Friday, October 22, 2004

HENDERSON AIMS MARLBOROUGH AT WETHERBY'S bet365 CHARLIE HALL CHASE AGAIN

The 12-year-old chaser has already triumphed in this prestigious three mile, one furlong contest, proving two lengths too powerful for Hussard Collonges in 2002. The following month, he found just three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate a length and a half too good in the Grade One Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Last year Marlborough again ran well in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, going down by six lengths to the Howard Johnson-trained Ballybough Rasher, who stayed on to lead at the last fence and was driven clear by Graham Lee.

Henderson said: “The bet365 Charlie Hall Chase is the plan for Marlborough - he's going to work on Saturday(tomorrow) and then we'll discuss it over the weekend but that is his objective anyway.”

The Strong Gale gelding was last seen in action during a brief spell in training in France with Jehan Bertran De Balanda, whom he represented once when pulled up five fences from home in the Listed Prix William Head Chase at Auteuil in April.

“Marlborough just went to France briefly to have a look but it's a bit different over there so he came back,” explained the master of Seven Barrows.

According to the trainer, Marlborough is in fine form and, later in the campaign, he may have a third crack at the King George VI Chase in which he finished fifth to Edredon Bleu last season.

“Marlborough worked great on Tuesday and I was really pleased with him,” enthused Henderson. "We'll just cross the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase first - we're going to see how he gets on there because he's 12 now. But he seems as young and bright as ever."

The bet365 Charlie Hall Chase takes pride of place on the second and final day of Wetherby's bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Meeting, which takes place on Friday and Saturday, October 29 and 30.

See More Business, the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1999, prevailed in both the 1999 and 2000 runnings of the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase. In 1999 the Seymour Hicks gelding stayed on well from the last to deny Simply Dashing by five lengths, while the following term he was an even more impressive winner coming home unchallenged by 30 lengths from Bobby Grant.

Gordon Richards' much-loved grey One Man was another dual winner of this event in 1996 and 1997. The first year he was given a beautiful ride by Richard Dunwoody to hold off Barton Bank by seven lengths.

One Man, with Dunwoody again in the saddle, beat the same rival by a reduced margin of two and a half lengths and the following year the chaser proved his versatility when winning the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Whichever horse wins the 2004 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase will also be the recipient of a £100,000 bonus provided by bet365 if going on to capture the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 18, 2005. The bonus will be split accordingly: owner £75,000; trainer £15,000 and winning stable £10,000.

The seven-race programme on Saturday, October 30, bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Day also features the £40,000 Grade Two John Smith's Hurdle (3.25pm) over three miles about one furlong and the £18,000-added Listed Constant Security Wensleydale Juvenile Novices' Hurdle (2.20pm) over two miles.

Graham Lee completed a big-race double last year when he partnered the Kevin Ryan-trained Gralmano to a three-length success over Royal Emperor in the John Smith's Hurdle.

Brother Joe spoiled Boss Doyle's treble attempt in this event in 2002, winning by 15 lengths with another six lengths back to third-placed Spendid.

The previous year Boss Doyle, trained in Ireland by Mouse Morris, beat Spendid while his first victory came at the expense of Earthmover, whom he denied in a marvellous finish by three-quarters of a length.

The 1999 renewal of the John Smith's Hurdle went to Nicky Henderson's Silver Wedge, who stayed on well to lead near the finish and master Upgrade by a length.

Pridwell got the better of a match with Mistinguett in 1997. An indication of the measure of the Martin Pipe-trained winner's ability is that the following year he was able to beat three-time Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq by a head in the Grade One Martell Aintree Hurdle in April.

The most recent running of the Constant Security Wensleydale Juvenile Novices' Hurdle went to Howle Hill, trained by Alan King, who easily got the better of Mezereon by eight lengths. He subsequently finished fifth to Made In Japan in the Triumph Hurdle.

Quazar held on well in 2001 to defeat Bula Rose by half a length. Later in the campaign Jonjo O'Neill's charge won both the Grade Two Martell Cognac XO Anniversary 4-y-o Novices' Hurdle at Aintree and the Grade One Champion 4-y-o Hurdle at Punchestown.

The other events on Saturday, October 30, are the opening the £10,000-added Arthur Stephenson Novices' Handicap Chase (1.45pm - extended two miles and four furlongs), the £17,000-added Dine And View' Handicap Chase (4pm - extended two miles and four furlongs),the £10,000-added Tadcaster Handicap Hurdle (4.35pm - extended two miles and four furlongs) and the concluding £10,000-added Book Your Christmas Party Here' Novices' Hurdle (5..05pm - two miles)

There are six races at Wetherby on Friday, October 29, featuring the £12,000-added bet365 White Rose Handicap Chase (4.10pm) over two miles. Other sponsors on the programme are the family of the late Paddy Farrell and the Rocom Group.

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

©Racenews 2002
designed and produced by Racenews Internet Services