The top three milers from the UK will meet at Haydock Park on Saturday for the 2010 Betfair Chase. It will be the first Grade 1 Chase horse racing event of the season and was added to the National Hunt calendar in 2005. Surprisingly, there have only been three different winners. The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star won it in 2006, 2007 and 2009. He would have won it in 2008 as well if not for stumbling after the last fence. Leading the antepost odds this year is Imperial Commander, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he will run into some familiar faces.

Imperial Commander leads the odds for the Betfair Chase out of winter break. The horse had a big victory over Denman and Kauto Star at the Gold Cup in the 2010 Cheltenham Festival. He came in second to Kauto Star in last year’s Betfair Chase. He can be unpredictable though, having unseated Paddy Brennan during the totesport Bowl at the 2010 Aintree Festival. There are better options for this horse race.

What A Friend comes in second in the antepost odds. The young entry from Paul Nicholls could very well beat Imperial Commander. He did it at Aintree earlier this year by winning the totesport Bowl. He can win at Grade 1 as well, as evidenced by the 2009 Lexus Chase. He is experienced at this distance and has placed in six of seven chases. What A Friend could be your best friend as the value bet for the Betfair Chase.

Nacarat is third in the odds and already won this season in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase last month. He is a decent value bet after two other places this year. He hasn’t won a Grade 1 chase yet but has finished third twice. Those were the 2009 Melling Chase and the 2010 totesport Bowl. He is the only of the top three horses with each-way value.

The long shot at the Betfair Chase is Silver By Nature. Imperial Commander, What A Friend or Nacarat will probably be the race winner, but Silver By Nature is a solid bet to place. He has run well in some big handicaps, including a win at the Blue Square Gold Cup in 2010. No matter what, the best bet is to go each-way on Nacarat.

Betfair Chase Winner Odds (provided by Ladbrokes)

Imperial Commander: 4/5

What A Friend: 7/2

Nacarat: 7/1

Planet of Sound: 9/1

Albertas Run: 12/1

Massinis Maguire: 16/1

Silver By Nature: 16/1

Tidal Bay: 25/1

Chief Dan George: 40/1

Atouchbetweenacara: 100/1