THE REAL WHACKER has been laid out for a repeat win in Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and Patrick Neville’s star can deliver another knockout blow for punters.
Brian Hughes’ mount finished fourth in last year’s King George and fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but despite winning what’s been proved to have been a substandard Brown Advisory at Cheltenham two years ago, this weekend’s Grade 2 is his level.
That Grade 1 success was still top class form but track, ground and trip looked absolutely perfect when he trounced Bravemansgame at Wetherby 12 months ago and he’s penalised 6lbs back there on Saturday after last month’s pipe-opener over hurdles at Perth.
Hughes steered the nine-year-old around to finish three and a half lengths second to Olly Murphy’s highly-rated Chasing Fire and while that form is pretty meaningless in the context of a Grade 2 chase at Wetherby, the promise and well-being was there for all to see.
Despite going off a well-backed 5/1 chance last year against the 11/10 Bravemansgame, The Real Whacker has been trading at 8/1 with Dan Skelton‘s Protektorat the 9/4 favourite ahead of Pic D’Orhy, Djelo and Irish legend Hewick, the last named having been well talked up by trainer Shark Hanlon.
Hewick proved his current well-being with this month’s hurdles success at Thurles but the other three ahead of my selection in the betting are all making their seasonal debuts and Neville could just have stolen a march with that near perfect run over hurdles at Perth.
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The prospect of fast ground could cause Ascot’s six-day fields to shrink significantly this morning but that shouldn’t bother bang in-form Paul Nicholls‘ plans to run SANS BRUIT in the £100,000 handicap chase at 2.05 where Jay Tidball’s 5lbs claim can come in useful.
The seven-year-old finished last term with handicap wins on quick surfaces at Aintree and Plumpton and while all of his best form has been left-handed, a course and distance third here last November was solid and he’s 6lbs better-off with the winner Martator with the Nicholls horse likely to be much further forward than Venetia Williams‘ runner.
There’s a seven-race card to kick-start the new jumping season at Ayr on Saturday and Clerk of the Course Graeme Anderson’s expectation of mainly good to soft ground should ensure the likely odds-on favourite UPON TWEED makes a winning hurdling debut for Nicky Richards at 12.48.
NAB WOOD should be at bigger odds for the same trainer in the three miles handicap hurdle at 1.58 with the still highly-promising eight-year-old boasting form figures of 2-2 at this track in addition to his two wins at Kelso.
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Declarations for a whole host of Russell/Scudamore runners should make for interesting reading this morning after several high-profile interviews detailing the joint-trainers’ plans this week but I’m convinced there’s a lot more to come from TOMMY COMBATS this season (2.29) and Martin Todhunter’s early jumps runners have seemed well forward.
Brian Hughes’ trip to Wetherby means Craig Nichol could pick up the ride on Jimmy Fyffe’s chasing debutant SURREY BELLE at 3.40 and I was so confident this mare would win the Cesarewitch before the ground went against her that I have to trust connections’ decision to head straight over fences from a good mark.
Carlisle’s Sunday card should provide the best jump racing anywhere this weekend and first time out looks the day to back Nicky Richards’ THE KALOOKI KID in the two and a half miles Listed Colin Parker Chase at 2.37.
All eyes will be on the Coral Gold Cup bound Resplendent Grey but the Richards’ runner was a big improver last season and Danny McMenamin’s mount shone in a racecourse gallop at Ayr two weeks ago with Sunday’s jockey on board.
Henry de Bromhead‘s LADY ROSE HACKETT bumped into some smart performers when she hit the frame in three maiden hurdles but she’s carried a lofty mark over to chasing and looks sure to benefit from a step up in trip at Thurles (2.30).
The handicapper has dropped her another 2lbs to 98 after an opening perch of 105 and the three miles point-to-point winner might just have been too fresh at Tramore earlier this month after a very promising fencing debut there in August.
The handicapper’s having a job keeping up with Magistrato but the four-timer could be thwarted by THISTLE ASK in Wetherby’s 2.55 on Friday.
Dan Skelton now has the former James Ewart inmate and neither a step up in trip or a 6lbs penalty should stop him after an easy win at Kelso last Saturday.
MOUNT KING has had some stiff tasks since winning off 67 at Pontefract in June but the five-year-old’s held his form well and heads for Newmarket’s 3.22 on Friday.
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Jenny Candlish’s seven-year-old couldn’t take advantage of a lower chase rating at Sedgefield the other day but there’s nothing wrong with his hurdles mark despite a recent 4lbs rise and the fast conditions should suit.
Sean Quinlan’s mount is four from 19 over hurdles but he’s actually won two of his last six over the smaller obstacles and his latest win at Newton Abbot was a hurdles best before that second over fences in County Durham.
Two runs at the venue have yielded a second over fences and a third over hurdles, both in ten-runner fields and the last six Candlish runners to go off at less than 10/1 have all finished in the first four.
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