Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby

Wetherby stages its best card of the year today, featuring the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase over an extended 3 miles at 16.35 CET. Only 7 runners, but 5 of them have serious chances including Ollkie Magern (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan), State of Play (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) and Monkerhostin (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), who took the first 3 places last year, when Turko (Paul Nicholls/ Sam Thomas) was pulled up. At today´s weights State of Play can certainly be expected to come out on top this time, but Ollie Magern, whose stable continues in great form, loves this track and is still unbeaten here, so cannot be left out of consideration. Snoopy Loopy (Peter Bowen/ Seamus Durack) is another with chances here. The Grade Two hurdle over te same trip at 16.00 also looks very open. Liberate (Hobbs/ Johnson) steps up in trip here, which should suit him, judging on his recent flat form, while Faasel (Nicky Richards/ Brian Harding) - runner-up in 2007 -, Mobaasher (Ni cholls/ Thomas) and the lghtly-raced Pettitfour (Twiston-Davies/ Brennan)also look dangerous. The listed mares hurdle at 15.20 looks booked for Emma Lavelle´s smart Blaeberry (Sam Thomas). The track is riding fast, but despite recent controversies has been praised by the jockeys and trainers taking part and is expected to cause no further problems.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Deep Purple - Lease Lend - Marsam
2.Race: Billie Magern - Glencree - Horsham Lad
3.Race: Bow School - Caliban - Star Shot
4.Race: Blaeberry - My Petra - Theatre Belle
5.Race: Mobaasher - Pettifour - Lough Derg
6.Race: Turko - State Of Play - Ollie Magern
7.Race: Warsaw Pact - Fresh Air And Fun - Storymaker