Winning Post
 By David
Thorpe
Charlie Hall Chase ready to get racing fans salivating
It is often said that the National Hunt Racing season in Britain doesn’t
really start until the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on October 28, and
this year’s contest looks as competitive as ever.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will saddle Denman for the race. The
high-class novice hurdler, who last year was just touched off in the big
race at Cheltenham, comes into this contest looking to have enough class
to win it but questions must be asked about whether he has the experience
and toughness to claim a prize of this nature so early in his career over
fences.
Nicholls may also saddle Star De Mohasion. Winner of several big races
last year, he improved with every run and is not a novice.
Wetherby, where the Charlie Hall Chase is run, is a track which requires
horses who are excellent jumpers and this is Star De Mohasion’s
strength in contrast to Denman who will have to rely on speed in the early
part of his career until he gains some more jumping experience.
The in-form Jonjo O’Neill stable saddle Iris’s Gift —
a horse who has disappointed somewhat as a chaser.
He has enough speed to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race in which he disappointed
last year, but has never been a top-quality jumper.
That could be his downfall once again here but the O’Neill horses
have never been in such fine form and he may be the value bet in the race.
Last year’s Charlie Hall Chase was won by Ollie Magern — a
horse who is just below the very top class as a chaser but who is well
suited to the tough track and steep fences at Wetherby.
Last year he led from the front and was able to dictate the pace against
the much faster horses behind him.
I can’t see that being allowed to happen again this year so perhaps
Ollie Magern is a horse to avoid despite the fact that the stable are
in such fine form.
Veterans such as Grey Abbey and Kingscliff look to have had their day
and should hold place chances only in this race which looks to be very
competitive this year.
Take The Stand was mightily impressive in a hurdle race at the end of
the summer, and having finished fifth and second in the last two Gold
Cups, he is a horse to be respected.
He was third in this race last year but looks to have improved since
that run. And if he lines up at Wetherby on Saturday he is definitely
the horse to be on.
This week’s horses to watch…
Thursday 2.10pm Taunton:
TIP: Island Light
A terribly poor race in which the Allison Thorpe-trained Island Light
can follow up on his recent win. The big weight should not prove
too much of an obstacle in this kind of company.
Thursday 3.40pm Taunton:
TIP: Amampuri
This horse has been threatening to win for some time and should do it
here. Tommy O’Brien takes the ride and this is another horse
who could lump a big weight to victory.
Thursday 4.10pm Taunton:
TIP: Genger
Irish trainer Tony Martin sends this horse across the Irish sea and will
have more than the beer in mind with this fellow. These types
of races rely a lot on the quality of the jockey and Martin is bringing
one of the top Irish apprentices over to take the ride.
Friday 1.30pm Newmarket:
TIP: Tommorrow’s Dream
Kevin Ryan sends this horse down from the North to try to win an end-of-season
maiden of poor quality. His most recent run would leave him bang in contention
for this race and is worth taking a chance on.
Friday 2pm Newmarket:
TIP: Dream Scheme
This horse has the right profile to win this race. A debut win which indicated
that he had far more to come and should go very close in this difficult
race in the hands of the excellent Jamie Spencer.
Friday 2.30pm Newmarket:
TIP: Kerrenuir Lass
This horse has a distateful habit of finishing second but representing
very shrewd connections he could go very close to adding a victory to
his record. Bet of the week if he runs.
RACEMEETINGS
Wednesday: Nottingham, Cheltenham, Sedgefield.
Thursday: Lingfield (AW), Stratford, Taunton.
Friday: Newmarket, Utoxeter, Wetherby.
Saturday: Ayr, Newmarket, Ascot Wetherby, Wolverhampton (AW) (E).
Sunday: Wolverhampton (AW), Plumpton, Warwick.
Top jockey Carberry escapes jail sentence
Former Irish champion jockey Paul Carberry has avoided a jail sentence
after an incident in which he set fire to a newspaper on an airplane.
The Co. Meath born-rider was originally sentenced to three months in prison
after admitting that he set fire to a friend’s newspaper on a flight
from Spain to Dublin but after agreeing to do community work he has had
that sentence quashed.
Carberry is widely regarded as one of the more gifted jump jockeys of
his generation but has long been known as much for his pranks and social
life as his phenomenal ability in the saddle.
The son of another great jockey, Tommy Carberry, Paul has won the Irish
championship twice. He was returning from a holiday in Malaga last year
when he set fire to a newspaper. The flight had to be diverted and Paul
was immediately arrested.
After admitting the offence he was sentenced to two months in prison,
but this appeal court verdict means he can continue his riding career,
where he currently has one of the best jobs in Irish racing as stable
jockey to multiple Irish champion trainer Noel Meade.
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