Tough Ballyoptic gives Nigel Twiston-Davies sixth win in the Charlie Hall Chase

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies landed the bet365-sponsored Charlie Hall Chase for the sixth time when the well-supported Ballyoptic braved both the rain and the testing ground to grind out a well-deserved win in the 50th running of Wetherby's Grade 2 feature.

He was the trainer's second winner in three years, the talented Bristol De Mai having landed the spoils in 2017, and he joins an illustrious roll of honour with the trainer's previous winners being star chasers Ollie Magern, Tipping Tim and Young Hustler.

So often at this early November fixture good or even fast ground has been in evidence, but not this time. After the track was flooded just a week earlier, the two-day meeting had begun on good-to-soft ground but with rain on Friday, then more overnight and during the day, the word from the jockeys' room was that is was riding way softer than that with 'heavy' being the consensus.

It didn't suit some, but it was just the ticket for Ballyoptic, whose previous chase wins had all come on soft or heavy ground, and being a Scottish National runner-up, had stamina in abundance.

It was no ambling stroll either as the Yorkshire-trained Top Ville Ben set a decent gallop in the conditions and he was still in with every chance as they turned for home with four to jump.

By this time the favourite La Bague Au Roi was already out of contention having not jumped with any fluency out of the testing ground, and the 2018 winner Definitly Red, who had to give weight away all round, was another struggling to hold his place.

Within strides in the straight, the leader gave best, and the winner and Aso swept ahead with the race seemingly between them. But whereas Balloptic had proven stamina Aso had not. He had never won at further than 2m5f and this was only his third run at three miles.

Those final three furlongs proved crucial. Ballyoptic, who runs in the colours of the Mills and Mason Partnership, kept on galloping, but Aso did not and, well though he ran, he had given best by the second-last.

Nigel Twiston-Davies: will enter Ballyoptic for the Grand National again and the Betfair Chase at HaydockCredit: Alex Davidson

The race finally developed into a battle of the stayers and the tough Ballyoptic got home by three and three-quarter lengths from last season's Welsh National winner Elegant Escape, who never gave up, although he was one of the first off the bridle.

Having come down four out in last season's Grand National, the Aintree race will once again be top of the targets for Ballyoptic, although his trainer, as ever, was playing his cards very close to his chest,.

He said: "He will be given an entry. He was unlucky last season when he fell at the fourth-last."

The trainer also said Ballyoptic would be given an entry in the Betfair Chase and even though Bristol De Mai is likely to be his number one contender there, the vibes were that on testing ground Ballyoptic could join him at Haydock.

Although the trainer was capturing the prize for the sixth time, it was a first success in the race for son Sam, who said: "The race went well for him. I came off the bridle on the turn but he stays well and galloped on strongly.

"The team are going well. Dad likes to make a good start to the main season and Ballyoptic was very fit. He had the benefit of a previous run and the rain helped us more than some of the others. He would be interesting in the Betfair if the ground is like it was here today."

Brian Ellison was far from despondent with the run of the 2018 winner Definity Red, who came home a well-beaten fourth.

He said: "The ground wasn't ideal and it was his first race of the season but he jumped well and I'm pleased enough with that. He was facing a stiff task with his penalty as it meant he had to give weight to horses who are rated higher than him."

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