Will Sheppard is your guide to the highlight fixture in Wetherby’s season
Graded racing returns to Wetherby Racecourse, this weekend, with the feature being the Charlie Hall Chase.
On the Friday, we have the Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers to Follow Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (2.55pm), which is a listed race for three-year-olds only.
This will likely see the James Owen-trained Ammes put in at top of the market as he has taken to hurdling impressively in his first two starts.
He won this last year with Liam Swagger, who had a similar profile. Being a 90-rated flat performer, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this lightly raced three-year-old improve again.
However, this won’t be without opposition, as the stable-switcher Lord boasts huge credentials winning three of his previous four starts over sticks.
He’s recently moved from Olly Murphy into the Donald McCain Jnr yard in Cheshire.
The premier handicap on the card on Friday is a 2m4f chase which has a potential field of 16-runners.
The most interesting of these is the JP McManus owned Crebilly. This chaser has run close at the Cheltenham festival in the 2024 Plate handicap off 140 and threatened to win off a mark of 134 in 2023 when falling at the last at the off a 203-day break.
He won a novices’ chase against Tahmuras and Trelawne on heavy ground, and with the forecast a slower ground meeting is not out of the question. He has shown that he is more than capable of winning first time out off a break and may have a few pounds in hand against his current handicap mark.
Saturday’s card
On Saturday, the headline act the Charlie Hall Chase sees ten potential runners with the most notable being Pic D’Orhy. This dual grade one winner is yet to be tried at a three-mile trip but if taking to the task will take some beating.
His trainer, Paul Nicholls has won this in the past Bravemansgame, Cyrname and subsequent King George winner Silviniaco Conti. After winning the Old Roan Chase with Hitman, he will be looking to press on with more winners at this meeting.
Last year’s winner, The Real Whacker, recently had a spin over the smaller obstacles to in make sure he’s fit enough to win again. Also, if the forecasted good ground happens for the 2023 Brown’s Advisory winner then he’s in a good place to go back-to-back.
On the theme of Browns Advisory runners, last year’s runner-up Stellar Story is entered for Irish trainer Gordon Elliot. He’s potentially suited by slower ground than is currently forecasted as he is a grade one winner on heavy.
The pattern race to be covered is the Bet365 Hurdle, which is a grade two over three miles. Nigel Twiston-Davies is set to run last year’s Formby hurdle winner, Potters’ Charm, who is set to take step up in trip and go down the Stayers’ hurdle route at the Cheltenham Festival come March.
Contesting him is Strong Leader who is going his preferred way round of left-handed who has a good chance for the in-form Olly Murphy yard.
With a mix of seasoned grade one performers, rising stars, and competitive handicaps, Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase weekend promises top-class action. And with plenty more horses lining up across both days, it’s shaping up to be a fantastic weekend of racing.
