Wetherby and Ascot Tips: Charlie Hall Chase Day Insight
The Breeders’ Cup kicked off a good weekend of racing action last night and before they regain the baton later today, eyes will turn to Charlie Hall Chase Day at Wetherby alongside an intriguing card at Ascot.
There are a few horses that I want to be on the side of today, so let’s dive straight in.
1:15 Wetherby – Eaton Collina @ 6/1 with William Hill – 1pt EW
For anyone who watched the latest Only Fools Love Horses video, you may have a nice ante-post docket for Eaton Collina at 10/1 who is now a few points shorter.
Kerry Lee’s eight-year-old won twice as a novice chaser in early 2023, one of which was a 20-length demolition at Ascot in April and the other occurred at Chepstow in February; he beat Triple Trade, Joe Tizzard’s progressive seven-year-old that has improved 16 pounds since the run, on latter of those victories, so the form looks good.
Eaton Collina puts in a decent round of jumping to win at @Ascot for Richard Patrick and @beaubai.
Gamaret took a nasty fall earlier in the race – we'll update when we have any further news. pic.twitter.com/NR4ReWm0mF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 2, 2023
Although he was beaten on seasonal reappearance in 2022 and 2021, Lee has had her horses fit and firing for their first runs this season, notably with Nemean Lion in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and Kraqueline at Wincanton on October 29th.
If this is the case, Eaton Collina looks like a typical improving type and hopefully, his mark of 118 is still workable.
2:05 Ascot – Saint Segal @ 9/2 with BetVictor – 1pt Win
The first of my selections from Ascot comes in a competitive contest over two miles, and after much deliberation, Saint Segal is the one that I’ve fallen on.
Firstly, I appreciate the notion that horses trained by Jane Williams tend to come on for their first run of the season – as shown with this horse last season – but the market is positive for his chances and he’s had plenty of time to get ready for today.
The five-year-old by Saint Des Saints relished fences last season with two wins and a staying-on second to his name.
https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/1610648764016119809
His Hereford success in early January took place on soft ground, suggesting today’s conditions will suit him well, and he even put up a good performance on quick ground at Doncaster 23 days later, showing he has a big engine.
Reading comments from Williams in James Stevens’ 2023/24 Horses To Follow (South West Edition), connections love this horse at home and a rating of 137 looks lenient.
2023/24 Horses To Follow
(South West edition)🗣️ 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦
🗣️ 𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮
12 stable visits, plenty of hidden gems and completely free to read! Enjoy.
RTs Appreciated!
— James Stevens (@JamesStevens180) October 12, 2023
With a few in here potentially at the top of their handicap mark or with bigger targets down the line, today could be the day to catch Saint Segal on his first run after a wind-op.
2:25 Wetherby – Thyme Hill @ 2/1 with Betvictor – 2pt Win
The Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle has just six options to pick from this year, and the favourite Thyme Hill looks like the obvious one for a good reason.
Although last season didn’t go to plan over fences, the nine-year-old still retained his ability on the track when bolting up at Exeter on his chasing debut before his commanding display in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day.
https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1607367748388110338
His two losses over fences came when the ground was too quick at Newbury in November and when never firing during the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Today, he comes into the race on the back of a 189-day break, something he’s not averse to doing as he won on seasonal reappearance in 2022, 2020, and 2019 as well as his win in the 2021 Grade 1 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree following a 112-day break.
♥️ Thyme Hill is all heart!
Success for Tom O'Brien & @PJHobbs1 as Thyme Hill lands the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle in a thrilling battle with Roksana at @AintreeRaces pic.twitter.com/HmrbvcyiKc
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 10, 2021
With his good record on soft and heavy ground – as shown by his second to Paisley Park in the 2020 Long Walk Hurdle on heavy and second to Flooring Porter in the 2022 Stayers’ Hurdle on soft – a lot is seemingly in his favour today.
2:40 Ascot – Ten Lengths Tom @ 5/1 General – 1pt EW
Betting in novice hurdles in October is risky business at the best of times, let alone when the ground is testing, but there’s plenty to like about the profile of Ten Lengths Tom for the Tom Lacey yard.
The four-year-old ran in two bumpers last season, the first of which occurred at Sandown when sandwiched by a pair of Paul Nicholls runners on good to soft ground.
👀 Inthewaterside – deeply impressive
Doubles for @PFNicholls & @adrianheskin as €90,000 purchase Inthewaterside readily delivers in the finale at @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/N8q5ovSwcU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 4, 2023
The exciting Inthewaterside won the race, a horse who won on hurdling debut at Aintree earlier this week, with the well-regarded Wrappedupinmay eight lengths behind in third.
The Mount Nelson gelding then went to Warwick for his next start and bolted up by five-and-a-half lengths having travelled cooly into the race under Stan Sheppard before he was asked to quicken away with just over a furlong ago.
https://twitter.com/Crazyg07231486/status/1635057152103690241
He showed an impressive turn of foot over two miles that day in what was deplorable conditions at Warwick, suggesting today’s deep ground at Ascot should cause no issues.
The two horses ahead of him in the market – Jango Baie and Tellherthename – come from the point-to-point scene, so with the chance that both of them may need further in time after today’s hurdling debut, Ten Lengths Tom looks like a solid contender.
3:15 Ascot – Altobelli @ 4/1 with William Hill – 2pt Win
The form of Harry Fry’s yard over the last few weeks makes for tough reading, though that can hopefully change with Altobelli in the 3:15 at Ascot.
The five-year-old by Maxios was well-spoken of by connections last season as a novice hurdler to follow and his 25-length victory at Carlisle certainly showed his booming ability.
https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/1605915294634889216
Things didn’t go his way when sent to the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in April, though I’m happy to forgive him as it was his first outing in a Grade 1 on ever-quickening Aintree ground.
Although Fry may have one eye on the Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle over course and distance in December, his form of beating Uncle Bert (a two-time hurdles winner since) and Ginny’s Destiny (rated 135 over hurdles) last season is hard to ignore.
Connections think Altobelli is a Graded horse in the making, so off his current mark of 131 in conditions that should suit, hopefully he is bang on to take home this £60,000 contest.
Race-by-race analysis and betting approach today
Below I expand on form patterns, race conditions and pragmatic betting ideas to complement the selections above.
Each short section is designed to help you assess value without pressure and to encourage sensible staking.
Trainer form and seasonal reappearance factors considered
Trainer preparation can be a decisive edge on early-season reappearances. Notice yards that target specific early-season contests and come here with proven reappearance records.
Look for comments from trainers about fitness and wind operations, but treat those notes as context rather than certainty.
Ground, distance and weights: practical considerations
Study a horse’s record on similar ground and over comparable trips to weigh its chance realistically. A proven soft-ground record can justify a shorter price, while unproven horses are worth extra caution.
Handicap marks and weight shifts matter most where margins are tight, so prioritise horses with recent progressive ratings or favourable weight drops.
Bankroll and staking plan for raceday bets
Adopt a clear staking plan before placing bets and stick to it. Use unit sizing so you never stake more than a small percentage of your total betting bank on a single selection.
Consider smaller each-way stakes on youngsters or hurdling/chasing novices where form is unproven, and larger win stakes where the profile and form line up.
How to use bookmaker offers and comparisons responsibly
Bookmaker promotional offers can add value when used wisely, but always check terms and wagering requirements. Treat offers as one factor, not the primary reason to bet.
You can explore bookmaker comparisons to find best odds and offers, but only engage if you are happy to gamble responsibly and understand the risks.
Assessing recent form cycles and trends for horses
Look for horses showing clear improvement across runs or returning from a short break with a history of sharp reappearances. Consistency is a useful predictor where conditions match.
Checking ground bias and course form details
Ascot and Wetherby can ride differently when soft becomes heavy. Verify past performances on the prevailing going and prefer runners with proven course form where possible.
Reading weight and handicap implications clearly
When handicaps are tight, small weight differences and age can swing outcomes. Prefer horses with upward trends in their performance metrics over those merely scraping into a mark.
Practical pre-race checklist for readers
Before placing a bet, confirm declared jockeys, final ground description, and any late news on withdrawals. These factors commonly change market value in the final hour.
Use reliable price comparison tools and set limits on how much you will spend, avoiding impulse increases after seeing market moves.
Responsible gambling, age limit and help resources
Betting is for adults aged 18 and over only. If you choose to bet, do so for entertainment and never as a way to solve financial problems.
If gambling is causing you harm, seek help from recognised UK organisations such as GamCare or use tools offered by bookmakers to set deposit, loss or time limits.
You can explore current bookmaker offers through our comparison tools if you choose to bet responsibly: https://bestofbets.com/free-bets
We also list casino welcome offers and bonuses for those interested in casino play, but please ensure you are 18+ and play responsibly: https://bestofbets.com/casino-bonus
Frequently asked questions about today’s cards
How should I weigh trainer reappearance stats today?
Trainer reappearance stats are useful but not decisive. Use them alongside the horse’s own reappearance record and any trainer comments about fitness.
What is a sensible stake size for these selections?
Sensible stakes are a small percentage of your overall betting bank, typically 1–3% per selection depending on risk tolerance and confidence level.
Do ground conditions change the chances significantly?
Yes, ground can alter outcomes markedly. Prioritise horses with proven form on the expected going and be cautious with those untested on soft or heavy turf.
Are bookmaker promotions worth using for raceday bets?
Promotions can offer value but check the terms and only use them if they fit within your bankroll and do not encourage excessive wagering.
How much should form be prioritised over market signals?
Combine both: form gives context, while the market reflects collective judgement and late information. Balance historical data with price movement.
Is betting on novices at Ascot advisable today?
Novices can offer value but carry extra risk due to inexperience and inconsistent form. Consider smaller each-way stakes for novice hurdles.
Where can I find responsible gambling support if needed?
If gambling is causing issues, contact UK support services such as GamCare, and use bookmaker tools to set limits or self-exclude.
Am I eligible to use offers listed on BestOfBets?
Offers are intended for UK residents aged 18 and over. Always check individual bookmaker or casino terms and eligibility before claiming any offer.
