Ross Millar: weekend review and three tips for Monday

Unseasonably quick ground diluted the fields this weekend, particularly at Wetherby. Only four went to post for the West Yorkshire Hurdle, while in the Charlie Hall Chase the withdrawal of Grey Dawning meant we were denied the always interesting sub-plot of a talented second season novice stepping into open company. 

In the end the West Yorkshire Hurdle went the way of Irish raider Beacon Edge under an astute ride from Danny Gilligan, who made the most of this chance in a Grade Two contest. 

With just the four runners it unsurprisingly turned into a tactical affair. The well-supported favourite, Kateira, travelled keenly through the early stages and this ultimately cost her. 

Harry Skelton was just starting to get more animated on hger approaching the second last, which led to a miscommunication and a blunder which put an end to her chance as the race had quickened away from her. 

She did run on in the closing stages but I believe that while she is undoubtedly a talented mare her run style will mean she’s never going to be seen to best effect over this trip. 

Twig, the runner-up, ran a solid race. His long-term aim for the season is the Grand National and so he will no doubt be kept over hurdles to protect his mark. 

In a division that often produces small fields he might well be capable of landing a graded contest through the winter. A more strongly run race will serve him well. 

The Charlie Hall delivered a heart-warming result as The Real Whacker gained his first win since landing the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. 

His trainer, Patrick Neville, struggled for form last season but his decision to move yards has paid off and his stable star looked back to somewhere near his best under a quality ride from Brian Hughes. 

However, it is not a form line I’ll be getting carried away with. 

For the second year in a row Bravemansgame travelled and jumped fluently only to fail to find when asked for his effort, though unlike last year he has neither soft ground nor a final fence blunder as an excuse. 

He arrived here on the back of a third reported wind surgery and on this evidence it hasn’t done the job. I’d be surprised if connections don’t now explore the option of dropping him back to an intermediate trip. I’ll certainly oppose him anytime he races over 3m in the future. 

The Grade One three-mile chase in Ireland, The Ladbrokes Champion Chase was an altogether more exciting affair. 

For much of the home run it looked like King George winner Hewick would prevail as well supported favourite Gerri Colombe failed to quicken. 

In contrast the 2022 winner, Envoi Allen was quickening up around the right-handed home bend that he seems to like so much, eventually getting to the lead approaching the last before repelling the sustained and determined challenge of the runner-up. 

Henry De Bromhead suggested the King George would now come under consideration, saying “I feel we have unfinished business there after two years ago.” I’d love to see him line-up at Kempton as his presence would add yet another layer to what is shaping up to be a  blockbuster. 

I’m fully in jumps mode now so I have three Monday selections from Hereford. 

I was surprised that connections didn’t persist with running him over this trip after he finished second over course and distance in May. 

On that occasion I felt he’d improved for the step up in trip and was simply beaten by a better handicapped horse. Indeed, the winner Paddy De Pole is now running competitively off a 7lb higher mark. 

It’s true that Jack The Savage did run moderately on his next start over this trip at Ffos Las but that was on his sole try over fences and he never seemed all that comfortable. 

He’s run consistently over 2m throughout the summer but is always doing his best work late on having become outpaced. 

The upside of going without a win for a year is that his handicap mark has now dropped to just 94, which is 9lb below the mark that Huntingdon win came off. 

A right-handed track and good ground suit him and off this low mark with a good amateur booked I’m expecting a bold showing now he steps back up in trip. 

After a quiet start to the season proper I get the distinct impression that the Greenall and Guerriero yard are just starting to hit form, with two winners from as many runners at Ayr on Saturday. 

Irish Lullaby finished last season in fine form, winning her last two starts, including under a penalty at Cartmel. 

She returned at Carlisle this season where she was noticeably weak in the market drifting from an opening 6/4 to an SP of 17/2 under Robbie Dunne. She ran as the market suggested and trailed home a well beaten sixth. 

However, that run came on soft ground and her very best form on the flat, where she’s rated 94, came on a sound surface. 

She lines up here off a mark of just 108 and with Henry Brooke returning to the saddle and the ground conditions more favourable she can resume her winning ways for a yard that should be followed closely in the coming weeks and months. 

This likeable veteran certainly likes it here with three of his seven career wins coming at this track (with five of the seven coming right-handed). 

His form has been sporadic over the past12 months and his last win was in October 2023. The positive upshot of that is that he’s now 5lb below his last winning mark. 

An exuberant jumper on his day, I think he’s best served by an aggressive ride over this trip. I therefore took plenty of positives from his effort at this track over 2m5f on his latest start, under an experienced conditional he travelled well and jumped soundly before gradually weakening up the home straight finishing sixth but beaten just five lengths. 

He is now re-united with Sean Bowen, who’s ben on board for his past two wins.  I’d expect a bold effort from the front and if getting into a rhythm he may well prove hard to catch.