Decent ground the key to Nacarat jumps campaign
Tom George has been mapping out his battle plan for Nacarat this coming winter season as the popular grey returns to full training in preparation for his seasonal bow in the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at the end of October, a race he won in impressive fashion in 2010, writes Elliot Slater.
The popular 10-year-old showed a clean pair of heels to the talented The Tother One in last year's renewal of the Grade 2 chase at the 'A1' track, and all being well will be back to defend his title at the West Yorkshire venue before following a path charted by his handler that will lead back to Aintree, where the French-bred gelding enjoyed his finest moment this April when landing a thrilling race for the Grade 1 Totesport Bowl Chase, making every yard of the running and proving six-lengths too good for Carole's Legacy. Even those looking for Grand National tips will have been impressed.
Reporting that the winner of 8 of his 30 career starts appears to have summered particularly well, the Gloucestershire-based trainer made it clear that wherever possible he will attempt to campaign his charge on decent ground. Although he handles soft ground, (and indeed was a narrow second to Razor Royale on that surface in the 2010 Racing Post Chase at Kempton Park), George is convinced that his stable star is a significantly better horse on a sound surface and this term intends to resist the temptation to run him if conditions are not likely to allow Paddy Brennan's regular mount to show himself in the best possible light. Anyone looking for Aintree tips will have to look elsewhere.
If all goes well at Wetherby then it is quite likely that Nacarat's main mid-season target will be the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, a race in which he finished fourth to Kauto Star in 2009 and filled the same position behind Long Run last year. As short as 16/1 in the ante-post list with some firms, Nacarat can still be backed at up to 33/1 in places for the Christmas showcase event.
