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By Dylan Jenear ValueChecker

Deep Purple Favourite for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase
27/10/10

Although the Open Meeting at Cheltenham in November is generally seen as the real curtain-raiser of the National Hunt season, the Bet 365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby invariably attracts a good field, and this year’s renewal on Saturday is shaping up to be an intriguing contest.

Deep Purple
© racing-images.co.uk

The sponsors, along with Victor Chandler and Stan JamesStan James , make Deep Purple their 5-1 favourite in the ante-post market for the Grade 2 event run over 3m 1f. Evan Williams’ charge won this race last year, gamely seeing off Tamarinbleu in a thrilling finish, and also landed the Peterbrough Chase during a light 2010/11 campaign. The nine-year-old, who was a creditable fourth in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, has an excellent record when fresh (he has scored on his seasonal reappearance in three of his seasons in training) and is a worthy market leader.

Adding spice to this weekend’s race is the likely participation of Weird Al, who is unbeaten in three starts over fences, and is proven over the Charlie Hall C&D, having signed off last season with victory in the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase, in which he saw off the useful Knockara Beau, who may be in opposition again on Saturday. The Accordion gelding suffered a setback after that race, meaning that connections had to bypass the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Weird Al is a proficient jumper of fences and also goes well fresh, so it will be interesting to see how he fares in his first start outside of novice company.

The Tother One
© racing-images.co.uk

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls, who sent out See More Business to win this race 10 years ago, is set to field The Tother One in Saturday’s renewal. The nine-year-old, who will be meeting current favourite Deep Purple on 5lb better terms than if this were a handicap, was runner-up in a couple of highly competitive Listed handicap chases last term, and was far from disgraced when fifth of 24 to Chief Dan George in the William Hill Trophy when last seen out at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ollie Magern, winner of this race in 2005 and 2007, looks set to line up again, while Ireland is likely to be represented by the Mouse Morris-trained China Rock. The son of Presenting has already scored twice this month, registering victories at Gowran Park and Punchestown, and will be danger to all. The Queen’s Barbers Shop is also expected to go to post, along with stablemate Duc de Regniere, plus the bold-jumping front-runner Carruthers, who found only What A Friend too strong at Aintree in April, is amongst the entries.

With Carruthers and Ollie Magern poised to ensure a strong end-to-end gallop, the race could be teed up nicely for The Tother One, who is likely to be given a patient ride by Ruby Walsh. Conversely, the stronger the pace the greater the emphasis on jumping, and Paul Nicholls’ chaser will need to have improved in that department during the summer if he’s to beat some sure-footed fencers in this contest. Everything points to Deep Purple making a bold bid to win this race for the second year in succession, and he is the recommended bet.

Recommendation: Deep Purple