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Coneygree and Cue Card star in Charlie Hall field

3 minute read

Coneygree and Cue Card head a high-quality list of 13 entries for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.

Connections of the Mark Bradstock-trained Coneygree have had this race in mind as a starting point for the season for the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, subject to suitable ground.

Coneygree
Coneygree Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The 10-year-old has been restricted to just three races since then, one being the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November 2016 when he was second to Cue Card.

Colin Tizzard's evergreen 11-year-old took this prize in 2015 and was third 12 months ago. Sizing Codelco also represents the Dorset trainer.

Cue Card
Cue Card Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Blaklion was fourth in the latest renewal and makes his first appearance since finishing fourth in the Grand National. His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies also has Bristol De Mai under consideration for the three-mile Grade Two contest.

Others in the mix include David Pipe's National sixth Vieux Lion Rouge, the Brian Ellison-trained Definitly Red and Village Vic from Philip Hobbs' stable.

The going at the West Yorkshire track was described as soft, good to soft in places on Monday afternoon and clerk of the course Jonjo Sanderson does not expect conditions to change much come the end of the week.

"We've had a dry, very calm, clear day, but not massively drying," said Sanderson.

"We've got a bit of rain forecast overnight up to about lunchtime tomorrow, maybe about three or four millimetres, which won't make a huge difference, nor will it dry out the course particularly any more.

"The rest of the week is relatively dry and settled, but I'm not anticipating a huge variance.

"Assuming we do get rain on Tuesday, I can see it staying around good to soft, soft. It's not going to be any quicker than good to soft by Friday.

"I'm delighted with the entries. The big one looks a cracking race on paper at the minute. We'll just have to see what turns up at the weekend. There's some great quality in there."


At The Races

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