Nicholls chooses Wetherby for Cyrname
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Britain’s highest-rated chaser one of 10 declared for Charlie Hall.
Cyrname is set to face nine rivals in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. The highest-rated chaser in Britain – following his victory over Altior at Ascot last November – the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old subsequently disappointed when a hot favourite for the King George at Kempton before suffering a heavy fall in February’s Ascot Chase. With coronavirus travel complications prompting connections to shelve plans to run in this weekend’s Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, it was a straight choice on Saturday between a trip to Wetherby or giving away lumps of weight in the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot. It was confirmed on Thursday morning that Cyrname would appear in West Yorkshire for what will be his first start on a left-handed track since finishing fourth at Aintree in the spring of 2018.How impressive was Vinndication in winning the @SodexoUK_IRE Gold Cup Handicap Chase?
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) November 2, 2019pic.twitter.com/NC11PbyMVl
Kim Bailey faced the same choice with Vinndication, and has also elected to head for Wetherby instead of bidding for back-to-back wins in the Sodexo Gold Cup. The Vinnie Roe gelding was last seen finishing a close fourth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March – and Bailey has revealed the decision to run in the Charlie Hall was made after speaking with Nicholls about plans for Cyrname on Wednesday. Speaking on a Zoom call hosted by Great British Racing, Bailey said: “I was in communication with Paul Nicholls yesterday and he was very good by coming back to me last night. I have to say, he is excellent in communicating his plans with fellow trainers. “I decided overnight that I’d take the bull by the horns and take him on. I have a very high opinion of Vinndication and really and truly I need to find out if my opinion of him is vindicated!
Ballyoptic stays on strongly to land the Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase in great style for @NigelTwistonDav
— Wetherby Racecourse (@WetherbyRaces) November 2, 2019pic.twitter.com/5ReiirP93F
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