National Hunt boost from Betfair

Betfair will offer another £1m (€1.46m) bonus for the 2007-8 National Hunt Season - and are considering bringing Aintree’s Betfair Bowl into the mix.

The leading betting exchange put up the huge incentive this year to connections of any horse who could land the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the King George VI or Lexus Chase over Christmas, and the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

That feat was completed by crack chaser Kauto Star, whose owner Clive Smith received his cheque at Paul Nicholls’ yard on Thursday.

The seven-year-old will again be up for the bonus next season – although the exact format of the series has yet to be decided.

It will definitely start at Haydock on November 24 – with a similar schedule to this year highly likely.