Deutsch hopeful ahead of Royale Betfair treble bid

IG-RACE jockey Charlie Deutsch says it would be ‘incredible’ if Royale Pagaille can land a unique hat-trick of victories in this Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.

- By CHRIS WRIGHT Racing Reporter

The Venetia Williams-trained 11-year-old was among the seven entries for Saturday's Grade One feature of the seven-race card at the Merseyside track as he bids for three successive victories in the £200,000 extended 3m1f contest.

Since its inception in 2005 the Betfair Chase has been won three times by both Bristol De Mai and Cue Card, while the great Kauto Star has a record four victories in the Haydock contest.

However none of those three won it in three successive seasons.

But the Rich Ricci-owned, veteran Royale Pagaille has the chance this weekend to do just that and is a best-priced 6-1 with William Hill for the hat-trick behind Boylesports’ 11-8 favourite Grey Dawning, who was runner-up 12 months ago.

Paul Nicholls’ Kauto Star is the last horse to win the race as an 11-year-old when landing his record-breaking fourth triumph in 2011, but Haydock specialist Royale Pagaille’s jockey Deutsch believes that despite his advancing years his partner has a good chance of victory.

Deutsch, who has partnered Royale Pagaille to both his Betfair Chase wins in 2023 and last year, said: “I’m really looking forward to it. We know he can do it, which is always nice going into a race like this, as it sounds like there will be a few younger horses taking us on.