Turf Talk: Wetherby Racecourse to stage its biggest meeting of the season
Horse racing expert Jeff Garlick’s latest weekly column for the Harrogate Advertiser
Wetherby Racecourse is the place to be this weekend as the West Yorkshire course stages its biggest meeting of the season.
Bookmaker bet365 sponsors this two-day event, where the feature race on Saturday is the Charlie Hall Chase.
This race has been won by some top-class horses over the years including Burrough Hill Lad, Forgive ‘n Forget and See More Business, all Cheltenham Gold Cup winners.
Surprisingly, champion trainer Dan Skelton has never triumphed in this race, but I expect him to remedy that statistic via Pic d’Orhy on Saturday.
This eleven-year-old was second last year when trained by Paul Nicholls and has run well without winning in some top races.
Despite his age, Pic d’Orhy is lightly raced and could not be in better hands.
Skelton is setting a strong pace in the race for the Trainers title. He has already gone past the £1 million mark of prize-money won.
He has also trained more winners than the combined total of his three nearest rivals, which is truly amazing.
Skelton is in such good form that I expect his two mares to clean up in the other two big races at Wetherby on Saturday.
Kateira won the Mares Hurdle last year, beating Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace, and she could easily double up.
In the Stayers hurdle, Skelton runs Take No Chances, who was second in the race last year when just touched off by Strong Leader.
That horse could re-oppose on Saturday, but Take No Chances had a pipe opener at Chepstow recently and she could strip fitter than her main rival.
Dan Skelton’s jockey brother Harry will be in the saddle for my three Saturday selections, but he goes to Uttoxeter on Friday for some great rides, thus handing the reins to Tristan Durrell on Kingston Narcissus in the Crossley Handicap Chase.
This seven-year-old came to Dan Skelton from the Rebecca Menzies yard and has been given a nice break since running well in the summer. Hopefully he kick-starts what could be a great weekend for the Skelton yard.
Garlick’s Goodies: Friday Wetherby 15:35 - Kingston Narcissus; Saturday 13:45 - Kateira; 14:18 - Take No Chances; 14:55 - Pic d’Orhy.