{"id":10857,"date":"2024-10-31T16:05:17","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T16:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/?p=10857"},"modified":"2024-10-31T16:17:43","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T16:17:43","slug":"wetherby-races-preview-charlie-hall-chase-meeting-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/10\/31\/wetherby-races-preview-charlie-hall-chase-meeting-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Wetherby Races Preview for the Two-Day Charlie Hall Chase Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wetherby<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Although forecast conditions are unseasonably good, we could still see some useful horses lining up. Competing with events in America in the Breeders’ Cup<\/a> and a card at Ascot, punters have plenty to ponder. Let’s see who our racing experts highlight.<\/p>\n

Wetherby Races Preview – Friday, 1 November<\/h2>\n

12:45 – 2m 3.5f Novice Hurdle<\/h3>\n

Almost any price you like bar three. The market suggest this boils down to Dan Skelton’s French import\u00a0Kart D’Estruval<\/strong>,\u00a0I Play County <\/strong>from the Toby Lawes stable and recent Hexham winner BATTLE BORN LAD<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

1:15 – 3m Novice Chase<\/h3>\n

\"RonnieAnother Skelton hotpot heads the market on horse racing betting sites in West Balboa<\/strong>. She has experience of fences too and the yard has won this three times including two of the last three editions. West Balboa also tops ratings and gets weight all-round.<\/p>\n

That would seemingly mean a strong case for the mare, but she jumped poorly at Worcester on her bow in this sphere. Instead, CADELL <\/strong>is a dual Point-to-Point winner who could end up taking much higher rank over fences for Lucinda Russell.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Farnoge\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

1:50 – 2m 3.5f Handicap Hurdle<\/h3>\n

The race-fit LUCKIE SEVEN <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Main market rivals largely lack a recent run, but\u00a0Welsh Charger\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Kaituna River\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Micky Hammond runs two, but Singapore Trip and Foster’sisland are both definitely exposed. Don’t discount narrow Sedgefield second Isle Of Sark\u00a0<\/strong>for wily Irish trainer Shark Hanlon and son Paddy, who takes 7lb off with his claim.<\/p>\n

2:25 – Listed 2m Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle<\/h3>\n

\"StaticOlly Murphy’s French import\u00a0STATIC <\/strong>could be the answer here after two wins across the Channel. The fourth home from the latest of those has won twice since, adding substance to the form.<\/p>\n

Flat convert\u00a0Liam Swagger\u00a0<\/strong>heads the market, but now meets both\u00a0Torrent\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Model Approach\u00a0<\/strong>off worse terms. James Owen’s charge is certainly open to further progress from his Market Rasen success.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Skelton has won two of the last four editions of this event at Wetherby races, so Denzil\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Rebecca Menzies hasn’t had Irish import\u00a0Inspire Hope\u00a0<\/strong>long, so the filly is perhaps best watched here for all she has hurdles experience when in the care of Joseph O’Brien.<\/p>\n

3:00 – 2m 3.5f Premier Handicap Chase<\/h3>\n

\"MidnightDisappointing turnout with just five. Skelton topweight\u00a0MIDNIGHT RIVER <\/strong>has much less on his plate here than when contesting the Charlie Hall Chase at this meeting 12 months ago. Midnight River is only 2lb above his last winning mark.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/strong>here after landing his reappearance at Wetherby races last term.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Galop De Chasse\u00a0<\/strong>has an attractive weight, but an even longer racecourse absence than the selection to overcome for Venetia Williams.\u00a0Prairie Wolf\u00a0<\/strong>is 7lb higher than when last successful, while\u00a0Genois\u00a0<\/strong>looks more suited to the Cross Country route than standard fences.<\/p>\n

3:35 – 2m 5.5f Handicap Hurdle<\/h3>\n

Against a bunch of largely out of form rivals, Skelton may have found the perfect race for\u00a0QUEENS VENTURE <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Knacker Trapper\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Wetherby Races Preview – Saturday, 2 November – Charlie Hall Chase Day<\/h2>\n

12:40 – 2m Novice Hurdle<\/h3>\n

It has been profitable to follow Susan Corbett hurdlers this term, so\u00a0SAMWISE <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

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 <\/strong>commands respect, but that Market Rasen form hasn’t really been tested.<\/p>\n

Down Royal bumper winner\u00a0Marlacoo\u00a0<\/strong>could take a step forward from his hurdles debut third at Warwick. Fellow four-year-old\u00a0Grandad’s Cap\u00a0<\/strong>is an interesting recruit from the Irish Pointing field for Laura Morgan.<\/p>\n

1:15 – 2m 3.5f Handicap Chase<\/h3>\n

\"Twiston-Davies<\/p>\n

TEDLEY <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Of those returning to action, William Cody <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

King’s Threshold\u00a0<\/strong>should come on for this and may find it a little on the sharp side.\u00a0Choosethenews\u00a0<\/strong>wants softer ground, but\u00a0Fusain\u00a0<\/strong>will like conditions. There is little to recommend JP McManus duo Arthur’s Quay and Imperial Bede though.<\/p>\n

1:50 – Listed 2m Mares’ Hurdle<\/h3>\n

\"LucciaThe Mares’ Hurdle at Wetherby races looks a penalty kick for last year’s runner-up LUCCIA<\/strong>. Third in the Champion Hurdle after landing the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot before Christmas, Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old should be more than capable of conceding 4lb to a mediocre bunch.<\/p>\n

Skelton shuffles his pack, but all the evidence points to\u00a0Take No Chances\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Lightly-raced James Owen mare\u00a0Sweet Fantasy\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

Gordon Elliott dropping\u00a0Royal Eagle\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

2:22 – 3m Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle<\/h3>\n