Weekend Review

Pic D'Orhy didn't have much trouble going one better in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday having finished runner-up twelve months ago. In doing so, the former Paul Nicholls' trained inmate became the first eleven year old to win the three miles event since Durham Edition prevailed in 1989. Transferred to Dan Skelton last spring, the triple Grade 1 winner made a mistake at the first fence in the backstraight on the final circuit but otherwise it was plain sailing. Rated 162 and nine pounds clear on ratings, Harry Skelton's mount was still on the bridle when making his challenge in the homestraight. Sauntering clear after the second last, he was value for much more than the winning margin of six and a half miles. Gaining his first win over the trip, he is expected to be entered in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. It will have been a difficult watch for his previous handler who had done such a tremendous job with the Turgeon gelding - three Grade 1 wins, six Grade 2 successes plus a Betfair Hurdle.

While it was disappointing to see Romeo Coolio finish a remote fourth in the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal - Gordon Elliott's runner may have found the ground too quick rather than the trip (he stopped too quickly) - but otherwise it was a terrific result for Rebecca Curtis with Haiti Couleurs providing the Welsh trainer with her first winner at the highest level since March 2020. Partnered by Paul Townend, he jumped soundly before staying on dourly to win by nearly five lengths. The nine year old has been a real flagbearer winning the Irish and Welsh Nationals, National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and a Denman Chase earlier in his career. More trips across the Irish Sea could be on the agenda for the Dragon Dancer gelding. Rebecca has been an excellent inclusion in the Talking Trainers section in One Jump Ahead - the section produced seven winners on Saturday including Vanderpoel (4/1), Viroflay (3/1), The Sketcher (10/11), Haiti Couleurs (8/1), Strong Leader (13/8), Pic D'Orhy (10/11) and Filibustering (Evens). 

Jamie Snowden also features in Talking Trainers and Nicky Henderson's former assistant sent out 4 winners from only 5 runners on Sunday. They included Wendigo's victory in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle. A Grade 2 winning novice chaser, he was due to contest the Old Roan Chase at Aintree a week earlier. Rerouted to the Cumbrian venue, the seven year old raced handily and went head to head with Doyen Quest for most of the final circuit. Once he had seen off Dan Skelton's runner, he withstood the challenge of novice Potters Charm conceding ten pounds. Conor O'Farrell's mount showed a good attitude before staying on strongly after the last to fend off Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies' runner by two and a quarter lengths. Rated 147, it is hoped the handicapper doesn't extract too much of a revenge before the weights for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (28th November) are revealed this week.

I spoke to stable jockey Gavin Sheehan at Wetherby on Saturday and he reported that their Cheltenham Festival winner Johnny's Jury hadn't schooled on grass prior to his chasing bow at Worcester. The six year old overcame a couple of errors in the beginners chase before leading between the last two fences. Showing signs of inexperience late on, he prevailed by a length and could head to Sandown for the Grade 2 Esher Novices' Chase (4th December) provided the chase course is fit for racing by then. A thorough stayer, he ought to improve for this experience. 

Gavin also passed on news of an exciting youngster at Folly House Stables describing him as a 'Ferrari.' All will be revealed in the November Update, which will be emailed to clients on Thursday 12th November.