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| Nicholls' Haydock domination could continue with Conti |
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Haydock's Betfair Chase has been
something of a benefit for Paul Nicholls since its inception in
2005.
The Ditcheat handler has mopped up the race six times in ten
years. That feat is of course largely down to the magnificence of one Kauto
Star, who is a four-time winner of the race.
The three-mile Grade One
took its place as one of the early season prizes of note largely down to its
status as the first leg of the Million Bonus.
It in its prime, this
was a race that really signalled the beginning of the season in earnest for the
Nicholls team and, with the announcement that the £1m Triple Crown is
back in play, the Haydock contest is already generating plenty of
interest.
Two of the early market principles have been Cheltenham Gold
Cup winner Coneygree and the Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti, twice a winner
already.
Given that the Bradstock team have signalled that their first choice is
a tilt at the Hennessey Gold Cup, the odds of 3.50 at the time
of writing with betfair and other bookmakers available on Silviniaco Conti
winning at Haydock for the third time in four years could look very generous
come post time.
His only defeat in three starts at the Liverpool venue
came at the hands of Cue Card in 2013, a race for which Nicholls may have
undercooked his runner slightly.
The following month, Silviniaco Conti
turned that form around in resounding fashion when taking the King George VI
Chase at Kempton.
Last season, he won at Haydock and Kempton with real
authority before once more failing to produce his best form at Cheltenham in
March.
For one reason or another, Silviniaco Conti is ill at ease in the
Cotswolds and that is something which Nicholls has been forced to
admit.
On flat tracks such as Haydock, Kempton and Aintree, however, he
has proved himself to be a staying chaser almost without compare over the last
two seasons.
The re-introduction of the Triple Crown bonus may
struggle to whet the appetite of Nicholls given Silviniaco Conti's career
figures of 3-F-4-7 at Prestbury Park but he already appears like a standout
contender to land a third Chase at Haydock and continue his trainer's
remarkable record in the race. |
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