Wetherby Rallies Against 'unfair' Criticism

Fast ground at Wetherby, where the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase is the feature race on Saturday, is causing concern, with champion trainer Paul Nicholls openly critical of conditions at the Yorkshire track he described as "iffy" earlier this week.

The stable's top novice chaser of last season, Denman, was due to make his reappearance in the Charlie Hall but Nicholls has chosen to sidestep Wetherby where the course has a newly constructed home bend, brought about by land lost due to the widening of the nearby A1.

"I can understand concerns about not running a good horse if you are not happy," says Wetherby's clerk of the course James Sanderson. "But it isn't fair to be critical of the ground. It is new and different but not loose on top and firm underneath, as some have suggested. We have tested it a lot and it is absolutely safe."

Nevertheless, the combination of lack of rain and concerns about the newly laid home bend, have diluted the quality of Saturday's race. Our Vic, last year's winner, My Way De Solzen and Exotic Dancer are other notable absentees.

Yesterday David Pipe, the trainer of Our Vic, said the gelding may instead take on Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Meanwhile Barry Simpson, racing manager to Exotic Dancer's owner, Sir Robert Ogden, had no regrets about re-routing the seven-year-old to Aintree last Sunday where he was a well-beaten third in the Old Roan Chase.

"We walked the track at Wetherby before the meeting earlier this month and decided the ground wasn't suitable for us," said Simpson. "It isn't just lack of rain. The new turf will take time to mature, and it's our policy not to run our horses on watered ground at this time of year."

One trainer happy to head for the Charlie Hall is Ferdy Murphy, who runs Aces Four, the 4-1 second favorite with the sponsors behind 7-2 shot State Of Play. "He's very well and everything's gone according to plan," said Murphy yesterday. "He will come on for the run."

Scorpion was yesterday ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after he was found to be lame. He will be retired to stud, leaving Mahler as trainer Aidan O'Brien's sole representative in the world's richest handicap next Tuesday. Mahler is an 8-1 shot with Hill's, who make Purple Moon 4-1 favorite.

Ron Cox's tip of the day

Osiris Way 3.30 Lingfield

Having already shown himself to be an improved sprinter, Osiris Way looked as though he had more to offer when running Matsunosuke to a length here last time out. Reappearing after a three-month rest, the five-year-old was unlucky to bump into a rival right on top of his game. Texas Gold, half a length back in third, gets a 3lb pull with Osiris Way but the selection is the one on the upgrade.