2023 Charlie Hall Chase: news, quotes, runner guide and verdict

Rating: 172. Trainer: Paul Nicholls.

With the benefit of ever-trusty hindsight, odds of 2-1 were something of a gift about him in this race last year given his smooth-travelling and easy success, one which was followed by a 14-length romp in the King George and an even better effort when an excellent second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup behind the exceptional Galopin Des Champs over a test which may just ever so slightly stretch him.

He holds the standout form claims and will surely be very difficult to beat, although the fact that he won’t be absolutely tuned up for this in addition to previous runners in this race not boasting a particularly compelling overall record are two factors that might just warrant small consideration for the odds-on favourite.

Rating: 169 Trainer: Lucinda Russell.

Lucinda Russell's assistant trainer Peter Scudamore said this week that their high-class chaser is "OK" and that they are "happy enough with him," quotes which don't strike as especially compelling soundbites before a seasonal return, and he's been notably below his best on his two seasonal reappearances over fences plus can race freely.

He was something of a slow burner last season – kicking off with a strange effort when last of five in this race – before getting his jumping together and landing the Cotswold Chase before running a big race in the Gold Cup when unfortunately coming down five from home. He bounced out of that at his favoured stomping ground at Aintree when looking the likely winner of the Bowl before being collared late on by Shishkin.

His jumping has unquestionably improved in senior company but it’s still something to be taken somewhat on trust at this stage and this very talented operator might just improve throughout the season again. The confirmation of Bravemansgame in the line-up is a pretty formidable obstacle first-time up, too.

Rating: - Trainer: Mouse Morris.

An exciting young chaser, he jumped OK against more experienced rivals on his sole start over fences last season and customarily pulled out a bit more at the finish despite going about things enthusiastically at the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown. Runner-up I Am Maximus won the Irish National a few months later.

His reappearance last time in the PWC Champion Chase on very deep ground was even more commendable, keeping 14-time chase winner and defending champion Easy Game up to his work down the Gowran straight while conceding race fitness to a 158-rated rival and over a trip short of his best. That was a very good effort on his just his second start over fences.

He rates as one of the more lightly-raced and genuinely progressive types and, while he's another potential front-runner in the mix here, he showed last time that he can take a lead. Surely similar tactics will be utilised again. A test at three miles on soft ground could eke out more and his participation here is eagerly anticipated and very welcome for this year's race, even if connections will be disappointed to see Bravemansgame turn up.

Rating: 156 Trainer: Dan Skelton.

The lightly-raced eight-year-old finds himself on a career-high mark after progressing markedly as a second-season novice chaser last season, starting his campaign with success at Stratford before winning on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham and then signing off with victory at Aintree in April.

His trainer has stated that the Coral Gold Cup is his principal aim, and I expect connections will be happy to pick up some prize money here en route to his early-season target.

The confirmed participation of Bravemansgame - back to defend his title after runaway King George success and a mighty second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup - is a real boon for Wetherby and jumps fans, even if it makes this a less intriguing betting heat with only four runners declared. It's certainly quality over quantity, though!

Bravemansgame can't really be opposed here but I'm still looking forward to seeing Gentlemansgame, who proved last time that he can take a lead, and he is likely to track Ahoy Senor. He will handle the ground, has genuinely more to offer and he's fancied to stick on at the finish as he usually does in receipt of weight from most of these, and with the benefit of a recent outing behind him.

While more lightly-raced chasers have come to the fore in this in recent years, a couple of firmer points to bear in mind statistically are that repeat bids have proven difficult with just two winners from the 26 to have run in the race previously within the last 15 years (13 per cent of the winners from 24 per cent of the runners, 0.4 A/E).

Runners lining up in the Charlie Hall for the first time have outperformed market expectations in the last 15 years, and backing them all would have yielded a small profit (+£7.43, 87 per cent of the winners from 72 per cent of the runners, 1.1 A/E). Such contenders have comprised the 1-2-3 for the last four years. Similarly, horses running for the first time at Wetherby have fared well (10 from 51, +£12.18, 1.16 A/E).

Derek Fox is relishing the prospect of reuniting with Ahoy Senor in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Lucinda Russell’s star chaser was bitterly disappointing and finished last when sent off the 11-10 favourite for the Grade Two event last season but would go on to prove any doubters wrong in the second half of the campaign.

Having won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January, he was putting up a bold show when a faller six out in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and showed no ill effects when quickly backing that performance up to finish a fine second to Shishkin in the Bowl at Aintree.

Lying in wait once again for Ahoy Senor is a familiar face in defending champion Bravemansgame and Fox is thrilled to be able to take the ride having successfully appealed a 10-day ban picked up at the track last month, which would have left him sat on the sidelines on Saturday afternoon.

He said: “I’m delighted I’m able to ride him, it’s all systems go and we’re looking forward to getting him out again.

“I’ve rode him out and we’re all happy with him – he’s in good form and all seems well.

“He might have needed it (the run) a bit last year. I actually don’t think he ran that badly, he was just a bit free and got a bit tired.”

The Charlie Hall is set to be run in testing conditions with Wetherby abandoning racing at the track on Friday.

However, Fox is happy his mount will be OK on the ground despite it not being connections’ preferred going for his West Yorkshire return.

He added: “He’s handled heavy ground before. Probably for the first day out for the season, ideally you wouldn’t have it so heavy, but it’s the same for them all and he handles any ground.

“We’re going there hopeful that he’s in good order at home and hoping he’ll do well.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Russell’s partner and assistant Peter Scudamore, who said: “We’ve obviously discussed it and Derek doesn’t see it as an issue.

“It was very tacky and dead ground the day he won at Cheltenham. He’s a free-going sort, but I don’t see it being too big an issue.”

Scudamore is no stranger to top-class staying chasers and the former champion jockey is looking forward to seeing Ahoy Senor kick off his new campaign.

“You are always nervous when you run a horse like that,” said Scudamore.

“We really fancied him last year (in the race) and it all went wrong, but he picked himself up from that and was able to run some really nice races.

“To be fair to the horse, he had a bad start to last season but then he ran some fabulous races, the two Cheltenham runs and Aintree, so we just need to have him back to that level.

“I’m a little bit more relaxed than I was and I just hope he jumps sensibly and then we can look at the Coral Gold Cup for him.

“This isn’t the be-all and end-all of the season, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Following victory in this race 12 months ago, Bravemansgame would go on to add the King George VI Chase at Christmas before brave efforts in defeat at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in the spring.

Trainer Paul Nicholls was originally keen to point his Gold Cup runner-up towards Haydock’s Betfair Chase, but concerned about bottomless ground on Merseyside later this month, has elected for Bravemansgame to defend his Charlie Hall crown before returning to Kempton on Boxing Day.

Nicholls told Betfair: “He enjoyed an amazing time last season and I couldn’t be happier with him as he bids to win the Charlie Hall for the second year running.

“I was leaning towards taking him to Haydock in three weeks’ time for his seasonal debut in the Betfair Chase but changed my mind after all the rain we’ve had. The way things are at the moment conditions could be bottomless at Haydock by the end of the month which would be far from ideal for Bravemansgame over almost three and a quarter miles first time out.

“It makes sense to go for the Charlie Hall with only three opponents declared against him. He won this race easily a year ago and the race comes at the right time for him ahead of the King George VI Chase at Kempton.”

Dan Skelton’s Midnight River successfully stepped up in trip when winning a big handicap at Aintree on Grand National Day and will ply his trade once again over a staying distance, while Mouse Morris will saddle the sole Irish challenger Gentlemansgame.

Morris has enjoyed success at Wetherby in the past, with the Tony McCoy-ridden Boss Doyle finishing second to Strath Royal in the 1998 Charlie Hall before going on to win back-to-back runnings of the West Yorkshire Hurdle in 2000 and 2001. He also filled the runner-up spot in the same race when bidding for the hat-trick in 2002.

Morris will now bid to enhance that record with the strapping seven-year-old who makes just his third appearance over fences.

“He’s travelled over and he’s in good shape so hopefully it’s on now, that’s the main thing,” said the Irishman.

“He ran well in Gowran and we just need to get a bit of experience into him. He’s being thrown in at the deep end on Saturday, but as long as he gives a good account of himself I’ll be happy.

“I don’t think the ground or the trip will be a problem, but you can’t beat experience in life.”

Wetherby Racecourse is pleased to announce that bet365 has extended its sponsorship of the Charlie Hall Chase for a further three years from 2024.

Pat Cooney of bet365 said: “We are really looking forward to our bet365 sponsored cards at Wetherby on Friday and Saturday.

“The bet365 Charlie Hall is our oldest sponsored race, dating back to 2003, and we are delighted that we have extended our sponsorship for another three years.”

Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive of Wetherby Racecourse, said: “It is wonderful news that bet365 have kindly agreed to extended their sponsorship of this iconic fixture for a further three years.

“They have been absolutely fantastic partners to work with throughout their sponsorship of our flagship fixture and everyone at Wetherby is very much looking forward to continuing our long standing partnership through until 2026 and hopefully beyond.”

Wetherby’s bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting starts on Friday, November 3, when the highlights are the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Chase and Listed Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle.