Silviniaco tops 18 Betfair possibles Silviniaco Conti heads a stellar list of 18 entries for the £200,000 Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 21. The nine-year-old captured the three-mile showpiece in 2012 and 2014 and warmed up for this year's race with a good second over hurdles at Kempton on Monday. His trainer Paul Nicholls is gunning for a seventh victory in the race, having also won it four times with Kauto Star, and has also put in Saphir Du Rheu and Southfield Theatre. Colin Tizzard's Cue Card, who split the latest Nicholls run with a clear-cut success in 2013, could bid to regain the prize following a decisive victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday. The nine-year-old stayed on well to repel the David Pipe-trained pair of Dynaste and Ballynagour, who could both re-oppose later this month. Menorah, who was pulled up in that race, could try to go one better than 12 months ago in the Betfair. His trainer Philip Hobbs said: "Menorah is fine after his run in the Charlie Hall. "The ground was just too soft for him and when he belted the last over on the far side, that was the end of it. "He ran very well in the Betfair Chase last year and we will look at the race again, but if the ground is too soft I would not think he will run." Gordon Elliott's Don Cossack, the highest-rated chaser in training, and winner of Saturday's JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal, is one of four Irish-trained entries. The others are Don Cossack's stablemate Clarcam and Noel Meade's pair of Road To Riches and Wounded Warrior. Among other possibles are Mark Bradstock's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree, David Pipe's Kings Palace, Jonjo O'Neill's Holywell and the Rebecca Curtis-trained pair of Irish Cavalier and O'Faolains Boy. The Betfair Chase is the first leg of the Jockey Club's new £1million Chase Triple Crown, which also incorporates the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: "What a cracker the Betfair Chase is shaping up to be and at 7-4 Silviniaco Conti heads the market as he attempts to make it three victories in the Betfair Chase. But should Don Cossack take his chance, he would go off favourite. "Plans can change very quickly in this game so it is very encouraging to see that connections of Coneygree have also entered their charge." There is a £10,000 supplementary entry stage on November 16.
