The Betfair Chase at Haydock has become established as the first big three mile chase of the GB National Hunt Season. Although now discontinued, the offer of a million pound bonus by the sponsors in the early years to any horse winning this race, the King George and the Cheltenham Gold Cup played a major part in attracting the top staying chasers to compete. Kauto Star collected that bonus in the 2005-6 season and has won 4 of the 7 renewals of this race.
The 2011 Gold Cup winner, Long Run, started favourite in the 2012 race but could not get past the Paul Nicholls trained Silviniaco Conti who may now head straight to the 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 2012 Gold Cup runner up The Giant Bolster finished 3rd.
Betfair Chase Result 2012
| Pos | Dist | Horse | Trainer | Age | Weight | Jockey | SP |
| 1st | Silviniaco Conti (FR) | P F Nicholls | 6 | 11-7 | R Walsh | 7-4 | |
| Led, not fluent last, soon ridden, kept on well | |||||||
| 2nd | 2½ | Long Run (FR) | N J Henderson | 7 | 11-7 | Mr S Waley-Cohen | 11-8F |
| Held up in touch, and keen, chased winner from 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and held flat | |||||||
| 3rd | 4½ | The Giant Bolster | D G Bridgwater | 7 | 11-7 | T Scudamore | 15-2 |
| Tracked leaders, ridden and no extra last | |||||||
| 4th | s.h | Weird Al (IRE) | D McCain Jnr | 9 | 11-7 | J M Maguire | 11-2 |
| in rear, outpaced 5 out, headwy before 3 out, kept on and no impression | |||||||
| 5th | 18 | Cannington Brook (IRE) | C L Tizzard | 8 | 11-7 | J Tizzard | 25-1 |
| Close up early, in touch, weakened before 3 out opened 20/1 |
Betfair Chase Winners 2004-2011
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Weight | OR | SP |
| 2011 | Kauto Star (FR) | Walsh, R | Nicholls, P F | 11 | 11-7 | 170 | 6-1 |
| 2010 | Imperial Commander (IRE) | Brennan, P J | Twiston-Davies, N A | 9 | 11-7 | 185 | 10-11 |
| 2009 | Kauto Star (FR) | Walsh, R | Nicholls, P F | 9 | 11-7 | 186 | 4-1 |
| 2008 | Snoopy Loopy (IRE) | Durack, S E | Bowen, P | 10 | 11-7 | 157 | 33-1 |
| 2007 | Kauto Star (FR) | Thomas, S | Nicholls, P F | 7 | 11-7 | 179 | 4-5 |
| 2006 | Kauto Star (FR) | Walsh, R | Nicholls, P F | 6 | 11-8 | 173 | 11-10 |
| 2005 | Kingscliff (IRE) | Walford, R | Alner, R H | 8 | 11-8 | 162 | 8-1 |
