@WetherbyRaces Harry Topper & Cape Tribulation could return in bet365 Charlie Hall Chase

High-class chaser Harry Topper could make his seasonal reappearance in the £100,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, the highlight of Wetherby's two-day bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Meeting on Saturday, November 2.

The six-year-old looked set for top novice honours last season after a hat-trick of wins, including a Grade Two success at Newbury in November, but failed to complete on his final two starts. Kim Bailey's charge unseated Timmy Murphy in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso in March and was brought down in a Grade One contest at Punchestown in April.

Bailey reported today: "Harry Topper will certainly be entered in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase. He did well over the summer and I am very happy with him.

"He had a good season really, but it just ended slightly disappointingly when he unseated and was brought down. Other than that, I was very happy with it.

 

"We are still on a learning curve with him because he is only a six-year-old and still has a long way to go yet.

           

"If Long Run turns up, then I don't suppose we will beat him because if we did we would be favourite for the Gold Cup and I don't expect that.

"We will play it by ear and see what he comes up with at Wetherby, but he could be a Welsh National horse or he could be something else. I don't know, but he has got to go and prove himself now.

"I think slower ground helps him. All his form is on soft ground, so the softer the better really."

Harry Topper is likely to clash with the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Cape Tribulation, who developed into a high-class chaser last season with victories in the Grade Three Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby and the Grade Two Argento Chase at Cheltenham.

Jefferson said: "Cape Tribulation is in good order and will go to Wetherby for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase. It's a nice place to start him off, as he goes well around there and it will be nice ground.

"I thought he had a great season, winning the Rowland Meyrick and the Argento, and if he has as good a one this time around, we will all be very happy.

"We will see how he gets on in the Charlie Hall before we make a plan, but he is going to get an entry in the Hennessy and we will just see from there."

Jefferson is also planning to unleash smart bumper performer Oscar Rock on the first day of the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Meeting, Friday, November 1. The five-year-old joined the Malton-based handler over the summer and looks an exciting prospect for novice hurdles after winning two of his three starts in bumpers for Harry Fry, including a Listed contest by eight lengths at Newbury in February.

Jefferson added: "Oscar Rock has settled in well and runs at Wetherby in two and a half mile novices' hurdle on the Friday. He is an exciting horse and I am very happy with him at the moment."

Others who may run in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase include Grand National winner Auroras Encore, trained in Yorkshire by Sue Smith, Grands Crus from David Pipe's Somerset yard and the Paul Nicholls-trained Unioniste.

The bet365 Charlie Hall Chase Meeting also features the £22,500 Listed OLBG.com Mares' Hurdle on the Saturday, when the first of the seven races takes place at 12.45pm.

There is also excellent racing on the opening day, Friday, November 1, with the six-race programme getting under way at 1.10pm and including the £25,000 Listed bet365 Handicap Chase.