Big race form guide
This is the first weekend of the autumn when the jumpers take centre stage and the highlight is tomorrow’s bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.20pm) at Wetherby.
This prestigious race, first run in 1969 as the Wetherby Pattern Chase, has been won by a host of elite stars down the years among them, Wayward Lad (1983 and 1985), Burrough Hill Lad (1984), Forgive n Forget (1986), Celtic Shot (1990 and 1991), Barton Bank (1993 and 1995), One Man (1996 and 1997), See More Business (1999 and 2000) and Grey Abbey (2004).
Last year’s winner Nacarat lines up again. He is only 4 lbs higher in the handicap despite having won since in the Totebowl Chase at Aintree and finished 3rd in the Racing Post Chase. This season’s race looks a strong one. Neptune Collonge is a former winner of the Irish Hennessy and the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, he has been placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and last season won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham. Poquelin’s last 5 wins have all come at Cheltenham including back to back Boylesport Gold Cups. Others in with a shout are course and distance winner Weird Al who has recently joined Donald McCain’s stable and Chicago Grey who was travelling like the winner when tipping up 2 out on his latest start at Cheltenham.
The pair that most interest me though are Time for Rupert and Diamond Harry. The former was runner up to Big Bucks in the World Hurdle. When moving on to fences he looked good when winning his first two starts. Made favourite for the RSA Chase he could only finish 5th but there were excuses that day and he remains an exciting prospect. Diamond Harry has won first time out on each of the last 4 seasons so clearly goes well fresh. He has an outstanding strike rate and was an imperious winner of the Hennessy last season showing a marked improvement in the jumping department before injury curtailed his campaign.
Given his record first time out Diamond Harry is hardly an original choice but I was just going to favour him over Time for Rupert and burden him with my selection. However fast ground is definitely a concern for Diamond Harry so I am going to switch my allegiance to Time for Rupert. They do say “Never change your mind!” Incidentally, the ground will also suit Nacarat and Poquelin if you fancy either of them.
Wetherby
2.15 Whoops a Daisy won 3 times over hurdles last season and looks one to follow in these mare’s races.
2.45 Although Restless Harry hasn’t won for 18 months he is a very consistent hurdler and has an each way shout here.
3.20 Dealt with elsewhere
4.00 Lucky Landing is one for the notebook. A winner of a bumper at Uttoxeter he then went off the boil last season but I expect him to go novice chasing soon when he will be likely to `do better.
4.30 Havingotascoobydo was a faller at Aintree last week but should make amends here.
Selections – Whoops a Daisy, Restless Harry, Time for Rupert.
Ascot
1.55 Fontano should be all the better for his run at Wincanton last week and is one for the short list. Merehead had rather a disappointing season last time but is the sort to improve with time as he strengthens up.
2.30 Baseball Ted won 3 times last season and has quite a lot going for him here. He has already had a run this season finishing 2nd at Carlisle. That was without his favourite cheek pieces which will be back on tomorrow. The stable are going great guns and the track should suit.
3.00 Third Intention won twice last season and was 7th in the Triumph Hurdle. He has plenty of speed and is a slick jumper of hurdles. My only slight worry would be that a couple of other fancied runners from this stable were beaten last week.
3.40 The Philip Hobbs duo of Quinz and Balthazar King are my pick here. Balthazar King won well a fortnight ago at Cheltenham. He is a fluent jumper that appreciated good ground. Quinz was most progressive last season and won the highly competitive Racing Post Chase. He was then pulled up in the Grand National when he burst a blood vessel. It looks as though Richard Johnson has chosen to ride Quinz here so I will take that as a tip in itself as he rode Balthazar King to victory at Cheltenham and presumably had the choice of rides.
4.15 Tornado D’Estruval makes his UK debut. A winner at Vichy he is by the same sire at Sprinter Sacre.
4.50 Ackertac was pulled up at Aintree recently after making a bad mistake. Megastar is a course winner and will appreciate the ground as he needs a sound surface.
Selections – Merehead, Baseball Ted, Third Intention, Quinz, Megastar
Newmarket
2.40 Repeater may be able to turn the tables on Rougemont who beat him at Leicester earlier in the month.
3.15 Farhh looked a smart prospect when winning at Newmarket last July. He has not been seen since but horses from this stable often win after lengthy layoffs. Mull of Killough was 3rd in the 2.10 Lincoln Handicap. He was returning from a 15 month absence when 8th of 11 at Haydock last month.
5.00 Eric Alston sends King of Eden down from his Preston base. King Of Eden was staying on well over six furlongs last time and looks as if he’ll stay seven.
Selections – Repeater and King of Eden
Naas
2.20 Noble Prince should be too good for his rivals here as long as he puts in a clear round.
Nap of the day
Time for Rupert
Dark horse
King of Eden
From the archives
Well it’s part 2 of our brief look back at Alexandra Park. Brian Rouse rode his first winner there on a horse called Gay Bird in 1957 but soon after left the sport and only rode his second winner 15 years later. Rouse was later to win the 1,000 Guineas in 1980 on Quick as Lightning. Pat Eddery, then an apprentice won the last ever London Gold Cup run at the track on Peter Robinson’s Angarrick in 1970.
Turf trivia
The first American bred horse to win the Derby was Iroquois in 1981, ridden by the great Fred Archer.
Picture courtesy of the artist Katy Sodeau
ahorse 