Six will head to post for Saturday's feature bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Cue Card, Bristol De Mai, See More Business and plenty more heroes of the National Hunt game have started their campaign off in this race down the years, with some even going onto taste Gold Cup glory later down the line.
Its latest renewal features a returning champion, a three-time Grade 1 winner and last year's Old Roan Chase victor.
Starting with the 2024 winner, The Real Whacker looked at least close to his best when landing a handicap up at Perth last time out. Although he landed this race two years ago, he probably hasn't delivered entirely on the promise that he showed when winning the Brown Advisory at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Patrick Neville's charge has been inconsistent in recent seasons, however, he arrives here as one of two horses with a run under their belt.
Pic d'Orhy has scored at the top-level on three occasions and, although he will be 12 in two months time, still has plenty in hand over his rivals on official ratings. The BHA have him 9lbs clear of his nearest rival and he has been spared of the penalty that he had to shoulder when finishing runner-up in this 12 months ago. Most notably, the exodus of Johnny de la Hey's horses from the Paul Nicholls yard has seen him switch to Dan Skelton over the summer.
One that might worry his older legs is Handstands. There was real hope that he could develop into a Grade 1 performer in open company, but last campaign didn't go exactly to plan. The seven-year-old did run Resplendent Grey pretty close when giving him weight on reappearance, but that was as good as it got, ending his season when failing to complete in the Ultima. Fortunately, with age still very much on his side, he still has a chance to get back on track.
One of three veterans in this contest, Hitman has all the talent in the world; he just fails to show it every time he hits the track. Four victories in the UK completely undersells what he is capable of, especially when you consider that he has finished runner-up in three different Grade 1s. He did manage to get his head in front at Aintree on seasonal debut last year and he does tend to go well off long breaks.
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase confirmed runners
- Hitman
- Riskintheground
- Handstands
- Pic d'Orhy
- The Real Whacker
- Twinjets
bet365 Charlie Hall Chase betting odds
(Odds will display when market is available)
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
