Wetherby review: Harry Fry goes on Charmix offensive
Saturday 31 October 2015 16:49, UK
News of the rest of the action from Wetherby where Charmix beat favourite Ennistown to win the opener for Harry Fry.
Charmix saw off the strong-travelling favourite Ennistown to claim victory in the opening Watch Racing UK Anywhere Novices' Hurdle at Wetherby.
The John Ferguson-trained Ennistown was the 11/10 market leader and those who took the prohibitive odds will have been fairly happy for much of the two-mile contest.
Charmix and Draytonian battled for the lead rounding the home turn, but it looked a matter of when, not if, Ennistown would run to the lead under a confident Brian Hughes.
But while Ennistown fluffed his lines in the jumping department at the final flight, Harry Fry's Charmix (5/2) was accurate and kept up the gallop on the run to the line to prevail by a length and a quarter in the hands of Noel Fehily.
Fry's wife and assistant, Ciara, said: "He's a nice horse who won his point-to-point.
"We ran him in a bumper at Aintree first time but he was a little bit keen.
"I think this is his ground and he'll stay further.
"I think we'll just try and find something similar under a penalty."
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Southfield Royale jumped his rivals into the ground in the bet365.com Novices' Chase.
High-class hurdler Zeroeshadesofgrey was the marginal favourite at 11/8 for his fencing bow, with Southfield Royale a 7/4 chance having filled the runner-up spot on his first start over larger obstacles at this track two and a half weeks ago.
That experience edge appeared a telling factor throughout the three-mile journey, with Southfield Royale devouring his obstacles and Zeroeshadesofgrey significantly more hesitant.
It is testament to his ability that Zeroeshadesofgrey was still in contention rounding the home turn, but Southfield Royale found an extra gear shortly afterwards to leave his major rival toiling.
A bold leap at the last sealed a 20-length victory to complete a double for Fehily.
Winning trainer Neil Muholland said: "He made a mistake at the ditch here last time and that just knocked his confidence, but he jumped great this time.
"He was a good hurdler, but we knew he'd be a better chaser and we feel he's still learning.
"We might take him to Cheltenham in December to see if he handles the track.
"He's a big horse and if he doesn't handle it, we can look at Aintree or Punchestown in the spring.
"I don't think he'll have a hard campaign."
Donald McCain enjoyed a welcome winner as 11/1 shot Katachenko claimed the bet365.com Chase under Wayne Hutchinson.
McCain said: "He's a grand little horse. We couldn't get him right last season, but all he does is jump and Wayne gave him a peach."
Having earlier combined to land the Charlie Hall Chase with Cue Card, trainer Colin Tizzard and jockey Paddy Brennan completed a double as 9/1 chance Billy No Name emerged victorious in the concluding Racing UK 1 Prince 3 Devices Handicap Hurdle.
