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Charlie Hall Chase Preview – Jumps Stars Return as Early Marker Can Be Laid Down

The first open Graded chase of the jumps season is Wetherby’s Charlie Hall, which has been used so often to open the pathways of some of National Hunt’s greats. A field of seven have been declared, and Joe Napier previews the field.

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Mouse Morris secured a successful raid for Ireland a year ago with Gentlemansgame edging out Bravemansgame after a mistake by the latter at the last.


BRAVEMANSGAME

(Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden)

Defeat in this last season proved an unfortunate sign of things to come for Bravemansgame, who, having won nine of his first 12 starts under rules, is now without a win in seven. His runner-up finish owed much to a mistake at the final fence, but preceded two more second-placed finishes in the Betfair Chase and King George.

He was then far less competitive in the Gold Cup than he had been a year prior, finishing a 19-length fifth to Galopin Des Champs after being just seven lengths in arrears in second the year before. He is still among the best of the British staying chasers though, and wind surgery over the summer may put him right. He goes well fresh and conditions look to favour him here.


GREY DAWNING

(Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton)

There have been more than just hints than Dan Skelton’s early aim for Grey Dawning is the Betfair Chase. A star last season, he won the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase in a superb battle with Paul Nicholls’ Ginny’s Destiny and has comfortably enough ability to mix it with the best on these shores between 2m4f-3m.

However, with Haydock likely the bigger aim, the goal for him on Saturday may be more about achieving full fitness than walking away victorious. He has been beaten on both seasonal debuts over obstacles, and last year’s third to Stay Away Fay also saw him finish behind then now 130-rated The Changing Man. Given he concedes weight to all bar one in this field, this rates a better watching brief, though he would obviously stand a fine chance if fully fit.


CONFLATED

(Gordon Elliott/Danny Gilligan)

Gordon Elliott and his Cullentra staff may have more eyes trained on Down Royal this weekend given they have a fine record at that early-season meeting on home shores. Conflated nevertheless rates as one of their bigger runners of the weekend, and the ten-year-old showed he remains a very high class horse last spring.

His second to Jonbon in the Melling Chase was a top effort, and he had been placed in the Ryanair just before that too. He finished the season within ten lengths of Fastorslow in the Punchestown Gold Cup, so can mix it over any distance. The issue is he usually needs a run before hitting full stride, and he barely got that when unseating at the first back at Punchestown two weeks ago. He is another favoured by race conditions but fitness questions are unanswered.


FRENCH DYNAMITE

(Mouse Morris/Sean Flanagan)

Mouse Morris sent a winner over from Ireland for Robcour a year ago and French Dynamite earned a first win in nearly two years to arrive in great form to try and emulate Gentlemansgame. The nine-year-old ensured the weight he received from Minella Indo and Hewick was put to good use to win the BetVictor Chase at Punchestown comfortably.

Unlike that day though, he is the one conceding the penalties here. He is suited by good ground and is well worth another go at 3m, but he would have to have improved into the Grade 1 category to be taking this under these terms.

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THE FIELD

Like Conflated, The Real Whacker also unseated on his return, though got a lot further in the Kerry National. It was still too early to say if he was travelling well or not, but he could step forward to be relatively competitive here, albeit he has not looked like winning at this sort of level since his surprise Cheltenham Festival win in 2023.

Hang In There has been a summer only operator for the last couple of years for Emma Lavelle, so good ground will be a positive for him. However, his rating of 159 is almost certainly false given the level of races from May to September, while Sam Brown retains his zest at the age of 12 but is likely to need this.


VERDICT

Had Conflated completed on his return, he would probably shade the verdict over BRAVEMANSGAME, but having unseated at the first, he may still be a touch fresh. The selection has never needed a run before finding his best form though, and while this is a stronger renewal than the one he lost a year ago, he should still have the ability to win this on favourable terms. Grey Dawning’s ultimate goal looks the Betfair Chase, so he too might reap the rewards of finding fitness here, so maybe The Real Whacker can be a contender for the frame, with French Dynamite unlikely to suddenly possess the ability to concede weight all round.

  1. Bravemansgame
  2. Conflated
  3. The Real Whacker
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