National Hunt racing is now in full swing and the UK Premier Raceday is at Wetherby racecourse in North Yorkshire.
The course hosts a seven-race card today headlined by two Group 2 contests on ground described as good, good to soft in places.
The Dan Skelton trained Grey Dawning is selected in what looks a competitive renewal of the Gr2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (16h58), run over three miles.
Plenty of pace looks assured in this field of seven with Irish front-runners Conflated and The Real Whacker in opposition. Add in the classy Bravemansgame, the ante-post favourite, who also enjoys a prominent ride, and Grey Dawning should enjoy the run of the race.
Winner of three of his six chase starts, highlighted by Cheltenham festival glory over Ginny’s Destiny in the Gr1 Turners, he then placed in the Gr1 Aintree Novices’ where he was not helped by his rider who lost his stirrup iron three fences from home.
Skelton reports his charge to be fitter than he usually is at this point in time and his yard have been firing on all cylinders.
The big grey should prevail here over the equally likeable Paul Nicholls trained Bravemansgame.
Earlier on the card, the Skelton trained mare Kateira is another for the stable in the Gr2 bet365 Hurdle (16h22).
The three-mile contest has attracted a field of seven, with the veteran Dashel Drasher heading the weights and the betting.
Another well established front-runner, Dashel Drasher will help ensure a good pace on this quick ground along with outsider Allmankind.
Kateira was an impressive winner of a Gr3 handicap at the Aintree festival on her final start last season and has previous good form returning from a break.
She receives a valuable mares’ allowance which puts her right in here with a real chance.
