Charlie Hall meeting tips and Wetherby preview

The bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting will take place at Wetherby Racecourse on Friday and Saturday this weekend with top-class competition including the Grade 2 Hurdles and the Charlie Hall Chase.

Tom Lunn walks you through the cards, form, moves, and more to help you navigate your way horse racing bets choice.

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Charlie Hall meets racing tips

• Steeplechase of mares
  1.50: Lucia 5/6 (1.5 points)
• bet365 Hurdle
  2.22: Strong Leader 7/4 (2 points)
• Charlie Hall Chase
  2.58: Gerry Colombe 9/2 (1pt)

Lucia

Lucia looked to have really improved since winning last December at Ascot in Grade 3 company, going on to third in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

It wasn’t quite on the cards for her to run as well as the 33/1 shot and confirmed that ability when a decent enough fourth of eight in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle a month later.

She is up against the promising five-year-old mare Brighterdayshead, trained by Gordon Elliott.

The Higginstown House-owned horse finished second in the Cheltenham Festival Mares Novice Hurdle when 5/6 favourite, but went on to score in style in the Mersey Novice Hurdle at Aintree.

Over even 2m, although Lucia, who is likely to have improved even more over the summer, will be hard to beat, with her speed and firmness, giving just 1lb to the Grade 1 winner.

Her form approaches the likes of State Man and rivals the likes of Langer Dan, Bob Olinger and Aintree winner Impaire Et Passe.

Strong Leader

This seems to be a great update to bet365 handicap level 2, with Strong Leader on the front of the ponds.

The Olly Murphy-trained seven-year-old is still very much undiscovered, especially on this trip.

His first hurdle over 3m came at Cheltenham in January over the Cleeve Hurdle where he was only just beaten by Noble Yates and Paisley Park in a thrilling finish.

Under Gavin Sheehan and at 11/1, he was ahead of Dashel Drasher, Champ and Botox, who are in the best form over this distance.

Obviously, the step forward in the trip was a perfect decision by the coach and the connections.

He missed the Cheltenham Festival but reappeared at Aintree in the Liverpool Hurdle and won by over four lengths.

Just like Lucia, he will have time over the summer to improve even more and if he does, he should win this game comfortably.

Gwenny May Boy is someone to think about for the future, as it remains to be seen where his ceiling will reach.

Gerry Colombe

The Charlie Hall Chase may be a Grade 2 but it has attracted all the top chasers and could also be a top Grade 1 with the line-up expected on Saturday.

Bravemansgame could well gather in the middle of the field for his first outing of the season, but is yet to win since the King George in 2022, but has been runner-up four times in other graded races, including last year behind Gentlemansgame.

He has certainly improved since chasing King George VI in 2023, but was negated by Huick’s incredible run.

Gray Dawning could rise again in the trip to 3m, which was not the route at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year, but it was clearly the right choice as the gray stormed home to win the Turners’ Novice Chase over 2m4f.

His ability over 3m has always been there and I’d tip him to be the antepost in the hope that he takes the Broadway Novice Chase at this meeting.

So he is very attractive as another undiscovered species at this distance, especially after a dominant performance over 3m at Warwick in January, beating Apple Away by 14 lengths.

But the test will be how he fares if he does enter this race against the likes of Hewick, Conflate and Gerry Colombe.

However, I think it’s time for the latter to continue his streak over this distance, Gerry Colombe, who was a very good second in the Gold Cup to Galopin Des Chance at Cheltenham before winning ahead of Ahoy Senior at Aintree.

It’s a bit of a theme for Grand National Festival winners, but his form seemed to improve last year, but rather off the mark as he had to face the multiple Gold Cup winner.

Tom Lunn’s Profit/Loss

• October 24: +21.57
• From May ’24: +155.99 points
• From July 23: +368.55 points

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All odds are valid at time of writing

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