For me the Charlie Hall Steeple Chase at Wetherby signifies the start of the new National Hunt Season. The race was first run in 1969 as the Wetherby Pattern Chase and won by Arcturus trained by Neville Crump and ridded by Pat Buckley. In 1978 it became known as the Charlie Hall Memorial Wetherby Pattern Chase and then in 1990 simply as the Charlie Hall Chase. Tetley Bitter sponsored the race in 1991,1992 and 1993 and then it reverted back to the Charlie Hall Chase until 1999 when the Peterhouse Group started sponsoring until 2002. In 2003 Bet365 took over sponsoring the race. There are eight runners for this years £90,000 race. Tony McCoy has been booked for State of Play and is likely to be on the favourite. State of Play won the Hennessy Gold Cup on his first start last year. Ollie Magern trained by Nigel Twiston -Davies won this race in 2005 when Kingscliff was second. Ollie Magern apparantly has had his problems but his trainer’s horses are in tremendous form at the moment and he must be in with a good chance. Kingscliff has run well in this race in the last two years and seems to run well when fresh. He must also have a good chance. Aces Four from the Ferdie Murphy yard had a horrible fall in his last race back in April at Punchestown and I feel inclined to see how he runs on Saturday to see whether his confidence has suffered. The bloggers money will be going on Ollie Magern. If he is as well as his trainers other recent winners I am sure he will be an each way bet.
The runners and riders with the jockey’s colours can be found by clicking on the leftsided link to the sporting life.
It has been interesting collating past winners of the race and reminising what top class Chasers have won it. Here is the list :-

1969 Arcturus
1970 Kildrummy
1971 No Race – snow and frost
1972 Coxswain
1973 Dunrobin
1974 Tamalin
1975 Davy Lad
1976 Set Point and Current Gold deadheat
1977 Goolagong
1978 Fighting Fit
1979 Sparkie’s Choice
1980 Manton Castle
1981 Gay Return
1982 Righthand Man
1983 Wayward Lad
1984 Burrough Hill Lad
1985 Wayward Lad
1986 Forgive’N Forget
1987 Cybrandian
1988 High Edge Grey
1989 Durham Edition
1990 Celtic Shot
1991 Celtic Shot
1992 Tipping Tim
1993 Barton Bank
1994 Young Hustler
1995 Barton Bank
1996 One Man
1997 One Man
1998 Strath Royal
1999 See More Business
2000 See More Business
2001 Sackville
2002 Marlborough
2003 Ballybough Rashel
2004 Grey Abbey
2005 Ollie Magern
2006 Our Vic

Lets hope we get an exciting race on Saturday. After that we have two weeks to wait for the Open Meeting at Cheltenham starting on Friday 16th November for three days. The new National Hunt season will be well and truly underway then. Of course all roads lead to Cheltenham for the four day festival starting on the 11th March 2008.