Throwback Tuesday Race Of The Day - 25/10/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Fusil Raffles

This weekends feature race is the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase from Wetherby and ahead of the contest we have taken a look back at last year's renewal.

The 2021 event saw huge drama where the Dan Skelton trained Shan Blue looked sure to land the contest, bounding clear with just three fences to jump, but unfortunately he fell when under no pressure and left the race for the Nicky Henderson trained Fusil Raffles.

Owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede, he has been a superb talent for the yard/owners, starting as a four year old when landing the Grade Two Adonis Hurdle and then Grade One Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Suffering a setback for his five year old campaign he was only seen once in the season in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and it was always a tough ask for him on his first start to go close.

Sent chasing in September 2020 he scored on chase debut and made it 2/2 at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting but then when seeking a hat-trick back at Cheltenham in November he was pulled up.

He got back to form at the December meeting in an easier race and was then saved for the festival where he was a good second to stablemate Chantry House in the then Marsh Novices' Chase.

Having been pulled up at the Grand National meeting, he was put away for the rest of that season and returned last term, when second at Newton Abbot behind Bravemansgame, but then went to Wetherby off the back of it and landed the Charlie Hall Chase.

Not winning since that he will be back this season looking for more glory and has had a great career so far.