The days of Kauto Start lining up against Imperial Commander are long gone for now. However, we are still in for what should be a thriller with Haydock specialist, and last winner Royale Pagaille, the fast-improving Haiti Couleurs, and the Grade 1 winning Grey Dawning.
Let’s take a closer look at all five runners in the 2025 Grade 1 Betfair Chase.
Betfair Chase Runner By Runner Guide & Tip
Name: (1) Grey Dawning
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Form: /2P12-
Current odds: 11/10
Just like last season, Grey Dawning comes in here as the well-fancied favourite, but will it be a case of Deja Vu with the son of Flemensfirth?
I’ve been a fan of this stunning grey since his hurdling days, but my worries with Grey Dawning are whether he actually stays beyond 3m. With the evidence we have, you can argue that his stamina is stretched beyond 3m.
Last season, he raced with a lot of zest and looked as if it was going to be not if Grey Dawning would win, but by how far he was going to win by. However, when taking it up just before the last, he made a mistake, giving Royale Pagaille one last chance. And just like that, Grey Dawning went from looking like he was going to win with his head in his chest to being ground into submission by Royale Pagaille.
What he does have on his side is that, this time around, the ground conditions won’t be as testing as last year’s renewal. But there will always be the worry of what he will find in the final furlong, especially against proven classy stayers.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: (2) Haiti Couleurs
Jockey: Sean Bowen
Trainer: Rebecca Curtis
Form: 1311-1
Current odds: 7/2
A winner of four of his five starts over fences last season, which includes wins in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Irish Grand National, Haiti Couleurs still comes here with many doubting what he has achieved. But could this be the day when everyone stands up and takes notice of this fast-improving eight-year-old?
He comes here on the back of a winning prep run over hurdles just over two weeks ago, which will have him primed and ready to tackle his first Grade 1 assignment. There’s so much to like about Haiti Couleurs, from the way he travels, jumps, and how he gets his opposition in behind working to keep up a long way from home.
The set-up of the race should be right up his street, and if he can get into his customary rhythm on the front end, his rivals will find it hard to peg him back.
He’s lightly raced for his age and looks to have a lot more improvement in him this season, and could prove hard to beat.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: (3) Handstands
Jockey: Ben Jones
Trainer: Ben Pauling
Form: 111P-2
Current odds: 7/1
Handstands arrives here on the back of a second-place finish on his seasonal return, and it was disappointing that he couldn’t hold off the attentions of Resplendent Grey.
He is hard to weigh up in this lineup, but we already know he stays 3m, and given how he finishes his races, he does look as if he will get further. However, does he have the class to come out on top here?
It will be a challenging task for Handstands, but if he leaves his comeback run well behind him, then there is every chance that he could be the one to put the cats among the pigeons.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: (4) Royale Pagaille
Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Trainer: Venetia Williams
Form: 1P56P-
Current odds: 9/1
A stalwart of Haydock and a two-time winner of this race, including a brave performance in last year’s renewal when getting the better of Grey Dawning inside the final furlong.
You can be sure he will be primed to try to win back-to-back runnings, and even though his record in this race is faultless, he has to be taken on this season, given his age and the likely quicker underfoot conditions.
But as some will be crying enough, Royale Pagaille will be grinding away all the way to the finish. You’d be foolish to fully rule him out.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Name: (5) Stellar Story
Jockey: Sam Ewing
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Form: 1422-3
Current odds: 9/1
The only Irish raider in the lineup, and snippest of his form from last season would make him an interesting runner here, notably his second in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
He’s one who is going to be held up off the pace, and if this race somehow falls apart, it could fall into the lap of Stellar Story. This Gordon Elliott runner looks sure to outrun his odds.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Betfair Chase Verdict
Yes, it’s a small field, but it still has the makings of a classic Betfair Chase. Dan Skelton’s stable is in flying form, and this is a make-or-break race for Grey Dawning if he is to be a serious Gold Cup contender. However, he might have to settle for a supporting role to the late-blooming HAITI COULEURS.
The Rebecca Curtis-trained eight-year-old was highly progressive last season, and returned this season with a hurdle win off a mark of 145, which is 10lbs higher than he failed to win off in February. Given that there should be a lot more to come from Haiti Couleurs, this may be the first step towards the dream of running in the Gold Cup.
