Venetia Williams is hoping lightning can strike twice when Royale Pagaille returns from harm in search of a Betfair Chase double at Haydock on Saturday.
The Merseyside Grade One is understood for its repeat winners down the years, with the likes of Kauto Star, Cue Card and Bristol De Mai all a number of entrants on the roll of honour.
Now Williams’ Haydock specialist will bid to hitch that elite group having produced a profession finest to solid apart the reopposing Bravemansgame 12 months in the past.
𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 excels within the @Betfair Chase @haydockraces! 👀@VenetiaWRacing | @charliedeutsch2 pic.twitter.com/vbN5cTGyPw
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 25, 2023
Staying on when a final-fence faller within the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham most just lately, the 10-year-old has a 301-day absence to defy. However he’s confirmed when contemporary and his handler has been happy along with his progress main into what’s one thing of a house fixture for the four-time course winner.
“I’m proud of him and it seems to be like there can be some rain on the day to melt up the bottom a bit,” stated Williams.
“He had a nasty fall at Cheltenham in January and fractured his shoulder, it took loads of time to recover from that, so it’s good to be getting him again on a racecourse. The race has an even bigger area this 12 months however we hope he runs nicely.
“It’s arduous to inform with a horse like him (if he’s pretty much as good as final 12 months) till you get to a racecourse. However I’m definitely joyful along with his preparation.”
Charlie Deutsch celebrates successful the Betfair Chase on Royale Pagaille (David Davies for the Jockey Membership/PA)
If Royale Pagaille is getting into the veteran stage of his profession, then Dan Skelton’s Gray Dawning may have all of it earlier than him as connections head to Haydock with Gold Cup ambitions.
A Grade One winner on the Cheltenham Pageant within the spring, the seven-year-old seems to have all of the attributes to make his mark within the staying division and now bids to comply with within the footsteps of the secure’s Protektorat, who received this in 2022.
“He’s confirmed round Haydock, which is an enormous plus, and he has stayed the journey already at Warwick,” stated Skelton.
“He’s a Grade One winner and carries by way of prime type from final 12 months as a novice. I’ve by no means ducked the scenario that he has acquired to come back as much as their stage now, to Grade One stage in open firm, however I really feel he can do it.
“I’ve at all times felt this horse can be a progressor all by way of his life. Contact wooden, he’s achieved that for us, however it will likely be a completely totally different check on Saturday.
Gray Dawning in motion at Cheltenham (Adam Davy/PA)
“We wish to go down the Gold Cup route. That’s the way you begin out hoping and the racecourse will let you know whether or not that’s real looking or not.
“Whereas Saturday is essential, we’re not going there apprehensive in any method. We’re going there excited with a extremely good horse. He’s pretty much as good as any staying chaser we’ve had at this stage of their life.”
Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor returns to a staying journey having dropped again in distance for his seasonal reappearance in Aintree’s Previous Roan Chase.
A winner on the highest stage over hurdles, he has typically annoyed connections along with his many near-misses over the bigger obstacles, however their confidence is unwavering.
Ahoy Senor has loads of capability (David Davies/PA)
Peter Scudamore, Russell’s accomplice and assistant, stated: “His house work is actually good. He’s most spectacular to observe. He makes you so proud.
“When he received at Aintree and beat varied horses like Bravemansgame in that novice hurdle (Sefton Novices Hurdle in April 2021), you assume Gold Cup. You assume you’ve acquired that Gold Cup horse after which instantly whenever you begin racing at that stage, you realise (what it takes).
“I don’t blame him in any method. Generally there aren’t causes however I believe there have been causes. I’m not saying he’ll win a Gold Cup, however he’s completely able to being very aggressive in a Gold Cup. He was in entrance when he fell (in 2023). Though it was an uncharacteristic fall, he jumped it OK and it wasn’t one the place he’s crashed into it.”
There are three Irish challengers, with JP McManus represented by Willie Mullins’ Capodanno – a supplementary entry into the competition – and Gavin Cromwell’s Limerick Lace.
Coach John ‘Shark’ Hanlon with Hewick (Niall Carson/PA)
Shark Hanlon’s Hewick brings match health with him forward of his raiding mission, with the King George hero edged out by Envoi Allen in Down Royal’s Champion Chase earlier this month.
“He didn’t should lose at Down Royal, he put all of it in, I believe he’s really higher this 12 months than he was final 12 months,” stated Hanlon.
“I couldn’t imagine they dropped him a few kilos after it. If he was educated by Willie (Mullins), Gordon (Elliott) or Paul Nicholls, he’d be rated 10lb increased, I believe.
“His type is pretty much as good as there’s, however I hope they don’t contact his mark as a result of he’ll be a horse for the English Nationwide. I’m very joyful to assume he’s a 163 horse, anyway!”
Others within the combine embody French challenger Gold Tweet, winner of the 2023 Cleeve Hurdle for Gabriel Leenders, plus Patrick Neville’s Charlie Corridor scorer The Actual Whacker and the Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame, who can be outfitted with first-time blinkers after being overwhelmed over three lengths at Wetherby.
Bravemansgame will put on blinkers at Haydock (John Walton/PA)
Nicholls stated: “The primary time we put blinkers on See Extra Enterprise, we noticed a speedy transformation and he received the Gold Cup. It simply generally focuses their thoughts.
“Harry (Cobden, jockey) thought he was maintaining a bit to himself at Wetherby, I really thought the bottom was fast sufficient and he was flat out a lot of the method, however anyway, we put blinkers on this week and it positively improved him. He’s labored properly and schooled on Thursday morning and we have now nothing to lose.
“I do assume we had him pretty prepared for the Charlie Corridor – I don’t assume it was lack of health that beat him at Wetherby. He’d been away and achieved loads of work and I don’t assume there’ll be large enchancment from run to run with him, I’m simply hoping the blinkers sharpen him up and focus his thoughts.
“It’s a aggressive race and blinkers or no blinkers, he’s acquired to run to his absolute best to be aggressive.”
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