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Charlie Hall Chase: runner-by-runner guide and verdict

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Thu 29 Oct 2026

One of the early season highlights takes centre stage at Wetherby on Saturday, as a field of six line up for the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase.

Pic D’Orhy heads the market but, in a race where favourites have a poor recent record, perhaps this guide can offer an alternative selection.

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1 - Hitman

Hitman is one of two runners for Paul Nicholls and carries a 4lb penalty for his victory in the Old Roan last season.

He has not put up any performances close to that level since and was last seen falling when struggling in the Topham.

He is yet to win over three miles and with a penalty to defy, he will have a lot to prove in order be successful here on his seasonal reappearance.

2 - Riskintheground

Riskintheground also carries the burden of a 4lb penalty and looks up against it on form.

He was kept busy in the summer, running up until late June, and made his return at Ffos Las earlier this month.

He was beaten a long way in that Class 2 handicap and looks out of his depth in this calibre of race.

3 - Handstands

Handstands is the youngest horse in the field as a seven-year-old and is still relatively lightly raced.

He had a somewhat interrupted campaign last season and success evaded him across his four runs, but he got the hattrick up the season prior and he could feasibly return to similar form if he has had a smooth return to action.

He holds some of the better form in this field and should run well on that, though I would like to see Ben Pauling’s yard making a slightly stronger start to the season before backing him to win.

4 - Pic D'Orhy

Eleven-year-old Pic D’Orhy makes his stable debut for Dan Skelton here after leaving Paul Nicholls at the end of last season.

He is used to going up against classier horses than these and is a Group One winner himself, however it has now been 20 months since his last success and he was decisively beaten at Aintree last time out.

He holds strong historic form but doesn’t appear to be quite the force of old anymore, though this is weaker opposition than he usually contests and he is in hands capable of getting him back to better.

5 - The Real Whacker

The Real Whacker won this race in 2024 and had not managed to get his head in front since until his seasonal reappearance last month.

He doesn’t appear to be the easiest horse to keep in form but has clearly come back well this season and he can usually string a couple of good runs together when turned out again relatively quickly.

Though his Perth success was in lesser company than this, it would not be a surprise to see him build on that in a race he has won before and make the most of his fitness advantage over the other fancied runners.

6 - Twinjets

Twinjets was last seen when winning a Class 2 handicap at Ayr in April and enjoyed a successful time of things last season.

He didn’t finish out of the top two when completing the course but is yet to contest a race of this class and has never got round in his few attempts in Grade Three company.

Conditions will be no issue for him and he has been fairly consistent since joining Paul Nicholls, but he would need to put up a career-best effort to go close in this grade.

Verdict:

A favourite has not won this race in the past decade and Pic D’Orhy also needs to prove he can get his head back in front after going a long time between victories. Previous winner of the race The Real Whacker made a timely return to form last month and I am willing to take a chance that he can build on that. He has a fitness edge over his main rivals and Handstands, while holding decent form, needs something of a revival in order to win here.

1st - The Real Whacker

2nd - Pic D'Orhy

3rd - Handstands

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