Dynamite on course for Charlie Hall Bravemansgame, Gerri Colombe and Grey Dawning head 13 entries for the £100,000 Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday, November 2, day two of the bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting. Multiple Grade 1 scorer Bravemansgame has contested the last two editions of the three-mile highlight for Paul Nicholls, winning impressively in 2022 and losing out narrowly last year to Irish raider Gentlemansgame. Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning is aiming to make a smooth transition into open company after an excellent novice campaign, including victory in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe heads four Irish-trained contenders, although trainer Gordon Elliott has indicated that he is likely to return in the Champion Chase at Down Royal on the same afternoon. Gerri Colombe is joined by stable-mate Conflated, a dual Grade 1 winner in his own right, while Shark Hanlon has entered last season’s King George VI Chase hero Hewick. Gentlemansgame’s trainer Mouse Morris is targeting the spoils again, this time with French Dynamite. French Dynamite has enjoyed a good autumn campaign so far, finishing second in a Grade 2 contest at Gowran Park before a front-running victory in a Grade 3 chase at Punchestown on October 16. The nine-year-old has performed well on his previous visits to the UK, including a close second in the 2022 Paddy Power Gold Cup and a fourth in the 2023 Ryanair Chase. Morris said: “French Dynamite came out of Punchestown in great order and is very likely to travel over for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase. “He won nicely the last day. He had race fitness on his side, but it was a good performance and opens up a few more doors for him in terms of distance. “I am trying to get him qualified for the Grand National, so hopefully he can finish in the first four at Wetherby. On his run the last day, he should be competitive, and I can see him running a nice race.” Other notable entries include Iroko (Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerreiro), who was runner-up in a Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree in the spring, and 2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase victor The Real Whacker (Patrick Neville). bet365 Charlie Hall Chase — bet365 prices: 6/4 Bravemansgame 7/4 Grey Dawning 7/2 Gerri Colombe 4/1 Iroko 8/1 Conflated, Hewick 10/1 The Real Whacker 12/1 French Dynamite, Thunder Rock 14/1 Hang In There 25/1 Sam Brown 33/1 Dashel Drasher 100/1 Flegmatik EW 1/5 1-2-3 Wetherby’s Saturday card could also see the return of Strong Leader in the three-mile Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle, with Olly Murphy’s seven-year-old having ended last season with victory in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle. The 11 entries also include Sandor Clegane from the Irish stable of Paul Nolan and Dashel Drasher for Jeremy Scott. Exciting mare Brighterdaysahead (Gordon Elliott) tops 10 entries for the Listed bet365 Mares’ Hurdle over two miles. Nicky Henderson has entered Champion Hurdle third Luccia, while Dan Skelton is responsible for Grand National Festival scorer Kateira, who also has the option of the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle. The bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting begins on Friday, November 1, when the highlights are the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Chase (12 entries) and the Listed Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle (12 entries). The going at Wetherby is Good to Soft, Good in places, with a dry week forecast.
