Pic d’Orhy proved age no barrier to big-race success

Last year’s runner-up Pic d’Orhy was a cut above his rivals as he went one better on stable debut for Dan Skelton in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

A prolific performer for Paul Nicholls, he had lost out by a length in this contest 12 months ago in a season where he failed to add to his career haul of 15.

He was switched to the champion trainer in the summer by owner Johnny de la Hay and the 10-11 favourite wasted little time in enhancing his CV, running out a bloodless six-and-a-half-length winner from Handstands under Harry Skelton, who was visibly limping, still feeling the effects of a fall at Cheltenham last week.

He becomes only the second 11-year-old to win the Charlie Hall and the first since Arthur Stephenson’s Durham Edition in 1989, leading home a one-three for the Skelton team with Riskintheground taking the final podium spot.

The trainer told ITV Racing: “He was a bit keen, but I think that is a bit how he runs and I don’t think there’s an extra two miles per hour you are not seeing.

“He hit the first down the back straight very hard and you don’t often see a horse do that and stay up, but that’s 11 years of experience that helped him get away with that.

“On ratings and without the penalty it was how his script could have easily been written. He’ll have to go carry that Grade One penalty somewhere else now.

“It’s great for the horse, he’s an 11-year-old, done a fabulous job and come in here with his ears pricked. It was brilliant and he’s a great old horse.

“We’ve inherited him, everyone knows that and we’ve just got him fit for today and it was his race to lose, but the good old boy didn’t.”

It proved a fine afternoon for the Skeltons, who also won the Listed bet365 Montagu Mares’ Hurdle for the second year running with Kateira (6-4), with Harry Skelton riding four winners over the course of the card.

Meanwhile, their Warwickshire neighbour Olly Murphy was also on the scoresheet, as staying stalwart Strong Leader defended his bet365 Hurdle title with a determined effort in the hands of Sean Bowen.

Sent off at 13-8, all three runners in the Grade Two event remained in contention at the last, with Strong Leader pulling out more to deny Ruth Jefferson’s Lavida Adiva by a length and a quarter.

Murphy said: “It was a very good performance. It wasn’t ideal having to pop out and make the running, but he got in a good rhythm and he is a very hard horse to pass on his day.

“He still retains all his ability. He was having to give plenty of weight to good mares, but was well on top at the line. He doesn’t look like he’s regressing and I think he had a very hard autumn and early part of the winter last year which took its toll in the spring.”

Strong Leader will now head for a race he won in 2024 before having to settle for second 12 months ago, with Murphy adding: “We’ll rock on to Newbury now for the Long Distance Hurdle with a run under our belt and try to win that race again.”