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John Smith's Hurdle |
Johnson Favours John Smith’s Hurdle for Wetherby-Bound Tidal Bay 28/10/10
Howard Johnson engaged the top-class Tidal Bay in both of Wetherby’s big races on Saturday, October 30, but is keen to run the nine-year-old in the £32,500 Grade Two John Smith’s Hurdle (2.50pm) rather than the £100,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.25pm), both staged over three miles and a furlong.
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Tidal Bay, victorious in the Grade One The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham in 2008, returned to hurdles last season and stormed to victory at the Gloucestershire course in the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle over three miles.
This season, Johnson is prepared to look at options over hurdles and fences for the Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned gelding.
The County Durham trainer revealed today: “Tidal Bay will most likely run this weekend, all being well. I haven’t spoken to Graham Wylie yet but I would think he will go for the John Smith’s Hurdle rather than the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.
“The horse looks grand but he’s getting older. He had a good summer, he’s fine and, touch wood, he’s training well. I definitely want to run him on Saturday.
“Arcalis and Doeslessthanme (also entered in the John Smith’s Hurdle) won’t run. I entered them in case I wanted to run Tidal Bay in the chase, but when I had a look at that race, I decided it wouldn’t be the best option for the horse first time out.”
Ian Williams is considering the John Smith’s Hurdle for last season’s top-class novice Wayward Prince, Philip Hobbs has engaged Fair Along for the prestigious contest, while others of note among a high-quality entry are Duc De Regniere, Lough Derg, Kayf Aramis, Picture This, Blazing Bailey and Raslan.
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The seven-year-old, part-owned and bred by Bradstock’s father-in-law Lord Oaksey, built upon that fine effort at Cheltenham when runner-up to What A Friend in the Grade One totesport Bowl at Aintree in April.
The Wantage handler revealed today: “It depends on the ground as to whether Carruthers goes for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase - we need the rain. He looks fantastic and he has really pleased me in his work. Basically, we would love to go to Wetherby - he is in at Ascot on Saturday as well and we want to go to one of them. It is all totally ground dependent.
“We were thrilled with how things went last season; what we have to remember is that he’s still only seven, rising eight. His second to What A Friend at Aintree was a fabulous run and to be totally honest, if he had really pinged the last, I think he would have given him a real good run for his money. We didn’t meet the last on a really good stride and got in a bit tight, whereas the winner was a bit quicker away from the fence.
“I have him in the Hennessy next month, so hopefully that will be the next target. How that goes will determine where we then go. In the new year, there is the Aon Chase at Newbury and then the good race at Cheltenham in January, in which he was second last year. That will be the aim, with the idea that, touching every piece of wood, he will make it back to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup in March.
“It’s always a bit nerve-wracking at this stage, looking ahead to what could be an exciting season. He has to do it on the racecourse, but at this point everything is going to plan.”
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Evan Williams has last year’s winner Deep Purple primed for Saturday’s race. The nine-year-old snatched the verdict by a head from Tamarinbleu 12 months ago, with dual bet365 Charlie Hall Chase winner Ollie Magern (2005 & 2007) back in third. Ollie Magern will bid for an unprecedented third triumph this year, while the talented Weird Al, The Queen’s Barbers Shop, last season’s high-class novice Knockara Beau, Irish raider China Rock, Nacarat, Master Medic and Calgary Bay are also among the entries.
Also on Saturday’s tremendous seven-race card is the £30,000 bet365 Mares’ Hurdle (2.15pm) over an extended two miles, and the 14 entries include the Donald McCain-trained Alegralil, as well as Banjaxed Girl and Amber Brook from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard.
Friday’s enthralling action at Wetherby includes the £20,000 Listed bet365 Handicap Chase (3.20pm) over an extended two and a half miles. Entries of note include Sa Suffit, Gwanako, last year’s winner Bible Lord, According To Pete, Private Be and the popular 13-year-old Mister McGoldrick.
The six-race card also features the £15,000 Listed Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (3.55pm) over an extended two miles, in which Paul Nicholls could run easy Chepstow winner Domtaline.
LATEST GOING
The going at Wetherby is currently GOOD, GOOD TO FIRM IN PLACES (Watering).
Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at Wetherby, commented: “We missed the majority of the rain on Tuesday, having just 3mm, and as such we have continued to water the course to maintain the current conditions at the very least. The track has received a further 12mm of irrigation, all round, today and the forecast is for further dry days on both Thursday and Friday, with temperatures creeping up into the early teens. The chance of showers remains a possibility for Friday night going into Saturday.”
Tickets are available by calling the course on 01937 582035 or online at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk.
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase - Bet365 prices:
5/1 Deep Purple, 6/1 The Tother One, Duc De Regniere, Weird Al, 7/1China Rock, Nacarat, 8/1Carruthers, 10/1 Barbers Shop, 11/1 Calgary Bay, 12/1 Knockara Beau, Tidal Bay, Ollie Magern, 16/1 Master Medic, 20/1 Sa Suffit, Massini’s Maguire, 40/1 That’s Rhythm, 50/1 General Hardi
each way 1/5 odds, 1, 2, 3
