Nacarat joins Charlie Hall of fame at Wetherby
Sam Thomas has suffered more than his share of setbacks since winning the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Denman.
First, after some high-profile losses on Paul Nicholls' horses he switched to ride for Tom George and then by a horrible twist of fate, Thomas missed last season’s Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals when he cracked a vertebrae in his neck in a schooling session for Nicholls in early March.
A lack of winners meant that when Thomas returned to the saddle he and George elected to dissolve their partnership but they were back together – and in the winner’s enclosure – Nacarat won the Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
Nacarat is normally happy to lead but so is Ollie Magern and, running in the race for the fifth time and trying for a third win, he put local knowledge to the best use for the first circuit. Six out and the pair were disputing the lead and the rest of the field were beginning to feel the pinch and Barbers Shop and Deep Purple were struggling from before the home turn.
Nacarat jumped clear at the fourth-last but gave the riders of both Ollie Magern and The Tother One some hope with a mistake at the next when he got in too close. But Thomas, who was fired into the air, gathered the horse and the race with a couple of good jumps at the last two fences to beat The Tother One by four lengths, with Deep Purple – the winner 12 months ago – catching Ollie Magern for third.
“I haven’t been very busy recently, I’ve had a very quiet week,” Thomas said. “And it makes it all that bit more special when you’re able to ride a winner on the weekend. I’m delighted that the owner’s let me keep the ride on the horse. Very loyal owner and I’ve paid him back and the horse has given me a great ride.
“We got there way too soon but he likes to be ridden handy. Ollie’s given me a great lead but he changed gear then and he was going half a stride quicker going on to that fence [the third-last].”
Nacarat has suffered from shoulder problems but connections believe that has now been cured and Thomas said: “He’s a different horse this season and there’s plenty more to come from him.”
There is no decision as to his next run but the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, in which he finished a distant fourth to Kauto Star, is on the agenda according to George.
There may have been a new name on the roll of honour for the Charlie Hall but it was déjà vu for Fair Along won the Grade Two John Smith´s West Yorkshire Hurdle for the second successive season.
Rhys Flint has struck up a good partnership with Philip Hobbs' horse, who was taken on for the early lead by Raslan but was back in front turning into the home straight. However he was under pressure as Kayf Aramis looked to put down his challenge going to the second-last flight.
He still looked a threat approaching the last but the Fair Along put in the better jump to beat Kayf Aramis by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Donald McCain, with 120 horses in his yard for this season, could be in the position to push into the big league. The standard bearer for that assault on the major races is likely to be led by Peddlers Cross, one of last season’s leading novice hurdlers who is expected to run in the ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle at the end of November.
By then stable jockey Jason Maguire will be back having recovered from a broken ankle but there have been no shortage of jockeys ready to ride for one of the most progressive jumping yards. It was Graham Lee who took the ride, and the win, on Alegralil in the Listed bet365 Mares' Hurdle.
“She’s tough, she jumped very well and when the chips are down she battled.”
And just the encouragement that Maguire needs to be passed fit by the doctor on Friday.
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