he travelled strongly throughout and had every chance to go past Native River, but just couldn’t muster any extra to do so. Might Bite went on to land the Grade 1 Betway Bowl at Aintree in terrific style when running on strongly to easily beat Bristol De Mai by seven lengths.
There was nothing not to like about the way in which he overcame a mistake four from home to get the job done in style, and Might Bite looks the type who should have even more to offer this season. Henderson also reports him to be in fine form ahead of this.
This flat, galloping track should also play to his strengths. He does, however, have work to do to turn around the Gold Cup form with Native River. So, at the odds on offer, Might Bite looks plenty short enough in the betting in a race which seems sure to turn into a real stamina test. For that reason alone, our 2018 Betfair Chase betting tips say take him on!Clan Des Obeaux an each-way player for NichollsDitcheat-based handler Paul Nicholls has won the prestigious prize a record six times courtesy of Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011), and Silviniaco Conti (2012 and 2014). He saddles Clan Des Obeaux, a lightly raced six-year-old who is relatively unexposed as a chaser and appeals as the type who we haven’t seen the best of yet.
This son of Kapgarde has won three of his 10 starts over fences. The last of those successes came on this card 12 months ago when he drew readily clear to impressively beat Vintage Clouds by seven lengths in the 2m 5f graduation chase.
Clan Des Obeaux then ran very well in defeat under top weight when a 2 3/4 lengths runner-up to Guitar Pete in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham, before going on to round off the campaign with a fair third to Might Bite at Aintree.
Although beaten just under 11 lengths in the latter, Clan Des Obeaux travelled well for much of the race and stuck to the task well. That was his first try over the 3m 1f trip of this and it was an effort which suggested he may well have more to offer over it given his young age.
Clan Des Obeaux is also ideally suited by a strong end-to-end gallop and that looks assured, as Might Bite and Native River both love to force the issue. So, given his connections, it would be folly to underestimate his chances. It would be no surprise to see Clan Des Obeaux outrun his odds and make the frame at least. That’s why he features as the each-way punt in our 2018 Betfair Chase betting tips.Your Next Bet
