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Bowen Aiming for Wetherby Glory with Snoopy Loopy and Yes Sir 30/10/08

Trainer Peter Bowen has high hopes that Snoopy Loopy can gain the biggest victory of his career in the £90,000 Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (3.35pm), at Wetherby this Saturday, November 1.

The 10-year-old chaser comes into the race, run over three miles and a furlong on the second day of the prestigious bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting, on the back of a fine staying on third in the two and a half mile Grade Two Old Roan Chase at Aintree on October 26.

Prior to that excellent effort, Snoopy Loopy had enjoyed superb summer campaign, winning the Listed Summer Plate Handicap at Market Rasen in July and following up with success in the Listed Lord Mildmay Memorial Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot at the end of August.

Bowen revealed today: “Snoopy Loopy has been entered in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase and he’s all set to take his chance in the race. I was delighted with his performance in the Old Roan Chase on Sunday and he has come out of the race in good shape.

“I would prefer it if they had a drop of rain but he will definitely take his chance and he’s run some sound races on faster ground anyway. He would have won at Wetherby on good to firm ground in March but he hit a fence which cost him the race.

“I couldn’t have been more pleased with the progress he’s shown over the past year, especially with his Listed wins in the summer. He was rated 108 in January and now he’s rated 157, which is the second highest rating in the entries for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase.

“Seamus Durack will take the ride and I am looking forward to seeing if he can continue to make his mark in Graded races on Saturday.”

Snoopy Loopy, currently rated a 7/1 chance by the race sponsor, looks set to face some top-quality opposition in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, with last season’s Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Albertas Run among the 13 entries. Ollie Magern, State Of Play, and Monkerhostin, who finished first, second and third respectively in last year’s race, are all set to run again this season, while multiple Grade Two scorer Turko could also take his chance.

Saturday’s superb seven-race card also includes the £42,500 Grade Two John Smith’s Hurdle (3.00pm), which has attracted a strong entry of 13. Grade One winners Lough Derg and Pettifour could both make their seasonal debuts in the three mile, one furlong, contest while last year’s runner-up Faasel may return and bid to go one place better. The 2007 Triumph Hurdle second Liberate could return to hurdles following some excellent races on the Flat, and he may meet the Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Mobaasher and dual Grade Two scorer Elusive Dream.

Also on Saturday is the £40,000 bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed Mares’ Hurdle (2.20pm), an extended two mile contest designed to increase the opportunities available for mares in training. An entry of 15 includes the Nicky Henderson-trained pair of Grade Three chase runner-up My Petra and Chomba Womba, who won a Grade Two mares only hurdle at Doncaster in January. Irish trainer Jessica Harrington could send over Cabin Point, while the Alan Swinbank-trained Programme Girl may bid for a fifth consecutive victory over hurdles on her first start for over 16 months.

Trainer Emma Lavelle hopes that Blaeberry can get her head in front in the race following a good fourth under top-weight in the Listed Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on October 25. The versatile performer rattled off a sequence of four victories over hurdles and fences last season and looks set to run another big race on the forecast good to firm ground.

Lavelle commented: “Blaeberry holds an entry in the bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed Mares’ Hurdle and it’s definitely the plan for her to run in the race. She’s in really, really good form and she came out of her Chepstow race very well.

“It was just a little bit soft for her on that occasion and she is much better on faster ground. She’s not a big filly and we didn’t want to keep running her under top-weight in handicaps so a conditions race seemed to make sense.

“I don’t think she will be inconvenienced with the drop back down to two miles. She’s got plenty of pace and, while three miles would probably be her best trip, she has won over shorter before and I don’t think that it will be a problem.

“She’s a pretty versatile mare and I would hope that she could go on and contest some more of these mares’ hurdles, but we will hopefully start her off at Wetherby on Saturday and take it from there.”

The first day of the bet365 Charlie Hall Meeting on Friday, October 31, plays host to a brace of Listed races, including the £18,000 Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (2.10pm). The extended two-mile contest has attracted 17 entries including Indian Groom, Gulf Coast, Resounding Glory, Silk Drum and Cosmea, who are all unbeaten.

Peter Bowen is looking forward to seeing Yes Sir run in the £25,000 Listed bet365.com Handicap Chase (2.45pm), run over an extended two and a half miles. The talented nine-year-old finished third over the same course and distance in skybet.com Supporting Spinal Research Bobby Renton Handicap Chase on October 15, and was runner-up in a valuable handicap chase at Cheltenham on his latest appearance three days later.

Bowen said: “Yes Sir will take his chance in the bet365.com Handicap Chase on Friday. He ran alright when he finished third at Wetherby two weeks ago but I thought he posted a far better effort on his latest start at Cheltenham.

“He’s gone up 4lb for that run but he’s won off a mark of 153 over fences in May last year and he’s rated 133 at the moment. He’ll love the fast ground and he goes into the race with every chance.”

Dual Grade Two scorer Moon Over Miami is also among the 18 entries, while Wetherby course specialist Manbow could bid for a fifth victory at his favourite course. Listed winner Strawberry may also take her chance along with the Howard Johnson-trained trio of Irish Grade Three scorer Santa’s Son, Frankie Figg and Top Dressing.

GROUND

The ground at Wetherby is currently described as Good to Firm, Good in Places in the back straight and Good to Firm, Firm in Places in the home straight (watered), with a GoingStick reading of 9.7.

Clerk of the Course and Chief Executive Jonjo Sanderson commented: “We have concluded our watering cycle this afternoon and could expect up to 4mm of rainfall on Thursday, which shouldn’t alter the going materially, should it arrive. I am very hopeful that the home straight will ride easier than it walks, which was the case at our opening fixture on October 15.

Sanderson continued: “Our Premier Enclosure tickets have outsold the number we sold last year which is extremely promising and we are hopeful of a good crowd to enjoy a fantastic afternoon’s racing.”

Advance tickets can still be purchased by calling the course on 01937 582035 or online at www.wetherbyracing.co.uk

Latest prices from bet365 on the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase
State of Play 7/2, Ollie Magern 7/2, Turko 4/1, Albertas Run 5/1, Monkerhostin 5/1, Snoopy Loopy 7/1, Madison Du Berlais 8/1, Hard Act To Follow 66/1, Top Dressing 66/1, Love That Benny 66/1, Canada Street 66/1

Each-way 1/5 1-2-3