Confirmed runners and riders for the Charlie Hall Chase as Grey Dawning is ruled out and Gerri Colombe's return at Down Royal

Last season’s Turners Novices’ Chase winner Grey Dawning has been ruled out of the Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (2.58) at Wetherby on Saturday due to the ground.

On Thursday trainer Dan Skelton suggested the participation of his Gold Cup hopeful was doubtful before pulling him out of the race on Friday afternoon. He said: "The ground is far too quick for him. I'm not knocking anybody, it's just too quick for him." 

Grey Dawning has another entry in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on Sunday but the seven-year-old, who is the shortest-priced British-trained horse in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting at 16-1, needs ease in the ground.

"He's in at Carlisle on Sunday and we'll think about that but it's probably highly unlikely as well," Skelton said.

The going is good, good to soft in places at Wetherby and good to soft at Carlisle with a dry forecast at both tracks.

Bravemansgame, who has finished first and second in the last two runnings, was declared, while Mouse Morris, who won the race with the race-fit Gentlemansgame last year, tries to repeat the feat with French Dynamite.

He was successful in a Grade 3 at Punchestown this month in which the Gordon Elliott-trained Conflated unseated his rider at the first and now reopposes.

Hang In There was successful in the Summer Cup Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter in June and takes a step up in class, with the field completed by the 2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner The Real Whacker, who is ridden by Brian Hughes for the first time, and veteran chaser Sam Brown.

Aintree Bowl winner Gerri Colombe and King George VI Chase hero Hewick were entered in the Charlie Hall Chase but will instead run in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase (2.40) at Down Royal on Saturday – a race the former won on his return last season.

Sam Ewing rides Gerri Colombe, who finished second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, for the first time with Jack Kennedy suspended.

Envoi Allen, an eight-time Grade 1 winner who landed this race in 2022 and was beaten a neck last year, adds further quality to the five-runner field. Grand National second Delta Work and Visionarian complete the line-up.

Irish entries Sandor Clegane and Beacon Edge have been declared for the bet365 Hurdle (2.22) on the Wetherby undercard. Dashel Drasher, Kateira and Thunder Rock also feature in a seven-runner line-up.

Luccia: Champion Hurdle third returns on the Wetherby undercardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Champion Hurdle third Luccia will be a warm order in the Listed bet365 Mares' Hurdle (1.50). She gives weight away to her five rivals but is clear on official ratings.

Kim Bailey's Ultima Handicap Chase winner Chianti Classico tops the weights in the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.45) at Ascot and is joined in the 11-runner line-up by stablemate Two For Gold. Kitty's Light has also been declared for the £100,000 contest.

Ladbrokes Champion Chase runners and riders

Delta Work Donagh Meyler
Envoi Allen Darragh O'Keeffe
Gerri Colombe Sam Ewing
Hewick Jordan Gainford
Visionarian Keith Donoghue

Paddy Power: 8-13 Gerri Colombe, 7-2 Envoi Allen, 5 Hewick, 16 Delta Work, 20 Visionarian

Charlie Hall Chase runners and riders

French Dynamite Sean Flanagan
Bravemansgame Harry Cobden
Conflated Danny Gilligan
Hang In There Joe Anderson
Sam Brown Rex Dingle
The Real Whacker Brian Hughes

Paddy Power: 10-11 Bravemansgame, 7-2 Conflated, 13-2 French Dynamite, 8 Hang In There, 10 The Real Whacker, 33 Sam Brown.

Read more . . .

'I’m very relaxed and don’t really succumb to pressure' - Wetherby clerk will only water for Charlie Hall card if course requires it 

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