Wetherby Saturday
PIC D’Orhy (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) produced a polished display on his stable debut to land the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase as the 10/11 favourite.
Held up in the early stages before moving smoothly into contention, he swept to the front three fences from home and beat Handstands (Ben Pauling/Ben Jones) by six and a half lengths, with the winner’s stablemate Riskintheground (Robbie Dunne) taking third in a substandard renewal.
Although he had done his winning over shorter trips for Paul Nicholls, the easy three miles at Wetherby proved no problem for last year’s runner-up and in lowering the course record he showed that his old ability remains intact just weeks away from his 12th birthday. The 1965 Chase at Ascot could be next on his agenda.
STRONG Leader (Olly Murphy/Sean Bowen) repeated last year’s success in the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle, the 13/8 chance prevailing by a length and a quarter from Lavida Adiva (Ruth Jefferson/Brian Hughes), while favourite Take No Chances (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) had to settle for third in a race where all four runners had a chance jumping the last.
The winner travelled well and found plenty when challenged after the last, belatedly showing the benefit of wind surgery before his final start in the spring.
He relished the quick ground here and that will be the key to him going forward, with connections likely to go to Newbury again for the Long Distance Hurdle in a few weeks.
Kateira edges duel
Kateira (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) gave the Skelton team another notable success when scoring at 6/4 in the Listed Montagu Mares’ Hurdle, adding to last year’s win in the same contest. She accounted for La Conquiere (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) by a neck after a sustained battle from the home turn, while Ooh Betty (Ben Clarke/Ben Jones) finished a respectable third.
Kateira’s adaptability in terms of trip means she should be placed to maximum advantage as Dan Skelton plots his way to retain his champion trainer’s title. She is likely to go to Kempton later this month for the Lilies Mares’ Hurdle over two-miles-five, a listed race she won in 2024.
Nallen off the mark in UK
John Nallen has owned some smashing horses over the years and has kept his hand in training some of them under rules as well as in points, with around 50 winners to his name as a trainer in Ireland over the years.
He hadn’t trained a winner in Britain, however, until Minella Hollow (Harry Skelton) lived up to his 2/7 SP by making all in the opening novice hurdle on Wetherby’s Saturday card.
The son of Beat Hollow is out of a half-sister to very useful chasers Sonevafushi and Celtic Son and is sure to go on to better things over obstacles if he can get a clear run at things.
Ascot Saturday
VIROFLAY (Paul Nicholls/Lucas Murphy) landed the £100,000 Premier Handicap Chase at odds of 3/1, staying on strongly over the three-mile trip to beat Your Darling (Ben Pauling/Callum Pritchard) by three-quarters of a length, with Tapley (Jamie Moore & Josh Moore/Caoilin Quinn) a further two and three-quarter lengths away in third.
The winner had previously been a confirmed front-runner but he was reluctant to line up initially and needed to work his way through the field before taking charge after a mile.
The success continued a productive autumn for the Ditcheat yard and with Viroflay’s former partner Olive Nicholls now retired, the ride has passed to young amateur Lucas Murphy, whose father Timmy rode his share of winner for the Nicholls yard.
Those planning to back him next time should bear in mind that Paul Nicholls reckoned that Viroflay was “ready for his life” so may not improve much for the outing.
Wind-op works
Vanderpoel (Ben Pauling/Callum Pritchard) took the feature two-mile handicap chase at 4/1, making the most of a positive ride to score in convincing fashion.
The seven-year-old accounted for Grand Annual winner Martator (Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch) by two lengths, while Shakeyatailfeather (Dan Skelton/Charlie Todd) ran a career-best to finish third.
The winner had shown useful form previously, but this was his most notable success to date, and his trainer felt that a recent breathing operation had helped him show his true worth.
Travelling strongly and jumping accurately throughout, he looked a horse comfortably ahead of his mark and he should not be hard to place as the season progresses.
“Vanderpoel had a wind op five weeks ago,” explained Pauling after the race. “And I just wonder how long he’s been feeling that without making a noise. He looked a much more relaxed and professional horse today. He jumped well, travelled well and, considering that mine are all needing it, he won it nicely.”
In-form Fry strikes
Trustintimes (Harry Fry/Bryan Carver) had fitness on his side after a spin on the flat at Nottingham and he proved best in a competitive Lavazza Handicap Hurdle.
The 11/4 favourite raced prominently and stayed on strongly after the last to defeat Indemnity (Emma Lavelle/Charlie Todd) by a length an a quarter, with Moveit Like Minnie (Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies/Nico de Boinville) a head away in third.
The five-year-old is unexposed and has been entered in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham next weekend.