A TRIO of Cheltenham Gold Cup winners could line up for Haydock Park's major race of the jump racing season.

Kicking King, War Of Attrition and Kauto Star won the sport's 'Blue Riband' between 2005 and 2007 - and now they are on target for the Grade 1 £225,000 Betfair Chase on Saturday, November 22.

Haydock Park's jumping season begins today, but it will step up several gears on the opening day of the Northwest Racing Masters which is staged jointly with Aintree Racecourse over the weekend of November 22 and 23.

A crowd of well over 10,000 is once again expected for Betfair Chase day when more than £500,000 in prize-money is on offer - and tickets are already selling well.

Eighteen initial entries have been made for the feature three-mile steeplechase which will be televised live by BBC TV.

The most local is three-times Haydock winner Cloudy Lane from the Cheshire stables of Donald McCain.

The Betfair Chase is the opening leg of the £1 million Betfair Challenge which challenges a horse to finish in the first three in the Haydock race, then to come first or second in any race at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival, and finally to go on to win the John Smith's Grand National in April.

The first race time on Saturday, November 22, is currently scheduled for 12.30pm.

  • Admission: Newton Enclosure £10, Tattersalls £20, County Enclosure £34, and Premier Enclosure £45. Accompanied children aged under 16 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price.