Take the big price on The Giant Bolster in the Charlie Hall Chase

Silviniaco Conti is no Charlie Hall Chase gimme with The Giant Bolster around, and we think David Bridgwater’s pride and joy can outlast them all at Wetherby

Charlie Hall Chase, Wetherby
Saturday November 1, 3.15pm

The Giant Bolster goes into his first race since missing out on the Cheltenham Gold Cup by less than a length in this weekend’s Charlie Hall chase at Wetherby, yet he’s back in the market at 8/1 with Coral.

It’s a strong renewal, with Paul Nicholls’ classy eight-year-old Silviniaco Conti heading the betting at 11/10 with Coral, while relative newcomer to high-class chasing Taquin Du Seuil is of interest at an industry-best 4/1 with the same firm.

However, The Giant Bolster gets the vote at twice that price based on his good-ground form and his ability to run well first time out (two wins, two places in the last five seasons).

Silviniaco Conti may be the top rated horse in the race, but he doesn’t always show his best form first time out and can’t be advised at such scant odds. He has been seen off twice by Cue Card on seasonal reappearances since 2011, but turned over Colin Tizzard’s stable star in Kempton’s King George when it really mattered last December.

The Giant Bolster beat Silviniaco Conti by a length in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, when finishing a place ahead in third, and his two defeats to the Nicholls’ inmate came on soft ground.

The ground looks to be coming up good at Wetherby, as it was at Cheltenham in March and in 2012, when David Bridgwater’s game gelding got to within two-and-a-half lengths of Synchronised in the Gold Cup. He looks primed for more glory here.