Real Wecker return to top form with Charlie Hall Chase win at Wetherby

The Real Whacker produced a stunning display from the front to land the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Winner of the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago, things did not go as trainer Patrick Neville expected last season, including when he stopped in the Gold Cup.

In September he returned for this campaign in the Kerry National at Listowel where he had the misfortune to unseat Sam Twiston-Davies.

Immediately in contention on this occasion with Conflated, he eventually took the full lead in a gutsy display under Brian Hughes, riding the eight-year-old machine for the first time.

Former winner and runner-up Bravemansgame was the market leader at 11-10 to reclaim his crown and Harry Cobden loomed menacingly.

But The Real Whacker (5-1) continued to bounce back and eventually knocked off the favorite with another fine jump in the closing questions of the pack.

Take No Chances receives the following awards

Take No Chances has become a potential challenger to Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle after continuing her progress with a decisive win.

Dan Skelton’s six-year-old won three times over hurdles last season and made a strong start to the new campaign when third at 33-1 for the Chepstow Silver Trophy last month.

She looked to have a lot on her plate stepping up to Listed class against third-placed champion Lucia over hurdles in the bet365 Mares’ Hurdle, but the latter already looked under a lot of pressure as she made her way through the penultimate flight and was soon eased up and pulled up.

Take No Chances (7-2), on the other hand, continued to respond to calls from Harry Skelton and was impressive in the end to beat Irish raider Royal Eagle by 10 lengths.

“We’re back on the trip with her, as we did with Molly Ollis Wishes in this race a couple of years ago and the year before that. She is a similar type of horse, she has an incredible attitude and she jumps very smartly. It’s a very good result,” said Dan Skelton.

“She’s entitled to anything now because we can’t have a bad year after that. Maybe it’s too adventurous, but I’ll put her in the Fighting Fifth, just in case Constitution Hill scares everyone.

“We’re not going to beat Constitution Hill, but it’s definitely improving and we might just go over and see if we have a few pennies.”

Skelton’s team had high hopes of doing the double in the next bet365 Hurdle, better known as the West Yorkshire Hurdle, but 8-11 favorite Kateira had to settle for the narrow honors in third as Gordon Elliott got Beacon Edge (9-4). triumphal.

The 10-year-old became the first Irish-trained winner of the Grade Two competition since Boss Doyle took gold for Mouse Morris in 2001.

Winning jockey Danny Gilligan said: “He’s a lovely, genuine horse who runs his races every day and I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s done.

“Gordon had a really good day at Down Royal yesterday and I think he has a couple of winners today. Huge thanks to him for giving me this chance, I can’t thank him enough.

“Like all those small field races, it turned out to be a bit tactical. We picked him back on the straight because I didn’t want to be too far because I knew my guy was staying and he did a good job.”

Jonjo O’Neill will extend Roadlessstravelled’s record after taking his under-rule record to two from two in the bet365 6 Horses Challenge Novice Hurdle.

Bought for £215,000 in the Irish point-to-point field, the five-year-old made a successful debut over hurdles at Market Rasen in mid-October and was the 4-5 favorite to double it under Jonjo O’Neill Jnr.

For just a moment between the last two flights, potential backers may have been sweating as future third, Samwise, loomed over looking a major danger, but Roadlessstravelled found more than once and passed the post by four and three-quarter lengths to pass the consistent Marlacoo.

O’Neill senior, who now shares a license with his other son AJ, said: “He’s a good horse, we like him and he’s done everything right. The owners were very patient and gave him a chance to develop. I hope he will refund them now.

“We’re going to have to throw it in the deep end now and see what we’ve got. That’s fine after winning two good races, but he needs to step up the gear.

“There’s a lot going on for him, so we’re just going to take him home, make sure he’s OK and go from there.”

Conditional jockey Jamie Brace beat favorite Tadley 6-4 with a timely challenge to beat the gallant Choosethenews in the bet365 Handicap Chase for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.