BRAVEMANSGAME can win the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm) at Wetherby on Saturday afternoon.
Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old can get make it 2-1 in clashes with Ahoy Senor in their latest match-up in the Grade Two feature at the West Yorkshire track.
Bravemansgame comfortably beat Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton. Another face-off failed to happen in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when Bravemansgame was taken out just before the Grade One due to the rain-softened ground – Ahoy Senor finished second to L’Homme Presse.
Then it was Ahoy Senor’s turn to get his head in front in the Grade One Betway Mildmay Novices’ Chase at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse in April. He turned the tables on L’Homme Presse as Bravemansgame disappointed when a tailed-off last of the four runners.
Mac Tottie heads 47 entries for the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree
Both horses may have designs on the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March, but Bravemansgame is likely to have the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day back at Kempton as his chief aim. With that in mind he may be more ready to triumph this time with than than Ahoy Senor.
Ahoy Senor jumped to his right a lot last season and Wetherby may play more to Bravemansgame’s strengths and he can come out of top on Saturday.
Philip Hobbs’ SPORTING JOHN can make a winning return to action in the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) (GBB Race) (3pm).
The seven-year-old JP McManus-owned gelding won twice when reverting back to the smaller obstacles last season at Cheltenham and Warwick, but he hasn’t run since that last success in January. But having won twice on his seasonal return, he can do so again in the extended three-mile contest and potentially show his credentials for the staying hurdle division this season.
Dan Skelton’s MOLLY OLLY WISHES won the Listed bet365 Mares’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm) last season and she can do so again.
The eight-year-old went on to win a Grade Two contest at Ascot but disappointed thereafter at Haydock Park and in Grade One company at the Grand National meeting. But after a break and at the track she clearly likes she can resume winning ways.
Ben Pauling’s JOE DADANCER can make a winning debut over obstacles in the opener, the bet365 Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.50pm).
Sue Smith’s THE PADDY PIE probably doesn’t win as much as he should, but rarely runs a bad race. And the nine-year-old can go close again in the bet365 Handicap Chase (4.10pm).
Others who could win at Wetherby are the Joe Tizzard-trained AKI BOMAYE in the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase (Go North Red Rum Series Qualifier) (4.45pm) and Philip Kirby’s RED FORCE ONE in the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (5.20pm).
At Ascot GOOD BOY BOBBY can bounce back to win the Bateaux London Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.15pm).
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ nine-year-old was pulled-up three fences from home on his final start in the Grand National at Aintree back in April. But before that he had won a Listed Handicap Chase at Wetherby and the Grade Three William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at the same venue last Christmas.
He is only 2lb higher in the handicap than that last success and following a break, he may be able to resume his progress with victory.
Everton FC fan and trainer Evan Williams’ Annsam , who mixes chasing and hurdling with some success, may be the danger to the selection judged on his chase win over course and distance last December.
Grand National-winning jockey Robbie Power relishing new roles in racing
Ditcheat trainer Nicholls may also have some winners at Ascot with HACKER DES PLACES looking good for victory in the Bateaux London Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.05pm).
The five-year-old won on his final start at the Grand National meeting at Aintree and can follow-up on his seasonal return.
Stable-mate SAMARRIVE – also a winner on his final start of last season at Sandown – may also return with another victory and get the better of Goshen in the Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.30pm).
Dan Skelton’s AMOOLA GOLD has won the Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.40pm) for the past two seasons, although he was disqualified for a banned substance after last year’s race.
He was also a close second over course and distance off a handicap mark of 150 last November. Amoola Gold lines-up here off a mark of 143 this time – 3lb below last year’s ‘winning’ rating. On his return to action at a course he really enjoys, Amoola Gold can bring up the ‘hat-trick’.
Others who can win in Berkshire are Nicholls’ HOLETOWN HERO in the GL Events Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.50pm); the Pauling-trained HARDY BOY in the Grundon Waste Management Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.25pm); and BILLY BOI BLUE – from the in-form Fergal O’Brien stable – in the Molton Brown Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (5pm).
On the Flat at Newmarket Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby could have a good afternoon and KING OF CONQUEST can take the Racing TV Handicap (3.23pm); while stable-mate DREAM OF LOVE can make it two wins from two starts in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Montrose Fillies’ Stakes (3.58pm).
Wright Ones
WETHERBY
1.50pm Joe Dadancer
2.25pm Molly Ollys Wishes
3pm Sporting John
3.35pm Bravemansgame
4.10pm The Paddy Pie
4.45pm Aki Bomaye
5.20pm Red Force One
ASCOT
1.30pm Samarrive
2.05pm Hacker Des Places
2.40pm Amoola Gold
3.15pm Good Boy Bobby (NAP)
3.50pm Holetown Hero
4.25pm Hardy Boy
5pm Billy Boi Blue
NEWMARKET
1.03pm Ludmilla
1.38pm Liberalist
2.13pm Queen’s Eyot
2.48pm Sir Laurence Graff
3.23pm King Of Conquest
3.58pm Dream Of Love
4.33pm Ottoman Fleet
5.08pm Dancing To Win
AYR
1.23pm Nonbinding
1.58pm Dedanser
2.33pm Silver Flyer
3.08pm Getaway Goldie
3.43pm Collingham
4.18pm Mackenberg
4.53pm Blue Baloo
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.58pm Butterfly Effect
5.30pm Amazing Mollie
6pm Peachey Carnehan
6.30pm She’s Hot
7pm Eye Of The Water
7.30pm Diamond Jill
8pm Fair And Square
8.30pm Order Of St John
SUNDAY'S NAP: Minella Drama (Carlisle 2.30pm)
