All eyes on North Yorkshire this Saturday as Wetherby stages its prestigious Bet365 sponsored Charlie Hall Chase Meeting. Pic D’Orhy formerly with Paul Nicholls but now trained by Dan Skelton leads the market for this big Grade 2 race but age is not on his side.
We preview this race and the other key renewals with best bets and top odds provided by our partner firms Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Bet Victor and Boylesports.
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The Position Payout At bet365 Handicap Chase: 1310 Wetherby
A competitive looking mid-distance handicap chase to kick proceedings off. It seems like every key British race these days has a Dan Skelton trained favourite, and this proves to be no exception.
Palamon at 11/4 with race sponsors Bet365 may be carrying a lot of weight but looks well handicapped regardless to oblige here. The horse ran a 32-length winner in a minor handicap at Southwell before experiencing terrible fortune in a decent Plumpton handicap which he would have won had he not been hampered, stumbled on the last bend, and squeezed for room on the run in.
Biggest danger may come from Kahavari (4/1 Bet365) who jumped with power at Sandown at the tail end of April with an impressive finish, also beating Palamon in the process.
SELECTION: KAHAVARI 4/1 with Bet365
The bet365 Montagu Mares' Hurdle: 1345 Wetherby
Race favourite Kateira (5/6 with bet365) was outclassed in the recent Chepstow Welsh Champion Hurdle but loves this track so should be match fit for trainer Dan Skelton, although better value may come from Watamu who clearly loves winning at Stratford but will find Wetherby a similar challenge.
It is a considerable up in grade, but this horse looks progressive and could go well at a decent price. Watamu is 8/1 best odds with Bet365.
SELECTION: WATAMU 8/1
The bet365 Hurdle (The West Yorkshire Hurdle): 1418 Wetherby
The big hurdle race of the day has a classy favourite in Strong Leader (Evens Bet365) trained by Olly Murphy who narrowly won this year over race rival Take No Chances. The horse went on to perform well but was found things too demanding when upped to Grade One action in the Aintree Liverpool Hurdle.
Take No Chances recently had a run in the Chepstow Welsh Champion Hurdle so will be primed for this. However, we like another outsider, the highly rated Lavida Adiva who ran brilliantly in the Pertemps at The Cheltenham Festival.
He has a little more to find with Strong Leader and Take No Chances but gets a handy weight advantage which might just make things more competitive. Best odds of 8/1 with Bet365.
SELECTION: LAVIDA AVIDA 8/1 with Bet365.
The bet365 Charlie Hall Chase: 1455 Wetherby
The big race of the day should not have too much impact on the Cheltenham Gold Cup market but will tell us how race favourite Pic D’Orhy performs after his shock transfer from Paul Nicholls to Dan Skelton’s yard.
He goes in as race favourite at 11/8 (William Hill, Bet Victor, Boylesports), however, this is an 11-year-old with only satisfactory form from last year. Handstands (4/1 with Bet365) looks the most progressive although could not build on the good form from two years ago which included a beating of Jango Baie.
Therefore, last year’s winner The Real Whacker makes most appeal to oblige again in this rather weak renewal of the Grade 2 staying chase.
SELECTION: THE REAL WHACKER 5/1 with Bet Victor
The Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Hurdle: 1530 Wetherby
Our last race is a small field handicap hurdle. Race favourite Race To Base (11/8 William Hill) trained by Nick Schofield was very impressive in a valuable Sandown handicap hurdle last April, finishing runner-up in a race where he travelled strongly throughout.
If he can repeat something near that, he will be in with a tremendous chance. Filibustering comes here match fit after a busy summer but has to defy a big weight.
SELECTION: RACE TO BASE 11/8 with William Hill
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