While Flat racing enjoys a last hurrah via the Breeders’ Cup in the United States, the new jumps season may be poised to start with a bang with what looks a potentially thrilling renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby this Saturday. This year’s Grand National winner, Many Clouds, was one of 11 big names entered at the five-day stage and connections appear hopeful of running him.
“It is exciting but I never count my chickens until I actually see these horses in the parade ring on the day,” said Jonjo Sanderson, the clerk of the course at Wetherby. “They’re nicely clustered together in terms of ratings, too, so it should be competitive.”
Typically the one thing that discourages trainers from running their best horses at this stage of the season is dry ground but Sanderson reports that the going at his track is “good, not quick”, with rain amounting to around 8mm expected before race-day. He is prepared to water the track if a smaller amount should materialise.
Many Clouds’ trainer, Oliver Sherwood, said he had reduced the horse’s options to the Charlie Hall for this weekend, having decided not to take up alternative engagements at Ascot or Down Royal. “What I want is decent, safe, winter ground with a good bit of juice in it,” he added. “I wouldn’t want to run on watered ground. So we’ll see what happens and make a decision on Friday.”
Sherwood’s plan is to use Wetherby as a stepping stone to the Hennessy on 28 November, a race Many Clouds won last year after having a prep-run this weekend. If the ground is not suitable for a tilt at the Charlie Hall, Sherwood does not yet have a plan B.
“The horse is fine, we’ve not missed a beat with him. There have been plenty of folk wanting to watch him on the gallops and so on but you have to expect that if you win a National.”
Among the Charlie Hall entries thought to have been committed to the race are Cue Card, Holywell and Irish Cavalier, who have five Cheltenham Festival successes between them. Holywell warmed up with a racecourse gallop at Wetherby a fortnight ago.
Paul Nicholls expects to run Sam Winner rather than his other Charlie Hall entry, Rocky Creek, who is thought more likely to contest the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on the same day. But the champion trainer has multiple entries this weekend for many of his better horses, including Saphir Du Rheu and Ptit Zig, and will not firm up plans until nearer the time.
Of Sam Winner Nicholls said: “He goes well fresh, he needs a left-handed track, he finds it hard in handicaps off his rating and he’s short of Grade One class, so this looks the ideal race for him. He needs to be fit and ready but he will be.”
Heavy rain is expected this week at Keeneland, which will stage the Breeders’ Cup on Friday and Saturday. The track superintendent said on Monday that the going on turf was already the equivalent of “good” in Europe after persistent wet weather, with at least one forecast predicting an inch of rain over Tuesday and Wednesday.
That must count as bad news for two of Britain’s high-profile challengers for the Cup, Golden Horn in the Turf and Time Test in the Mile, both of which would prefer a fast surface. Both were beaten by a 50-1 shot in the Juddmonte International at York in August after heavy rainfall at the track.
The pair met contrasting fortunes in the draw for starting positions on Monday night. While Golden Horn was drawn one on the inside rail for the Turf, Time Test must start the Mile from stall 12 on the wide outside.
