DOUBLE HANDFUL

TODAY’S renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase is one of the most competitive I can remember, not that my memory is up to much these days. My wife told me recently, “You’re only interested in one thing,” and I can can’t t for the life of me remember mber what it is.

Looking back through the record books, the Charlie Hall has been won by some of the best chasers in the game, the likes of Wayward Lad, Burrough Hill Lad, Forgive ‘n Forget (I’d forgotten about him), One Man, Barton Bank, See More Business and Cue Card to name but a few. w

The intriguing thing about this year’s showdown is that the favourite, Britain’s highest-rated chaser Cyrname, is in the line-up — and he hasn’t frightened everyone else away.

Paul Nicholls’s charge was the first horse to beat the mighty Altior.

Cyrname could win this by a street but he does have more question marks on him than The Riddler. He doesn’t have a great record when fresh, he’s never won going left-handed and he’s yet to prove he stays three miles.

Add that to the fact that only four favourites have won this race in the last 18 runnings and by now you should be rapidly recon reconsidering backing Cyrnam Cyrname, which will make you all th the more angry with me wh when he trots up by

2 20 lengths.

We know Vinndication goes well fresh as he won the Sodexo Gold Cup last season after a 233-day break, but I h have my doubts about hi him being quite good eno enough.

Last year’s winner BALLYOP BALLYOPTIC could be the one

to beat.

He might be knocking on a bit at 10 (the previous 15 winners have been nine or younger) but he has a lot of other things in his favour.

He’s won two of his three races at Wetherby, goes well fresh and has a 50 per cent strike rate with Sam TwistonDavies on board.

He’s my each-way fancy.