Charlie Hall Preview and Stratford Selection

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I preview Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Plus, you can ready my thoughts on the best of Thursday’s action at Stratford and Thurles.

I know jumps fans won’t like it, but I would content if the Breeders’ Cup was the only racing on offer this Saturday. Mind you I could just as easily say I wish the Breeders Cup wasn’t on as there’s so much high class jumps action at Wetherby and Ascot.

I’m aware that I’m going to be spreading myself thin this weekend and should really concentrate on either the Breeders Cup action or the jumps action this side of the pond. However, where’s the fun in that. Just enjoy the top class sport on offer and even better you can watch it all live on ITV4.

I will be having plenty of bets this weekend albeit I won’t be going over the top stakes wise. After all It’s all about fun and betting responsibly these days and quite rightly so.

Looking Ahead To The Weekend – Part 2

On a day like Saturday when you have ten races on ITV Racing alone. You must pick your battles with the bookies wisely and there a few races I won’t be getting involved in that’s for sure.

Wetherby: Charlie Hall Chase

The feature race on these shores is the Grade 2 Bet365 sponsored Charlie Hall Chase (3:00). The Charlie Hall Chase is the most valuable race run at Wetherby during the season. Sadly, just eight were left in the race at Monday’s final confirmation stage and the race is likely to cut up even further.

Looking at the race trends which in truth are not very significant. The last 15 winners of the race shared the following traits:

Age: 6yo to 9yo

Offical Rating 151+

Highest Class Run: Grade 1.

Twelve months ago, we were eagerly awaiting the clash between Ahoy Senor & Bravemansgame. Sadly, it didn’t turn out to be the race we hoped for as only one of then gave their running. Ahoy Senor was sent off the 11/10 favourite, but he finished a well beaten last of five to Bravemansgame. 

The pair could clash again on Saturday. This time the sponsors have Bravemansgame the 6/5 ante post favourite with Ahoy Senor at 7/2.

On the day I don’t there’s much between the pair on ability. But whilst Bravemansgame is a good jumper of fence, Ahoy Senor has a terrible technique.

Bravemansgame won first time up 12 months ago and Ahoy Senor seems better with a run under his belt. So those odds seem fair to me indeed you could argue that he should be odds on.

Of the rest.

Irish Challenger Gentlemansgame shaped well on his return from a nine month lay off when a 1½ length 2nd of 6 to Easy Game in the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park in September. Given that was just his second start over fences it’s not to think that the 7-year-old has the scope to do even better over the larger obstacles. If ‘Mouse’ Morris to brings him over, he would likely give the favourite most to do.

Dashel Drasher is high class chaser/hurdler who came within ¾ length of winning the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. The likeable 10-year-old also has entry in the bet365 Hurdle earlier on the card. He’s 18/1 for the Charlie Hall with bet365 but 11/4 for the hurdle race which seems his mostly likely destination. By the way Ahoy Senor also has entry in that hurdle race although I expect him to come here. Midnight River improved for the step up to 3m 1f when winning a valuable handicap at Aintree in April. He’s been aimed at next month’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, and you would think trainer Dan Skelton will have him primed for that day and not Saturday.

Charlie Hall Verdict:

Looking at the above trends you can rule out Aye Right & Dashel Drasher on age grounds and Sail Away on Official Ratings.  Bravemansgame’s stablemate Pic D'Orhy will wait for a race at Ascot. That leaves just Bravemansgame, Ahoy Senor, Gentlemansgame and Midnight River as win contenders.  I suspect the latter has another day in mind. That leaves the unexposed Gentlemansgame. You can see why it’s the favourites race to lose.

Down Royal: Another Meeting Lost To Waterlogging

I was going to preview Saturday’s Down Royal card here. However, it was announced yesterday that the meeting was another victim of the wet weather.

The track is waterlogged but Horse Racing Ireland have acted quickly and the two day meeting, including the Group 1 Champion Chase, has been moved to next Friday & Saturday.

The quick decision instead of waiting until the inevitable abandonment later in the week is good news for both trainers and punters and is to be welcomed.

Let’s hope the racing authorities this side of the Irish Sea have taken note.

Thursday Preview:

It’s a case of the calm before the weekend storm begin on Friday. It’s a low key day of sport. Of the forty potential races not, one is worth more than £7,965 to the winner.

Despite the modest look to today’s racing there are a couple of interesting handicaps at Stratford and Thurles.

Stratford

1:10 – Shakem Up'Arry is 6lb higher than when winning on seasonal return at Exeter last December and is 1lb higher than when a 5 ¼ length 3^rd of 23 in the Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s had a wind operation since finishing 4^th of 15 in a valuable handicap at Aintree in April. A solid jumper of a fence he must be respected even off top weight of 12-0 given this represents a drop in class.  

Not surprisingly Shakem Up'Arry is a short-priced favourite, but he faces a couple of last time out winners over jumps who are improvers over fences.

Nickle Back posted a career best on his seasonal return when beating five rivals on his chase debut at Warwick 28 days ago. Has been raised 10lb for that success but given the ease of his victory it’s hard to see it stopping him if in the same form here. Different ground to last time but he did win on soft ground over hurdles.

Hystery Bere a three time winner over hurdles also made a winning debut over fences at Warwick (2m) in May. He made all that day and jumped soundly through the race. He already looks a better chaser than hurdler. Unexposed over fences and is capable of more improvement he will also be all the better for a recent spin on the flat.

Thurles

3:15 – Atimetodream got off the mark on just her second start in handicap hurdle company when comfortable seeing of 13 rivals at Listowel (soft) 40 days ago. Up 9lb for her latest win but is capable of more improvement.

Costanuci bids for the hat trick after handicap hurdle wins at Listowel and Clonmel 35 days ago. Up 9lb in a better race and need to improve again but its not out of the question she will given her present vein of form.

Dragon’s Pass – 2 wins from 26 runs over hurdles hold no secrets from the handicapper. But she goes well on testing ground and was only a neck 2^nd of 19 at Sligo last time. A 3lb rise makes life tougher and she’s vulnerable to any better treated rivals but she could get into the places.

Mitiva a bumper winner the 5-year-old is still awaiting her first win over hurdles after five starts. But she was back to form on her return from 125-day layoff when a 10 ½ length 4^th of 14 at Fairyhouse (2m) last month. Steps up 4 ½ f in distance here but should stay and remains capable of better.

Faux Fur got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles when winning a mares maiden hurdle at Tramore. Open to further progress over hurdles on handicap debut but Jack Kennedy deserts her for stablemate Sea Aster. The latter was too keen in the first time blinkers when pulling up at Punchestown last time. The cheekpieces return and the mare is better judged on her 1 ½ length 2^nd of 11 to Costanuci two starts back. Now 12lb better off with that mare and must be considered.

Thursday Selection:

It was tough choosing between Nickle Back and Hystery Bere in the 1:10 at Stratford. The first named strikes me as the most likely winner of the pair but at the prices Hystery Bere is the value play.

Stratford

1:10 – Hystery Bere – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John