It’s Charlie Hall Chase day at Wetherby this Saturday with the Grade 2 contest won by some smart horses down the years. The 2021 renewal looks a competitive affair, and with that in mind, we have produced a runner-by-runner preview of the current field. Check this out below, alongside an exclusive bet365 offer which provides new customers with up to £100 in bet credits.
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3:05pm Wetherby, Saturday 30th October 2021, 3m)
1. CYRNAME (Paul Nicholls) 6/5
Enigmatic chaser who laughed at his rivals in this race last year. Admittedly that didn’t look the strongest renewal, however, and he failed to get round in two subsequent starts in the King George and Ascot Chase; cheekpieces added latest. Dropped back to this level on reappearance and has an excellent record fresh, but those last couple of runs should flash warning signs to potential backers.
2. CLONDAW CASTLE (Tom George) 9/2
Last four wins in this spere have all come in handicaps, yet he can clearly operate at this level, something supported by his second (albeit a distant one) in the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl when last seen in April. Form figures on the back of 100+ day absences currently read a respectable 111522 and he remains open to improvement over this distance.
3. MIGHTY THUNDER (Lucinda Russell) 14/1
Really came good over fences last season, building on a Midlands National 2nd when going one spot better in the Scottish equivalent back in April. The handicapper forced him up 7lb for that effort, so now rated in the 150s. Currently 4-6 over fences and reappears with his yard amongst the winners, but this is likely to prove a sharp enough test for him.
4. SHAN BLUE (Dan Skelton) 4/1
Justified favouritism to land the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but limitations seemingly exposed at this level afterwards when held by Chantry House at both Cheltenham and Aintree. Has a 2nd and two 1st place finishes to his name from three previous starts here at Wetherby but will need to show something knew to score here if the market principles bring anywhere near their A-game.
5. FUSIL RAFFLES (Nicky Henderson) 11/2
Enjoyed a productive novice chase campaign in 2020/21, winning three times and chasing home stablemate Chantry House in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. Broke blood vessels at Aintree on final start of the season. Back to form on reappearance at Newton Abbot when chasing home the potentially useful Bravemansgame (conceded 12lb). Respected on that form and still only a 6yo, so a definite player if his stamina holds out over 3m.
6. KITTY’S LIGHT (Christian Williams) 10/1
Form figures over fences currently read an eye-catching 12113122, looking unfortunate not to take the bet365 Gold Cup back in April when hampered on the run-in. Showed himself to be in fine fettle when runner-up at Chepstow on seasonal reappearance. Remarkably only a 5yo and therefore unlikely to have reached his ceiling, but this will require a step up on what he has shown so far.
7. TOP VILLE BEN (Philip Kirby) 20/1
Front-runner who finished down the field in this race back in 2019; record over course and distance aside from that run reads 3-3. Missed the majority of last season, returning from 15 months off the track when pulled-up before the second last in a Grade 2 at Auteuil when last seen in April. Has another absence to overcome here, and likely best watched anyway on the back of that last run.
BIG RACE VERDICT
As could possibly be expected, a select field in prospect for this seasons Charlie Hall. Cyrname won this last year in impressive fashion but failed to complete in both subsequent starts and although miles clear on ratings comes with significant warning signs attached now. Kitty’s Light and Mighty Thunder were progressive last season and enter calculations, albeit this sharp 3m looks an insufficient test of stamina for both horses.
Preference is for CLONDAW CASTLE who improved for the step up to 3m when landing a competitive handicap chase at Kempton in February. He remains unexposed over this distance and will appreciate forecast ground conditions, so with a respectable record fresh, there appears little to crab Tom George’s runner over. Fusil Raffles made a promising reappearance at Newton Abbot earlier this month and would pose the biggest danger to the selection if seeing out this 3m trip.
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