BRAVE PUTS IT HALL TOGETHER
PAUL NICHOLLS declared Bravemansgame “up there with the best we’ve had” after the seven-year-old made a flawless comeback in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Punters backed the Lucinda Russellsaddled Ahoy Senor into 11-10 favourite for the bet365-sponsored Grade 2, but the market leader put in a haphazard round of jumping before finishing a tailed-off last of the five runners.
By contrast, Harry Cobden and Bravemansgame found a metronomic rhythm, cruising to the front two fences from home to beat Eldorado Allen by three and half lengths.
“I’ve always thought the King George was made for him, and that’s where he’ll go next,” said Nicholls (right), a record 12-time winner of Kempton’s Boxing Day feature.
Ditcheat legends Kauto Star, See More Business and Silviniaco Conti are on the King George roll of honour and Nicholls, whose seven-year-old is now Ladbrokes’ 9-4 second favourite behind 2-1 market leader Allaho, added: “He’s right up with the best we’ve had, without a shadow of a doubt – he’s as good as any of them.
“That’s as good a performance as he’s done. Harry was thrilled with him – the feel he gave him, the way he jumped – and he’s a young horse who’s improving.
“We haven’t taken him anywhere for a gallop and I’ve left plenty to work on for Kempton.
“Lucinda’s didn’t run his race today, for whatever reason, but our performance was just what we wanted to see.”
His fifth triumph from six attempts over fences – the sole defeat came with an out-of-sorts last of four behind Ahoy Senor in Aintree’s Grade 1 Mildmay Chase last April – saw Bravemansgame cut to a low of 12-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March.
But Nicholls warned: “Cheltenham and three-and-a-quarter miles might not be his bag.”
Russell was at a loss to explain Ahoy Senor’s no-show under jockey Derek Fox.
“Derek said he was a bit fresh and a bit free, and it took his energy away,” said the Kinross trainer.
“He looks fine and we’ll see how he is over the next few days and see how we go.”
MICK CHANNON declared “the time is right” as he revealed he is to retire from training at the end of the year.
The West Ilsley-based 73-year-old, who will pass his licence on to son Jack for the start of 2023, saddled his first runners in 1989 after a top-flight football career with Southampton, Norwich and Manchester City – and 50 caps for England.
Channon, whose Group 1 victories include a Classic success in the 2012 Irish 1,000 Guineas with Samitar – his 2,500th winner came via Legend Of Xanadu at Doncaster last Saturday – said: “It’s been a great way of life for over 30 years. Jack has ably assisted me for seven seasons and the time is right for him to take over.”