The Real Whacker ready for Haydock's Betfair Chase
The Real Whacker at Cheltenham
Patrick Neville’s stable star The Real Whacker is set to be one of nine challengers in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
After failing to win a race in the 2023/24 season, the eight-year-old made an inauspicious start to this campaign unseating Sam Twiston-Davies on his return to action in the Kerry National at Listowel in September.
However, he bounced back in early November in the hands of Brian Hughes winning Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase and trainer Neville is hoping for more winning circle action.
“The plan is to run and we’re going there all guns blazing,” said the Wensleydale-based trainer.
“He’s in great form and came out of the Charlie Hall well, so we said we’d go again.
“Hopefully the ground is OK and won’t go too heavy. I think they’re giving heavy rain there on Saturday, but you never know, the weather forecasters have got it wrong a few times before.
“It’s a good race, but the horse is back to himself and that’s the main thing.”
Ventia Williams’ Royale Pagaille, who won the race last season and was second the year before, is set to line up again as will Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame, who second last term and also behind The Real Whacker in the Charlie Hall.
Sam Twiston-Davies will ride in first-time blinkers for the nine-year-old.
Shark Hanlon’s King George VI hero Hewick is also in the mix along with Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor, Dan Skelton’s Cheltenham Festival winner Grey Dawning and French runner in Gold Tweet.
The Irish challenge includes Gavin Cromwell’s Limerick Lace and Capodanno for Willie Mullins.
