Weekend Review

The crowds arrived early for Wetherby's biggest of the season on Saturday and Venetia Williams' claimed the Charlie Hall Chase for the first time courtesy of Djelo. The youngest runner in the field, the seven year old was claiming his fourth Grade 2 victory as he got the better of the prominent racing Pic D'Orhy by a length with in excess of twenty lengths in front of the third. The Montmartre gelding goes particularly well fresh (3 from 4 beforehand) and is unexposed over staying distances. His trainer, who was having only her second runner in the race, suggested that he will return to Huntingdon next month for the Peterborough Chase, which he won last term. The runner-up is likely to revert back to middle distances and bid to win the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot for a third consecutive time - Paul Nicholls charge will be seeking a sixth victory at the Berkshire venue.

Elsewhere, Upon Tweed made an impressive start to his hurdling career in the opening two mile novices' hurdle at Ayr. Featured in the Top 40, his bumper success at Newcastle earlier this year couldn't have worked out much better. In the meantime, he was bought privately by owner Eddie Melville and is held in high regard by Nicky Richards and everyone at Greystoke. Despite a couple of novicey leaps, the Berkshire gelding proved much too good for his thirteen rivals and, having tracked the front running Stride On, he took control early in the homestraight. Following a slick jump at the third last, Danny McMenamin's mount sauntered clear and won hard held by eight and a half lengths. Likely to be kept low key for the time being, he is a tremendous young prospect with a big future. 

Mister Pessimistic was another winner for the Top 40 at Cork on Sunday. Formerly trained by Sean Doyle, the winning pointer had landed a bumper on his Rules debut at Listowel in September and maintained his unbeaten record with a comfortable success in division one of the two miles maiden hurdle this weekend. Making all and jumped neatly, his only error came at the penultimate flight but Henry De Bromhead's runner responded well and produced a fine leap at the final flight. Suited by decent ground, he won by nearly three lengths. The winning time was nearly four seconds quicker than the second division which was won by another unbeaten youngster I'm Slippy.

Ben Pauling has his team in superb form with Nicky Henderson's former assistant sending out 8 winners from 19 runners during the last seven days. Following two winners from two runners at Ascot on Saturday, the stable were responsible for three more winners on Sunday, including The Jukebox Kid on his fencing bow at Carlisle. A winning pointer when handled by Cormac Doyle in Ireland, the lightly raced six year old looked well treated off 122 as he beat Grand Geste by four lengths in the Gordon Richards Novices' Handicap Chase. Ben suggested on page 110 of OJA that the Grade 2 Hampton Novices' Chase at Warwick in January could be a suitable target. Given that information, he was a gift at 5/2 off that mark. Expect the Jukebox Jury gelding to improve again when tackling three miles for the first time under Rules. 

There were 15 winners featured in One Jump Ahead over the weekend - they included No Questions Asked (9/4), Teddy Blue (9/2), Henry's Friend (17/2), Upon Tweed (4/7), Nab Wood (15/8), Ruby Island (7/4), Mange Tout (8/15), Kateira (2/1), Strong Leader (15/8), The Jukebox Kid (5/2), Tormund Giantsbane (5/2), Resplendent Grey (9/2), Rula Bula (10/1), Mister Pessimistic (4/11) and Pic Roc (5/6).