Inaugural Order of Merit Champion Inglis Drever has been installed as 9/4 favourite with totesport to again take top honours in the 拢300,000 initiative, jointly funded by the British Horseracing Board and sixteen participating racecourses, which encourages the best horses to compete in the top races more often.
Other horses prominent in the betting include Well Chief 鈥� fourth in the Order of Merit last season 鈥� at 4/1 and the Irish-trained Kicking King and Moscow Flyer at 6/1 and 10/1 respectively. Paul Nicholls, who was responsible for Top Chaser in 2004/05 Azertyuiop, has Kauto Star at 12/1.
Following a successful first season, the 2005/06 Order of Merit will be officially launched at Aintree鈥檚 fixture on Sunday 23 October, which will see Inglis Drever鈥檚 achievements last season 鈥� he raced six times in Graded company, never finishing out of the first two 鈥搑ecognised with a presentation of a specially-commissioned oil painting to his owners Andrea and Graham Wylie.
Aintree鈥檚 raceday includes the bonusprint.com Old Roan Chase, the opening contest of the series which encompasses all 63 non-novice Grade 1, 2 and 3 races. The Order of Merit will climax at Sandown Park on 29 April with the Betfred Gold Cup.
The points structure and prize money will remain the same as in 2004/05:
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
1st 20 15 10
2nd 16 12 8
3rd 12 10 6
4th 10 8 5
5th 8 6 4
6th 6 4 3
7th 4 3 2
8th 2 2 1
Prize Money:
Overall Winner 拢200,000
Top Chaser 拢50,000
Top Hurdler 拢50,000
Owner 75%
Trainer 12.5%
Stable Team 12.5%
BHB Marketing Director Chris John said: 鈥淭he Order of Merit proved to be a real success in its inaugural season and found an ideal winner in Inglis Drever. Andrea and Graham Wylie鈥檚 horse captured the essence of the Order of Merit with his consistency, fortitude and ability at the top level.
鈥淚 believe that the series will go from strength to strength this year now that the concept has been widely regarded to benefit Jump Racing, and it is clear that the Order of Merit has great support among the sport鈥檚 leading trainers.鈥�
totesport鈥檚 Damian Walker said: 鈥淚nglis Drever is a worthy favourite to retain the Order of Merit as Howard Johnson has again mapped out a suitable campaign for him.
鈥淲ell Chief looks sure to pick up plenty of points in the two-mile chase division and could be the biggest threat to Inglis Drever.鈥�
LATEST BETTING FROM totesport:
TO WIN BHB ORDER OF MERIT
2005/2006 NATIONAL HUNT SEASON
9/4 INGLIS DREVER
4 WELL CHIEF
6 KICKING KING
10 MOSCOW FLYER
12 HARCHIBALD
12 KAUTO STAR
20 ASHLEY BROOK
20 BARACOUDA
20 BEST MATE
20 NO REFUGE
EACH WAY 1/5 ODDS A PLACE 1-2-3. OTHERS ON REQUEST
