Nicholls’ Duo to Prove Jumps Racing Is a Bravemansgame
The first major chase of the British 2022/23 jumps season takes place at Wetherby on Saturday. A small but select field will go to post for the Charlie Hall Chase at 3.35 pm. It is a race that has been won by some of steeplechasing’s modern greats. Previous winners include Cue Card, Silviniaco Conti and One Man.
Grade-1 novice hurdle winner Bravemansgame looked every-part a superstar of the future when taking the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. It was the third leg of an impressive four-timer. But a 30-length defeat in Mildmay Novices’ Chase at the Grand National meeting was inexplicable.
Bravemansgame in winning action at Newbury. ©GettyImages
It was his final outing of the 2021/22 season, and quite possibly the Paul Nicholls-trained horse was over-the-top. If that too-bad-to-be-true defeat can be explained away, Bravemansgame is the obvious choice this weekend.
Chief rival, Ahoy Senor, was the winner of the Aintree contest. But he had previously given second best to Bravesmansgame in the Kempton race. Clearly a horse with a big engine, his jumping has often looked sketchy.
Therein, Lucinda Russell’s stable star is passed over on this occasion. The better forecast link is Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen. This eight-year-old grey landed last season’s Denman Chase and later finished third in the Ryanair Chase.
Goshen Supporters Will Need to Be Brave
The Nicholls stable has had an excellent start to the season with its chasers. 51 runners over the larger obstacles have yielded 19 winners. And, if Bravemansgame fails to add to that impressive tally on Saturday, Samarrive may do so at Ascot.
He lines up against three rivals in a novices’ chase at Ascot where all eyes will be on Goshen. This horse will forever be remembered for his final flight fall in the 2020 JCB Triumph Hurdle. More errant behavior has followed – particularly his penchant for hanging out to the right or simply producing a stinking performance.
However, Goshen did win his last two outings over hurdles and has had two strong outings on the flat in recent times. Nevertheless, he still comes with a wealth-warning, and, taking his first look at fences, he could swoop or soar.
Samarrive is a safer option. He may be 14-pounds short of his market rival on official hurdles ratings, but he receives 11-pounds from him in Ascot’s 1.30 pm. A year younger – with considerably fewer miles on his clock – this French bred has won four of his seven lifetime starts.
Very impressive when signing off last season with a ‘going away’ win in a valuable Sandown handicap, the youngster has always looked like a chaser in the making. An attractive 3/1 with the best horse racing betting sites, Samarrive should give a good account of himself on his chasing debut.
Saturday’s Recommended Bets
Bravesmansgame 3.35 pm Wetherby
Samarrive 1.30 pm Ascot
