L´Ami Primed For Betfair Assault

French trainer Francois Doumen today revealed that L´Ami will run in the Grade One #200,000 Betfair Chase (1.50pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday, November 18, together with a possible assault on the Betfair Million bonus.

Doumen is pleased with the form of the J P McManus-owned seven-year-old, who finished fourth to War Of Attrition in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, having filled the same position behind Kicking King in last season´s Stan James King George VI Chase.

The trainer said today: 'L´Ami is very much on target for the Betfair Chase and I would think that A P McCoy will ride him. He has definitely strengthened and improved through the summer and will hopefully run a good race.

'Mr McManus doesn´t put any pressure on me, but the Betfair Million is a good enough figure to think about. He could go to the King George, but the Lexus Chase is just as attractive so that could be on the agenda.'

L´Ami made his seasonal reappearance in an extended two and a half mile hurdle race at Auteuil on November 5, when he finished fifth, much to the delight of his handler.

Doumen reported: 'I was very happy with his run at Auteuil. I accept that the ground was not soft enough, which does not help a three-mile chaser competing against specialist hurdlers, but he ran into fifth place, running on pleasantly.'

With regard to the possible going at Haydock, he continued: 'L´Ami is a very sound horse, though I would prefer a good cut in the ground.'

Doumen revealed that he is looking to field a decent team of horses at Haydock on Saturday, November 18, with the high-class hurdler Millenium Royal an intended runner in the #100,000 Betfair Handicap Hurdle (2.20pm) over just short of three miles.

The six-year-old, second to Royal Emperor in the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in February, failed in his bid to win back-to-back renewals of the Grade One Grand Prix d´Automne at Auteuil, as he finished fifth to Zaiyad in the three-mile contest on November 5.

Doumen reported: 'I am hoping to run a few horses at Haydock. Millenium Royal will probably run in the long distance hurdle and perhaps a couple of others.

'The ground was completely to his dislike when he ran the same day as L´Ami at Auteuil. That was very probably the reason I wasn´t too happy. He finished only fifth and I was a bit disappointed. I think the ground was a big factor that day as he was not happy on it.

'Millenium Royal was a good horse at three and then had a fracture behind the knee, which took two years to repair, but he returned to win his Grade One. He really needed that run the other day and he´s a lovely horse when he gets soft ground.'

My Way De Solzen, subsequently successful in the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and second in the John Smith´s Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree´s Grand National meeting, finished runner-up to St Matthew in the Betfair Handicap Hurdle last year.

The Betfair Chase, which was won in 2005 by the Robert Alner-trained Kingscliff, is the highlight of day one of the two-day North West Masters.

The unique meeting continues at Aintree on Sunday, November 19, when the feature contest is the #100,000 totesport.com Becher Chase over three and a quarter miles of the world famous Grand National fences.

The totesport.com Becher Chase, one of the highlights of the jump season, is an established stepping stone to the world´s most famous chase, the John Smith´s Grand National, staged at Aintree in April.

Last season´s renewal of the totesport.com Becher Chase went to Garvivonnian who became the first Irish-trained winner of the race. Ned Mitchell´s charge defeated 18 opponents as he held the late challenge of Le Duc to prevail by three quarters of a length in a thrilling finish.

The totesport.com Becher Chase is the highlight of a quality six-race card at Aintree on Sunday, November 19, that also features the #60,000 totepool Grand Sefton Handicap Chase, run over two miles, five and a half furlongs of the Grand National course.

The North West Masters, inaugurated in 2005, is an innovative concept that sees the North West´s two major racetracks - Haydock Park and Aintree - join forces to stage a weekend of fantastic racing.