Last Ran: 22nd November 2008

Haydock will be awash with Kauto Star fans on Saturday as the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero attempts to win the 2008 Betfair Chase for the third year running. This year sees a small field and as the odds suggest he is expected to romp home. Sam Thomas gets the ride this time round after Ruby Walsh had surgery to remove his spleen after a fall earlier in the month but this isn't worrying punters as the money continues to come for this equine superstar.

Exotic Dancer and Kauto Star are old rivals with Exotic Dancer being runner up here last year and then third when Kauto won the Stan James King George VI Chase last December. His first run of the season came in October in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree coming runner up to Knowhere. Not quite at his best there but hopefully he will be better for that run and the rivalry will continue. Certainly as the odds suggest he is Kautos biggest threat.

Cloudy Lane has a great record at Haydock having won here four times in his career, last seen in the Old Roan Chase alongside Exotic Dancer but he just never got in the mix to come ninth.

The double figure odds for the rest of the field are probably an accuate reflection of their chances, unless of course something random occurs!