Wetherby Racecourse

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Several Hold Claims In Star Studded Charlie Hall Chase
28/10/11

The Grade 2 Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby over 3 miles and 1 furlong on Saturday looks like being a cracking encounter; with 13 set to go to post. The race was once upon a time regarded as an early season trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but recent years haven't lived up to that billing, however, Saturday’s field should see the race re-establishing itself as exactly that with several young up and coming staying chasers taking their chance.

Diamond Harry
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Included amongst the entries is Time For Rupert, the current second favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and is stepping out of Novice company for the first time, he's joined by multiple Grade One winner, Neptune Collonges, last year’s race winner, Nacarat, the runner up in the 2011 Grade 1 Ryanair Chase, Poquelin as well as Diamond Harry, winner of the Hennessey Gold Cup!

Narrow favourite to win the race is Diamond Harry, trained by Nick Williams and who is making his return to the racecourse after almost 12 months, his last win being the Hennessey last November where he landed the Newbury feature in sparkling style but a ligament injury incurred during training ruled him out for the rest of the season. He is a horse that seems to run well early season and he should have conditions to suit at Wetherby to run a big race so providing the injury is behind him and he's fit, he should certainly harbour a big chance at the Yorkshire track.

Time For Rupert
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His principle opponent according to the odds is Time For Rupert, a class horse who was second to Big Bucks in the Grade One World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a couple of years ago. He was sent over the bigger obstacles last season and appeared to take to them extremely well, winning two novice chases in his first two starts. At that point there were many predicting a big future for him but he only managed fifth place in the RSA Chase over 3m1f at the Cheltenham Festival in March. This is now a big opportunity to redeem his reputation and to justify why he is the 14/1 second favourite behind Long Run for the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls who saddled See More Business to back-to-back victories in this race in 1999 and 2000 is sending two to Wetherby to try and win the race for a third time; they are both in with big chances. Firstly, Poquelin, fourth in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Festival earlier this year, is a very consistent and highly rated eight year old who Nicholls believes should be winning races like this. He will be trying 3 miles for the first time on Saturday, but he has obvious class and it would be no surprise to see him there or thereabouts at the end.

Nicholls second entry is ten year old, Neptune Collonges, who was last seen finishing a very creditable 6th in the Scottish Grand National in April. Before that he had finished well behind Long Run in the Gold Cup, a run that came after he had won his 11th chase, the Grade 2 Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January. He is a horse with obvious class who should not be ruled out of proceedings in this race and will have plenty of supporters at 16/1 in the betting.

Nacarat
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Nacarat, trained by Tom George, was a well backed winner of this race 12 months ago and on target to repeat the feat this time around. In overall terms he had a great season last term, without quite making it to the very top of the pile. He finished fourth in both the Grade One Betfair Chase behind Imperial Commander and the King George behind Long Run. However, he did win his first Grade One when he took the Totesport Bowl Chase at Aintree in April. He is around the 6/1 mark to win on Saturday and if he can defy a 10lb rise in the weights he should have every chance once again.