Wetherby’s bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting takes centre stage this weekend with two excellent days racing in prospect on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2.
Headlining the action on Saturday is the £100,000 Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.40pm) over 3m.
The historic contest has been won by some top class chasers, none more so than Wayward Lad, Burrough Hill Lad, One Man, See More Business and more recently Cue Card. The 12 entries this year include 2018 victor Definitly Red (Brian Ellison), who would become the first dual winner since Ollie Magern (2005 & 2007).
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is set to saddle last year’s runner-up Black Corton, who was last seen out when second under top-weight in the Galway Plate in late July.
He is the 4/1 joint-favourite with bet365 alongside Welsh Grand National victor Elegant Escape (Colin Tizzard). Elegant Escape is aiming to give trainer Colin Tizzard a second bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, following the victory of Cue Card in 2015.
Having took second in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury earlier in the campaign, Elegant Escape followed up his Chepstow triumph by finishing second to Frodon in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase and a creditable sixth behind Al Boum Photo in the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, said: “Elegant Escape is in good form and the plan is to run in the Charlie Hall. “He has summered well. He seems to have strengthened up and we are really looking forward to getting him started.
“He is only a seven-year-old and hopefully he can progress into a Gold Cup horse. He wouldn’t have to improve a lot to be a serious contender in a Gold Cup.
“The Grand National is also a target, and after Wetherby, he could go for the Betfair Chase or Becher Chase.”
Aso (Venetia Williams), who has yet to win beyond two miles and five furlongs, is top-rated among the entries with an official mark of 168. The nine-year-old posted a career-best on his latest start, going down just over a length to Frodon in a memorable Gradeb1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Popular mare La Bague Au Roi (Warren Greatrex) enjoyed an excellent novice campaign over fences last season, which included a gutsy victory over Topofthegame in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park.
There is likely to be Irish-trained representation courtesy of Jett (Jessica Harrington). The eight-year-old relished the step up in trip on his latest start when defeating Alpha Des Obeaux by a short-head in the Grade 3 Irish Daily Star Chase at Punchestown.
Another entry with race fitness on his side is Ballyoptic, after he impressively defied top-weight in a handicap chase at Chepstow on October 12.
His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, with five victories, is the most successful trainer in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.
Others to note are course scorer Top Ville Ben (Philip Kirby) and Vinndication (Kim Bailey), who were both high-class novices last season.
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase – bet365 prices: 4/1 Black Corton, Elegant Escape; 5/1 Ballyoptic, Definitly Red, La Bague Au Roi; 6/1 Aso; 8/1 Vinndication; 12/1 Double Shuffle, Jett, Top Ville Ben, 14/1 Molly The Dolly; 25/1 Atlanta Blaze Each-way ¼ odds 1, 2, 3