The Charlie Hall Chase fixture held over two days in early November is an early staging post in the core National Hunt season, so our horse racing experts preview Wetherby races and all the action.
There is plenty going on here too. Friday’s card contains the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle and a Premier Handicap Chase. The Charlie Hall Chase, along with the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle, and a Listed Mares’ Hurdle headline the meeting on Saturday.
Although forecast conditions are unseasonably good, we could still see some useful horses lining up. Competing with events in America in the Breeders’ Cup and a card at Ascot, punters have plenty to ponder. Let’s see who our racing experts highlight.
Wetherby Races Preview – Friday, 1 November
12:45 – 2m 3.5f Novice Hurdle
Almost any price you like bar three. The market suggest this boils down to Dan Skelton’s French import Kart D’Estruval, I Play County from the Toby Lawes stable and recent Hexham winner BATTLE BORN LAD.
Mark Walford’s runner has a fitness edge over his other two main market rivals and beat dual bumper scorer Wendigo by a length. The front two pulled miles clear of the third. Battle Born Lad might just be able to give weight all-round.
Kart D’Estruval is odds-on and his form across the Channel isn’t too shabby, but his win on heavy ground may not translate to victory on a much sounder surface here.
1:15 – 3m Novice Chase
That would seemingly mean a strong case for the mare, but she jumped poorly at Worcester on her bow in this sphere. Instead, CADELL is a dual Point-to-Point winner who could end up taking much higher rank over fences for Lucinda Russell.
Owned by Ronnie Bartlett, the six-year-old only won once over hurdles and it was first time out. The yard had a Wetherby races chasing debutant winner at the last meeting. Cadell ran second to subsequent Grade 2 winner Kerryhill and shaped nicely at Perth on his own chasing bow over too sharp a trip last time.
Farnoge looks pretty versatile as regards going for Paul Nicholls, meanwhile, and he beat the Persian War heroine Flying Fortune first time out over hurdles at Newton Abbot last autumn. Given his Pointing background, he could improve for fences too.
1:50 – 2m 3.5f Handicap Hurdle
The race-fit LUCKIE SEVEN notched back-to-back wins at Perth and an opening mark of 115 looks fair. He will appreciate going back up in trip on handicap debut for Nicky Richards.
Main market rivals largely lack a recent run, but Welsh Charger could go well for the in-form Alastair Ralph. He is 4-8 over hurdles and in much calmer waters than when ninth in a Kempton Class 2 over 2m 5f last time.
Kaituna River is feasibly handicapped on a sound surface and an opening mark of 114. Alex Hales’ charge was sixth to Ginny’s Destiny on his Rules bow with Lookaway (rated 137) splitting the pair in third.
Micky Hammond runs two, but Singapore Trip and Foster’sisland are both definitely exposed. Don’t discount narrow Sedgefield second Isle Of Sark for wily Irish trainer Shark Hanlon and son Paddy, who takes 7lb off with his claim.
2:25 – Listed 2m Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle
Flat convert Liam Swagger heads the market, but now meets both Torrent and Model Approach off worse terms. James Owen’s charge is certainly open to further progress from his Market Rasen success.
The latter, trained by Adrian Keatley, wasn’t ever really put in the race, but has won twice since. There perhaps shouldn’t be such a big difference in price between Model Approach and Liam Swagger.
Skelton has won two of the last four editions of this event at Wetherby races, so Denzil is worth a closer look. He didn’t beat much when making all around Stratford, but jumping markedly right as he did then in this better race is a slight concern.
Rebecca Menzies hasn’t had Irish import Inspire Hope long, so the filly is perhaps best watched here for all she has hurdles experience when in the care of Joseph O’Brien.
3:00 – 2m 3.5f Premier Handicap Chase
This is good starting point after a long break due to a fall in the Coral Gold Cup. The yard also runs Greatwood Gold Cup hero Heltenham here after landing his reappearance at Wetherby races last term.
Off a 6lb higher mark than when just holding on for his last win, however, it’s easy to see why stable jockey Harry Skelton is on Midnight River and not Heltenham.
Galop De Chasse has an attractive weight, but an even longer racecourse absence than the selection to overcome for Venetia Williams. Prairie Wolf is 7lb higher than when last successful, while Genois looks more suited to the Cross Country route than standard fences.
3:35 – 2m 5.5f Handicap Hurdle
Against a bunch of largely out of form rivals, Skelton may have found the perfect race for QUEENS VENTURE to complete her hat-trick. This four-year-old filly has won around Market Rasen and Southwell is only 2lb wrong under a 7lb penalty.
Knacker Trapper will like the good ground at Wetherby races and went really close at Sedgefield on reappearance. Nudged up just 1lb by the assessor, Andrew Cook’s charge again has 3lb claimer Joe Williamson aboard.
The others make little to no appeal. Sauce Of Life has been so difficult for Richards to train, while Bitsnbuckles has just one win for Murphy.
Wetherby Races Preview – Saturday, 2 November – Charlie Hall Chase Day
12:40 – 2m Novice Hurdle
It has been profitable to follow Susan Corbett hurdlers this term, so SAMWISE looks a bit of value after getting up at Kelso last time. The runner-up goes for a Grade 3 at Down Royal on Friday and previously chased home Dodger Long.
That one landed a Chepstow handicap next time, then split Givemefive and Bottler’secret when runner-up at Cheltenham last weekend. The other penalised runner Roadlesstravelled commands respect, but that Market Rasen form hasn’t really been tested.
Down Royal bumper winner Marlacoo could take a step forward from his hurdles debut third at Warwick. Fellow four-year-old Grandad’s Cap is an interesting recruit from the Irish Pointing field for Laura Morgan.
1:15 – 2m 3.5f Handicap Chase
TEDLEY is 5lb higher for his successful bow over fences at Uttoxeter, but Nigel Twiston-Davies books Jamie Brace. He takes 7lb off with his claim, which negates that rise in the weights here. Most others in the field lack a recent run.
Of those returning to action, William Cody has been largely consistent. His course and distance second to one now rated 135 in this event at Wetherby races 12 months ago doesn’t look too shabby.
King’s Threshold should come on for this and may find it a little on the sharp side. Choosethenews wants softer ground, but Fusain will like conditions. There is little to recommend JP McManus duo Arthur’s Quay and Imperial Bede though.
1:50 – Listed 2m Mares’ Hurdle
Skelton shuffles his pack, but all the evidence points to Take No Chances wanting much further than this. She ran a respectable third in the Chepstow Silver Trophy on reappearance, but the Haydock Stayers Handicap Hurdle looks a more suitable race.
Lightly-raced James Owen mare Sweet Fantasy has more scope for further progress. The runner-up from her Catterick success when last in action over hurdles went on to land her next two starts.
Gordon Elliott dropping Royal Eagle back 7f in distance doesn’t make a lot of sense, meanwhile. This event really is entirely at the mercy of Luccia in her bid to go one better than 12 months ago.
2:22 – 3m Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle
Judged on her fine Aintree efforts, Kateira is well worth a crack at this level and over the longer trip. Chasing hasn’t worked out for Sandor Clegane, so the Irish raider is of interest now sent back over hurdles.
If turning up in the same shape as his 2023 Albert Bartlett third, then Paul Nolan’s charge will be a big threat. Thunder Rock and Twig fit the pipe-opener for future steeplechasing assignments brief.
Jeremy Scott veteran Dashel Drasher is one who could mix it up between the two sets of obstacles. Aged 11, rising 12, he needed the run at Wetherby races when third in this 12 months ago. Beacon Edge only ran at Cheltenham last week, meanwhile, and this is a big ask with all the travel that entailed.
2:58 – 3m Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase
The 2022 winner Bravemansgame disappointed throughout last season, so he’s a favourite that could be worth taking on. Paul Nicholls horses out in recent weeks have largely shaped as if needing the run.
Conflated has unseated his rider in three of his last six starts. Benefitting from that was FRENCH DYNAMITE, who landed the Grade 3 Carvill’s Hill Chase at Punchestown.
Representing last season’s winning trainer Mouse Morris and owners Robcour, the nine-year-old could give connections back-to-back victories. French Dynamite is a fit horse and in-form after his previous Gowran Park Champion Chase second in this grade.
The Real Whacker hasn’t completed in three of his last six, just like Conflated. Good ground lover Hang In There might go well at a big price, meanwhile. Sam Brown turns 13 in January and faded into third when Bravemansgame won this two years ago.
3:32 – 2m Handicap Hurdle
SALSADA really caught the eye when pushing Florida Dreams all the way at Hexham last time out, though. He looks a bit of value for Brian Ellison, who has a springer Down Under in the Melbourne Cup market for early next week.
The assessor has been very lenient indeed in nudging Salsada up 1lb for just failing to land that recent outing. Ellison books Harry Cobden for the ride, which also looks significant.
Topweight Spirits Bay lacks a recent run while, at the foot of the handicap, V Twelve is in much deeper water. This demands more than his course and distance victory in a lowly Class 5. Alnilam only won minor races at Kelso too.
