Betfair Chase News: Long Run heads field of six

Long Run is likely to start as favourite on Saturday

Long Run will face five rivals as he aims to make a winning return to action in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday...

Nicky Henderson's French recruit had to chase home the resurgent Kauto Star at Haydock and Kempton last year, and, while he won the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury, the seven-year-old could finish only third defending his Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham

His main rival on Saturday looks to be the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti, an impressive winner of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby recently.

The Giant Bolster ran a screamer to beat Long Run to the runner-up spot in the Gold Cup and sets out this season to prove that effort was no fluke for the David Bridgwater team.

Weird Al is an interesting contender for the Donald McCain yard. The nine-year-old is seemingly at his best when fresh, as he showed when victorious in last year's Charlie Hall.

Wayward Prince finished second in this season's Charlie Hall on his first start since being trained by his owner Hilary Parrott and now returns to Grade 1 level.

The field is completed by the Colin Tizzard-trained outsider Cannington Brook.

The injured Imperial Commander, Midnight Chase and Tidal Bay were withdrawn at the final declaration stage.

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