Djelo shades victory in Charlie Hall battle

Djelo could be booked for bigger and better things having edged out Pic D’Orhy in a thrilling finish to the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.

Still only seven, Venetia Williams’ chaser is now as low as 16-1 for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and having proved his stamina over three miles, he would look to be among the leading British-trained contenders for the Christmas showpiece.

He had headed the betting for most of the day following the withdrawal of Protektorat due to quick ground, but close to the start the money came for Hewick, himself a previous winner of the King George, although he never looked happy and was beaten a long way out.

Pic D’Orhy tried to make all under Harry Cobden and was enjoying himself in front until he was joined by Djelo (11-4), who survived a risky leap at the last to win by a length.

For Williams, traditionally a late starter compared to other trainers, Djelo was her first winner of the new campaign.

“He’s an exciting horse,” she said. “I’m thrilled. It was quite a fight, wasn’t it.

“I thought when he got there he was going to win, but then I thought he was going to be beaten. Pic D’Orhy is obviously a very talented horse.

“These horses don’t usually have a specific distance, they can be just as good at two and a half miles as three. He saw that out well.

“It’s easy to forget he’s still only seven and he has achieved a lot already, hopefully he’s going to go on again.

“I think we’ve got to go back for the Peterborough (Chase at Huntingdon on December 7) which I know is a step back in trip, but he’s as effective at it.”

When asked about the King George, Williams replied: “One step at a time.”

Winning rider Charlie Deutsch added: “Fair play to Pic D’Orhy because when I joined him I thought he was beat, but he actually kept fighting.

“I didn’t see an amazing stride at the last so we had to go for a long one and he was brave. We didn’t jump it particularly well but we were over it quickly.

“It’s great that he’s a seven-year-old and he’s still progressing. He stayed three miles at Newbury when he won the Denman Chase but I was a little bit worried, just because he’s such a keen-going horse and I didn’t want him doing too much.”

Paul Nicholls was delighted with Pic D’Orhy and has his season mapped out.

He said: “I’m thrilled. It was a proper race, they were a mile in front of the rest. I really thought he’d go well and he stayed all the way to the line. The winner is an improving, young horse but he’s a good horse too.

“I’d say we’ll go for the Ascot race in three weeks (1965 Chase) as he likes it there or the other option is the Peterborough. We won’t go for the King George, he’ll go for the Silviniaco Conti instead and then back to Ascot for the Ascot Chase.

“It just so happens those races aren’t three miles, but he does stay. He just lost a bit of momentum four out, that could have made the difference but we’ve no excuses, they are two good horses.”