Ross Millar's weekend reflections and top tips for Monday

The main focus this weekend was on Wetherby, where two of last season’s top novices, Bravemansgame and Ahoy Senor, clashed in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.

In his enthusiasm to get back racing, it appeared Ahoy Senor had unfortunately left his dancing shoes at home and after a few early bold leaps his footwork in front of the fences was once again found wanting. It resulted in a sloppy and error-strewn round of jumping.

I’m sure the powerful bay’s excellent team will regroup but in my experience nimbleness is a hard skill to teach to a 500kg animal. They have a sizeable job ahead of them if he is to be competitive in open grade.

Conversely, the jumping from Bravemansgame was as perfect as you will ever see from a chaser. He didn’t miss a beat.

However, we should be wary of confusing a top-class round of jumping with a top-class performance. He looked to find very little when pushed by Harry Cobden in the final half-furlong and, while he’s entitled to come forward for the run, I question whether his stamina will pass the more severe examinations that await him.

Eldorado Allen is a solid low 160s horse and finished just three lengths away, carrying 3lb more. Let’s not get too carried away about what Bravemansgame achieved but, that said, I cannot wait to see him jump again!

At Ascot, it was great to see Charlie Deutsch pick-up from where he left off last season, as he gave Our Power a sublime ride to win the Bateaux London Gold Cup. The Sam Thomas-trained seven-year-old stayed on powerfully and it looks like stepping up in trip will enable him to stay ahead of the handicapper. The Coral Gold Cup at Newbury next month is on his agenda and I’ve added him to my Racing TV tracker

I have three tips for Monday, including the Listed M.W. Hickey Memorial Chase at Wexford, which features Noble Yeats, this year’s Grand National winner. You can watch the race live on Racing TV.

Chris Gordon is steadily putting together a smart team of horses and has started the season in red-hot form with his strike-rate in the past fortnight being 40 per cent. His representative here, Lord Baddesley, is sure to be popular with punters with the benefit of a prep run. However, he is steadily climbing the weights without winning.

My preference is for the Emma Lavelle-trained Light N Strike who returns to hurdles after taking a heavy fall over fences at Chepstow on his seasonal return this month.

His hurdle mark is 8lb below that of his chase mark and he has good course form to his name as he’s won on both starts at this track. Jack Wildman has steadily improved under the guidance of Lavelle and Barry Fenton and looked far more polished when winning on Dream In The Park for them at Ascot on Saturday. His 7lb claim gives Light N Strike hugely favourable terms and he can make it three from three at this venue.

Seamus Mullins has a super strike rate at Plumpton over the past 12 months with a 20 per cent strike rate.

With all three of his career wins coming here it’s also safe to say that the selection in this race, En Coeur, enjoys his visits to the East-Sussex track too.

He made a good seasonal return at Fontwell this month as he chased home the progressive Blaze A Trail. That was a first run after a wind-op and it can often be that the second run is when you see the real benefit if it’s bolstered confidence. En Coeur galloped powerfully to the line at Fontwell so all signs are that his wind wasn’t an issue.

The handicapper dropped him 1lb for that run, meaning he lines up here off his last winning mark. Michael Nolan has won on him before and knows him well. I’m confident En Coeur can make it four course wins.

Noble Yeats makes his seasonal reappearance, to intents and purpose, as he was pulled up at Auteuil after jumping just four fences on his seasonal return a fortnight ago.

It could be that the French-style fences didn’t suit him but he wouldn’t be the first horse to get a fright after jumping around the National course. It’s also worth remembering he was far from fluent over his obstacles in his runs before his Grand National. He’s favoured by the weights here but cannot be advised.

Run Wild Fred made a pleasing return at Punchestown in a Grade Three this month. He had no answer to the high-class Galvin in the closing stages but jumped well and ran with great credit on ground that would have been far quicker than his optimum conditions.

With that run blowing away the cobwebs (Happy Halloween!) he’s sure to take a step forward and back on soft ground I expect him to master Noble Yeats, despite officially being rated 6lb inferior.