Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DOUBLE HANDFUL
YOU know winter is on its way when the Charlie Hall Chase comes round. Winter in this country means we descend into darkness far earlier and get cold for even longer. I think I might suffer from ‘Seasonal affective disorder,’ even though some scientists believe it to be a myth. A bit like the term ‘adult supervision’. The reverse seems to be true for me, the older I get the worse my eyesight.
A win in the Charlie Hall is sure to raise my spirits for long enough for when I actually raise some spirits.
One horse I won’t be backing is Coneygree. In fact, I’m amazed the beast is as short as 7-4 to win today. The 2015 Gold Cup winner has had just three races since that Cheltenham victory and has not tasted victory since November of that year.
Mark Bradstock’s 10-year-old has seen better days and while he may not be getting better it is possible he still retains enough ability to win today. Either way, he definitely won’t be carrying my money. A great many have billed this race as a straight shoot-out between Coneygree and that other battle-hardened warrior Cue Card, but I have my doubts.
The nine-time Grade 1 winner suffered a surprise defeat in last year’s renewal when only third after being sent off 8-11 favourite.
Colin Tizzard’s
11-year-old may have one season’s jump racing left in him at the very top level. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him as a declining force. BLAKLION hasn’t won since the RSA Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival but significantly he still looks like a horse who has his best days ahead.
He was fourth here 12 months ago and was was last seen occupying the same finishing position in the Grand National at Aintree. Nigel Twiston-davies has gone on record as saying the National didn’t seemed to take much out of his eight-year-old. He looks a cracking each-way bet this afternoon.