Capodonno set for a crack at the Betfair Chase at Haydock

Capodanno will deputise for Corbetts Cross and carry the green and gold silks of JP McManus in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday and in the process becomes a first runner in the race for Carlow powerhouse trainer Willie Mullins.

Winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, the Emmet Mullins-trained Corbetts Cross met with an unsatisfactory scope at the weekend and has been ruled out of the race in Merseyside this weekend.

Instead it will be Capodanno who travels from Ireland to Haydock for the Grade One showpiece, having been added as a supplementary entry to the field on Monday. Fourth in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, he won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, although he finished down the field in the Grand National.

“Willie is happy with him and our other horse has had a bad scope and is not running, so we decided we’d let him take his chance,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.

“Corbetts Cross had a bad scope on Saturday morning and he isn’t fit to travel, it just all came too quick.

“Everybody was very happy with Capodanno and the John Durkan looks like it’s going to be a very hot race on Sunday so he’ll take his chance at Haydock on Saturday instead.” 

Elsewhere in the field, Hewick’s connections will be less concerned than most if the rain stays away and last year’s Shark Hanlon-trained King George hero will be race-fit after following up October’s Punchestown third with a close second to Envoi Allen in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal when last seen.

Betfair Chase odds (via Horse Racing Betting) 

Grey Dawning 7/4 

Ahoy Senor 9/2 

Royale Pagaille 5/1 

Hewick 13/2 

Capodanno 7/1 

Bravemansgame 9/1 

The Real Whacker 11/1 

Gold Tweet 12/1 

Limerick Lace 16/1 

Minella Drama 40/1