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Saturday racing preview: What the trainers say

By Sporting Life
Horse Racing
Fri November 01, 2024 · 3w ago

Check out the view from connections ahead of Saturday's feature race action.

2.40 Down Royal Ladbrokes Champion Chase

Gerri Colombe returns to Down Royal on Saturday to defend his Ladbrokes Champion Chase crown, a race Gordon Elliott has a fine record in.

The eight-year-old edged out Henry de Bromhead’s 2022 champion and reopposing Envoi Allen when landing this contest 12 months ago and would go on to finish second to Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown at Christmas and in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, before ending the season on a high at Aintree.

He makes his reappearance as the one to beat in the Grade One event, with victory taking Elliott past Paul Nicholls as the race’s most successful trainer.

Elliott said: “He’s going to come on again (from the run) – the same as last year – but he is in good form and we are happy with him. I think Gerri is actually better on that type of ground (good to yielding) so, once it is safe, we will be happy. It looks like they have a lovely cover of grass on it.

“You are always nervous with those horses and you want the ground to be as safe as it can be, but I don’t think he is as much of a mudlark as everyone thinks.”

Elliott will also be represented by Grand National runner-up Delta Work, while Gavin Cromwell will saddle Visionarian after his recent success in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran.

The five-strong line-up is completed by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s King George hero Hewick, with the handler hoping to take advantage of good ground at the Lisburn venue before a possible tilt at Haydock’s Betfair Chase later this month.

Hanlon said: “He’s in great form and he did a piece of work the other day on the Curragh that makes me very happy with him, I just hope they don’t over-water the ground. The ground up there is nice at the moment. He loves good ground and hopefully it will be that.

“I was very happy with his comeback at Punchestown and he will improve a lot from that. He was only back in eight or nine weeks before that run and blew up, but I think it will leave him spot on. My plan if the ground stays dry is to head to Haydock after this.”

The other graded action on the card sees Elliott go for a third straight win in the Bottlegreen Ladies Day 2024 Chase with Found A Fifty.

The Cullentra House handler has won the Grade Two contest four times in total and this year’s contender sets the standard on his Arkle second and Grade One win at Aintree in the spring.

Noel Meade won this in consecutive years with Disko (2017) and Snow Falcon (2018) and saddles what appears Found A Fifty’s biggest danger in the improving Galway Plate winner Pinkerton.

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2.58 Wetherby bet365 Charlie Hall Chase

Paul Nicholls expects drying conditions to bring out the best in Bravemansgame as he looks to regain his crown in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

The nine-year-old was a comfortable winner of the West Yorkshire showpiece two years ago en route to striking gold in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, but last season he had to make do with the silver medal in both races, with a runner-up finish in Haydock’s Betfair Chase sandwiched in between.

While some members of his Ditcheat string have looked in need of a run this autumn, Nicholls believes Bravemansgame is fit enough to do himself justice on his seasonal debut.

“It’s totally different ground to 12 months ago, when it was basically heavy ground. He ran a good race (last year), he just blew up from the back of the last,” the Ditcheat handler told Betfair.

“We think we’ve taken a different approach this year, as we wanted him ready for this, rather than trying to leave a little bit of improvement for the Betfair Chase. I don’t think we’re going to go for the Betfair Chase this year, unless the ground happened to be fast.

“He’s in good shape. He had an away-day and worked very nicely with Ginny’s Destiny about 10 days ago. His schooling is good and we cauterized his palate in the summer. There’s lots of positives, but the most important thing is the ground.”

While Nicholls is pleased with the prospect of a sound surface for Bravemansgame, his former assistant Dan Skelton has decided against running his Cheltenham Festival winner Grey Dawning.

Last season’s Turners Novices’ Chase victor does hold an alternative engagement in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle on Sunday, but again his participation will be ground dependent.

Conflated is one of two Irish-trained contenders, along with the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite. Trained by Gordon Elliott, the 10-year-old Conflated is a familiar figure in the division who has two Grade One titles to his name, in the Irish Gold Cup and the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

He has also been placed in several top-class contests, including finishing third in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and looks to get his season up and running after parting company with Jack Kennedy at the first fence in the BetVictor Chase at Punchestown two and a half weeks ago.

“He was unlucky first time out, he just clipped a heel and came down, but at least he finished the course (riderless) and in a way he sort of had a run,” said Eddie O’Leary of owners Gigginstown House Stud.

“I hope that means something – he had a decent gallop! He goes to Wetherby because he’s far better off left-handed, so we hope he has a clear round and hope for a bit of luck.”

French Dynamite was triumphant in last month’s BetVictor Chase and bids to provide Mouse Morris with back-to-back Charlie Hall wins following the success of Gentlemansgame 12 months ago.

Morris said: “French Dynamite came out of Punchestown in great order. He won nicely the last day. He had race fitness on his side, but it was a good performance and opens up a few more doors for him in terms of distance. I am trying to get him qualified for the Grand National, so hopefully he can finish in the first four at Wetherby. On his run the last day, he should be competitive, and I can see him running a nice race.”

More locally trained is Patrick Neville’s The Real Whacker, conqueror of Gerri Colombe in the 2023 Brown Advisory and tried in the very best company since. He ran in the Kerry National at Listowel in September, but unseated his rider at the 10th obstacle.

Neville said: “The Real Whacker goes into the Charlie Hall in great form. We were disappointed at Listowel, as we had him fairly ripe for the day. We will never know what would have happened, but it looked like he was going to run a good race. We are looking forward to Saturday, as the ground will be to our liking. It looks a fair line-up, but we are happy enough to take them on.”

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