(3 minutes read)
Wetherby racecourse holds their most prestigious meeting of the year with their bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting this Saturday. The main feature, The bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, is a feast of staying chase action as Cheltenham Gold Cup runner up Bravemansgame and classy rival Ahoy Senor are set to lock horns.
The race is often a platform for races like The King George: it is therefore a very significant fixture in the national hunt calendar as well as being the first major graded chase of the season.
We check out best bets for this race and two other key graded events for the Saturday. Bet365 are the sponsors and also one of our partners along with William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports who will provide data for our best odds available.
The bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, 1500 Wetherby
Bravemansgame
The Paul Nicholls eight-year-old had a sensational last season, totting up last year’s Charlie Hall Chase with a King George triumph 7 weeks later.
However, his defeat to Galopin Des Champs in The Cheltenham Gold Cup was arguably his best run of the season. Crucially, the horse went some way to ending the Paul Nicholls Gold Cup hoodoo: the Ditcheat handler has failed to produce an out and out Gold Cup stayer since the likes of Denman and Kauto Star.
With some fine tuning, Bravemansgame could give Galopin a more effective scrap next March. He jumps brilliantly and combines a turn of foot with staying power. Very hard to oppose him in this and should oblige comfortably.
4/5 best with race sponsors bet365.
Ahoy Senor
This dual Grade 1 novice winner seems to save his best work for the spring. Ahoy Senor ran very well in The Cheltenham Gold Cup until falling at the sixth last. This was a followed by an impressive run in The Betway Bowl at Aintree and was unlucky to be pipped at the line by Shishkin.
Plenty to like about this Lucinda Russell trained 8-year-old but needs to improve a little to beat Bravemansgame but he will give the Paul Nicholls horse an intriguing contest for sure. Best odds 11/4 with Betfred.
Others To Note
Gentlemansgame (5/1 William Hill) trained by Mouse Morris is one hell of a dark horse after impressively winning his chase debut at Leopardstown at the tail end of last year but missed rest of season due to injury. Dashel Drasher who finished a surprise second in the Stayers Hurdle would make excellent each way value at 18/1 with bet365 if 8 runners take their place. Also declared for The bet365 Hurdle.
Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase, 1315 Wetherby
Very open looking handicap chase. Deyrann De Carjac trained by Alan King holds favouritism at 5/1 (bet365), whilst Ladronne at 7/1 has a course and distance win to his name.
However, I like the look of Mount Tempest (7/1 bet365) for the Skeltons who looks well handicapped. Ran ok in his first appearance this season, finishing a distant second to the highly regarded Imperial Cup winner Iceo.
The bet365 Mares' Hurdle, 1350 Wetherby
The Skeltons possibly hold the key in this race as well, saddling race favourite Kateira. Lightly raced, she won three novice hurdles last season, rounding nicely with a good second to Irish Point in a Grade 1 at Aintree. 9/4 best with William Hill, Betfred.
Luccia ran in The Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham finishing a creditable fourth before finishing third in a male’s event at Aintree. Biggest danger to Kateira, best odds at 5/2 with Bet Victor and Boylesports.
Salsada will probably perform better in handicap hurdles but has an each way chance after her decent second to Epatante in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Doncaster last January. Best odds of 22/1 with Bet Victor.
The bet365 Hurdle, 1425 Wetherby
The seasoned campaigner Thyme Hill holds favouritism for this at 15/8 with bet365 and returns to hurdles before embarking on a fences campaign, where he had mixed success last season.
Dashel Drasher comes into this after his brilliant second to Sire Du Berlais in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham last March. Could be great value at 5/2 with bet365, William Hill and Betfred.
SELECTIONS
The bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, 1500 Wetherby
BRAVEMANSGAME WIN
The bet365 Mares' Hurdle, 1350 Wetherby
KATEIRA WIN
The bet365 Hurdle, 1425 Wetherby
DASHEL DRASHER WIN
Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase, 1315 Wetherby
MOUNT TEMPEST WIN
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (9:00am 3rd November 2023) and are subject to change.
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