'I never wrote him off' - The Real Whacker floors Bravemansgame in Charlie Hall Chase

Two adopted Yorkshiremen brought the old days back to their new county and The Real Whacker returned to cheers after landing its biggest jump race.

Back in the day the likes of Michael Dickinson, Peter Easterby and Jimmy FitzGerald had a stranglehold on the Charlie Hall Chase, not to mention the Cheltenham Gold Cup itself.

Times have changed, so much so that three-time British champion jockey Brian Hughes, who has made Yorkshire his home since coming across from Northern Ireland, had not even had a ride in the race in two decades in Britain.

But he got the call for The Real Whacker from Patrick Neville, the County Limerick electrical contractor turned jumps trainer who is blossoming in his second yard in Yorkshire after a move close to Middleham in the summer.

And the new partnership proved unstoppable in a Grade 2 contest that only Definitly Red had won for the white rose county since 1987.

The Real Whacker: made all under Brian HughesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The 2023 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase winner, who was beaten in five outings last season and unseated Sam Twiston-Davies – unavailable here – in the Kerry National at Listowel in September, was in front from early on the first circuit.

He jumped well on the good ground he relishes and held off 11-10 favourite Bravemansgame by a ready three and a half lengths.

"I never wrote him off," Neville said. "We just had no luck. Every time we went to run him the sky opened the night before. He got his ground today.

"The ground is the key to him. He won't go for the Betfair Chase, he'll maybe go for the King George and then the Cotswold Chase, then hopefully the Gold Cup."

Reflecting on his yard move, he added: "The horses are going well and we're happy with the facilities. Our landlady is Sally Hall, whose uncle was Charlie Hall – we'll maybe take her for a drink tonight!"

“This is absolutely massive," Hughes said. "When you’re based in Yorkshire and it’s one of my local tracks, it's great. He did it really well. He’s a good horse."

The Real Whacker and his happy connections in the winner's enclosureCredit: JOHN GROSSICK

His colourful joint-owner David Mann, who is still based in County Limerick, said: “We always knew the Whacker was a serious horse, there was no doubt about that. But after the last 12 or 14 months and what happened at Listowel you just might get a slight bit doubtful.

“It was so brilliant to see him back at his best. Paddy really had him in some condition today and it was a great ride by Brian."

Mann made a habit of coming straight from a shift at his night club to watch The Real Whacker win two seasons ago, but said: “I came over on Thursday this time. I’m getting old now and I’m not able to do those 24-hour stints! But we’ll be celebrating tonight.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame was beaten favourite for the second straight year in a race he won in 2022.

His jockey Harry Cobden said: “He was a long way off his best, visually. The winner is rated 157 so officially we’ve run to 153 haven't we, which is a long way below his mark. I’ll see what Paul says, but we’re going to go for a bit of headgear if I have my way.”

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