The Real Whacker produced a huge display from the front to land the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
The Real Whacker produced a huge display from the front to land the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Winner of the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago, not everything went as trainer Patrick Neville would have hoped last season, including in the Gold Cup.
He returned in September for this campaign at National Listowel in Kerry, where he was unlucky to take down Sam Twiston-Davies.
Immediately contesting matters at the front with Confled on this occasion, he eventually took the clear lead with a bold look under Brian Hughes, who was riding the eight-year-old for the first time.
Former winner and runner-up Bravemansgame was the market leader at 11-10 to regain his crown and turn ominously for Harry Cobden.
But The Real Whacker (5-1) continued to pounce and eventually dislodged the favorite with another fine jump in the last sealing.
Take No Chances takes the rewards listed
Take No Chances emerged as a potential challenger to Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle after continuing his progress with a decisive win.
Dan Skelton’s six-year-old won three times over hurdles last season and made an encouraging start to the new campaign when third at 33-1 for the Silver Cup at Chepstow last month.
He looked to have a lot on his plate going up against Listed-class Champion Hurdle third Luccia in the bet365 Mares’ Hurdle, but the latter already looked under heavy pressure when he went wrong in the second-last flight through, and soon he was lowered and dragged away. up.
Take No Chances (7-2), on the other hand, continued to respond to Harry Skelton’s urgings and was impressive in the end to beat Irish raider Royal Eagle by 10 lengths.
“We went back on a trip with him, like we did with Molly Ollis Wishes in this race a couple of years ago and the year before that. He’s such a type of horse, he’s got a fabulous stance and jumped very nicely. That’s a lot. good result,” said the winning coach.
“He’s eligible for anything now because we can’t really have a bad year after this. That might be too adventurous, but I’ll put him in the Fighting Fifth, just in case Constitution Hill scares everyone.
“We won’t beat Constitution Hill but he’s definitely improving and we might just turn up and see if there’s a few pennies on offer.”
Take No Chances and Harry Skelton in the Mares Hurdle
Team Skelton were looking to double up in the following bet365 Hurdle, better known as the West Yorkshire Hurdle, but 8-11 favorite Cateira had to settle for a short order in third as Gordon Elliott’s Beacon Edge (9-4) came on. victorious.
The 10-year-old is the first Irish-trained winner of the Grade 2 event since Boss Doyle won gold for Mouse Morris in 2001.
Winning jockey Danny Gilligan said: “He’s a great, real horse who runs his race every day and I couldn’t be happier with how he did it there.
“Gordon had a very good day at Down Royal yesterday and I think he has a couple of winners on the board today. Big thanks to him for giving me these opportunities, I can’t thank him enough.
“Like all small field races, it became a bit tactical. We took it going straight because I didn’t want to be too far because I knew my son was staying and he did well.”
Roadlesstravelled will have his sights set on Jonjo O’Neill after taking his record under rule to two in the 6 Horses Challenge At bet365 Novices’ Hurdle.
A £215,000 Irish point-to-point fielder, the five-year-old made a successful debut over hurdles at Market Rasen in mid-October and was 4-5 favorite to double under Jonjo O’Neill Jnr.
For just a moment between the last two jumps the would-be backers could have been sweating as eventual third Samwise posed a major threat, but Roadlesstravelled once again found himself challenged and moved into position four and three-quarter lengths in hand. staying at Marlacoo.
O’Neill Sr., who now holds a joint patent with his other son, AJ, said: “He’s a good horse, we like him and he’s done everything right. The owners have been very patient and have given him a chance to grow. Hopefully he will pay them now.
“Now we have to throw him in at the deep end and see what we have. It’s good to win two nice races, but he needs to step up.
“There’s a lot for him, so we’ll take him home and make sure he’s okay and go from there.”
Convention jockey Jamie Brace beat favorite Tedley 6-4 in time to beat the valiant Choosethenews in the Bet365 Handicap Chase for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
