Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase Guide 2022

Secret Investor is a nice horse, who’s getting on a bit now, he’s still 10 but he’s a lot of miles on the clock.

He is as tough as old boots however - as shown when gamely making all in the Denman Chase on his final start last season – holding off multiple G1 winner Clan Des Obeaux by a neck.

He usually runs well enough fresh, and has a relatively decent record, that said.. in this company – he may well struggle first time out.

Sam Brown is still fairly unexposed as far as 10yo’s go. He’s raced thirteen times – and it’s fair to say he’s still improving with racing.

He ended his campaign last season in fine style, when absolutely running away with the Betway Handicap Chase (G3) at the Aintree Festival in April, from no less than Shan Blue fifteen lengths back in second.

That was a huge run, but he’s now entering a much higher level than graded handicaps – will he be outclassed?

Win My Wings is a mare who upped her game substantially last season, winning three ultra-competitive handicaps on the bounce.

She won the Eider Chase, and the Scottish Grand National, the latter in an absolute canter, so it’s fair to say she’s a force to be reckoned with over the marathon trips.

She will likely find this trip too short, against this calibre of animal, but it’s a nice enough race for her to start in with a view to these big field handicaps later in the season.

She’s very, very useful, but maybe best watched here.

Eldorado Allen is very useful on his day and more often than not runs really well fresh, too. He won the Haldon Gold Cup (G2) on his seasonal reappearance from Hitman last season, and he continued to run very well throughout the season.

He picked up another G2 in February when winning the Denman chase at Newbury from Royale Pagille and Clan Des Obeaux in the places.

He’s a top level performer, though he may be vulnerable up against classy, unexposed horses in open company such as Bravemansgame.

Eldorado Allen probably sets the standard for the former novices’ to beat though, he’s solid enough.

Paint The Dream is an admirably tough horse who more often than not gives his running.

He was well beaten on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow, though he was reportedly struck into and coupled with his dislike for the quicker ground, I think it’s fair to forgive him that.

He should get his ground here, and hopefully he has recovered from his mishap, but – he will likely be outclassed in a field of genuine G1 horses here. This is a big task.

Bravemansgame is a horse who we longed to see jump a fence in his early days, now after a successful enough novice campaign last season, he’ll enter the big leagues in open company now.

He did beat his elders at Newton Abbot on his chasing debut, and he has a decent record against older horses, so this shouldn’t pose as any issue.

He looks a natural over a fence and he’s already a multiple G1 winning horse, but can he get the better of his foe, Ahoy Senor here?

The score is 1-2 to Ahoy Senor, and this track definitely favours his rival. Bravemansgame is probably a safer jumper than him, but he’s not short of pace, could he be outstayed off the back of what is likely going to be a testing gallop.

Ahoy Senor is no doubt a fantastic horse, he’s won four graded races now, including twice getting the better of Bravemansgame, that score is 2-1 in favour of Ahoy Senor (1-1) over fences.

He took the G1 Mildmay at Aintree on his final start last year in facile fashion, and he reversed the form from Kempton with Bravemansgame in the process.

Ahoy Senor would much prefer a galloping track, rather than a quick, tight turning course like Kempton, and he’s a course and distance winner here so he has conditions to suit. Can he reach the level set by the older horses?