A Plus Tard stars among six entries for the Betfair Chase

A Plus Tard will face a maximum of five rivals when he bids to retain his Betfair Chase crown at Haydock Park on November 19.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained star went from Merseyside to Leopardstown last year and then to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup, where he triumphed in brilliant style in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.

Owned by Cheveley Park Stud, A Plus Tard finished 22 lengths ahead of Venetia Williams’ Royale Pagaille in the Haydock feature 12 months ago and the pair could meet again. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Bristol De Mai was pulled up on that occasion, but is a three-time winner of the race and is entered once again.

Elodrado Allen has proven himself at three miles having found only Bravemansgame too good in the Charlie Hall Chase at the weekend and is in line to run for Joe Tizzard, with Frodon representing Paul Nicholls.

But the biggest threat to A Plus Tard could come from the Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat, who was third in the blue riband at Cheltenham. The sponsors make A Plus Tard the 1-2 favourite, with Protektorat at 11-4.

Dan Skelton confirmed at the weekend that Protektorat was on course to run. “He’s going to go to the Betfair. I’ve been very happy with him and he’s done everything nicely,” said Skelton.

“I’ve tightened up his pallet, so he’s had pallet surgery, a slight cauterization, just because he hasn’t had it done for two years.

“He might have jumped two out upsides in the Gold Cup but there’s a big difference between two out and the line at Cheltenham.

“A Plus Tard is the reigning Gold Cup winner, he won this race (Betfair Chase) last year – he’s going to be phenomenally difficult to beat, but you don’t have a horse as good as Protektorat and shirk the issue, you’ve got to get stuck in.

“It is 100 per cent the right race for him to run in and the more rain the better.”

Betfair’s Barry Orr said: “It’s a race with a rich tradition of champions retaining their crown. Bristol De Mai, Cue Card and the mighty Kauto Star have all done it.

“A Plus Tard is odds-on to add his name to that illustrious list, but it won’t be a cakewalk for the Gold Cup winner with Protektorat sure to keep him honest. All the ingredients are there to make this 18th edition of the race a quality renewal.”