Abbey Heads Strong Hall Field Grey Abbey will face seven rivals when he bids to repeat last year´s victory in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday. Howard Johnson´s bold-jumping grey was better than ever last term, winning three of his four starts. He recently demonstrated his wellbeing with a workout at Newcastle racecourse last week when he completed just over a circuit of the track at a good pace. Among the opposition is last season´s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Take The Stand, who begins his campaign over fences in the #75,000 Grade Two contest having had a prep-run over hurdles last month. He once again has chasing´s blue riband event as his main target this time around. Trainer Peter Bowen reports the gelding in 'good form' but he is concerned about the testing conditions at the West Yorkshire track. He said: 'It would be better if the rain stayed away. There is nothing wrong with his form on soft ground but he is definitely better on good ground. 'We´ll see how he comes out of this and then he´ll probably go to Haydock (for the Betfair Chase on November 19) and then hopefully back for the Gold Cup with a bit of luck. 'We beat Grey Abbey easy enough in the Gold Cup but that was a different race on different ground.' The going at Wetherby is currently described as soft. Ollie Magern will be returning to action for the first time since he was injured just a week before the Cheltenham Festival. The seven-year-old cracked a cannonbone in his off-hind leg while he was being prepared for a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ollie Magern has experience of the track, having won the Towton Novices´ Chase over the Charlie Hall course and distance in February. His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is expecting a bold show. He said: 'He had a hairline fracture but all is mended. He looks as good as ever and I´m looking forward to it. 'I´m not worried about the ground, any ground comes alike and he´s a good winner round there. 'Tomorrow will tell us a lot. If we are not this class then we´ll go back handicapping, but if we are then on we go.' Ollie Magern will be returning to action for the first time since he was injured just a week before the Cheltenham Festival. The seven-year-old cracked a cannonbone in his off-hind leg while he was being prepared for a tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Ollie Magern has experience of the track, having won the Towton Novices´ Chase over the Charlie Hall course and distance in February. His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is expecting a bold show. He said: 'He had a hairline fracture but all is mended. He looks as good as ever and I´m looking forward to it. 'I´m not worried about the ground, any ground comes alike and he´s a good winner round there. 'Tomorrow will tell us a lot. If we are not this class then we´ll go back handicapping, but if we are then on we go.' ? PA Sport
