Beau has Wetherby aim

The strapping seven-year-old was the two-and-a-half-length runner-up to Weird Al in the Grade Two totesport.com Towton Novices' Chase over the course and distance in February, despite making several costly jumping errors.

Knockara Beau also displayed top form whena four lengths second to Burton Port in the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot, and when a staying-on fourth to Weapons Amnesty in the Grade One RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Charlton, who trains at Mickley Grange Farm in Northumberland, believes his charge has made the necessary progress through the summer to take on seasoned chasers in Wetherby's lucrative autumn highlight.

He revealed: "The plan is to take him to Wetherby for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase. He's very well, he had a very good summer, he strengthened up and we are really pleased with him.

"A few of my horses are just not yet running up to the mark that I think they should be, so that's a bit of a worry. I think they're just a little bit behind where I want them to be but Knockara Beau is going very well.

"He was just a little bit inexperienced and hit the odd fence last season but he was running on at the finish in those top races. If he had had a luckier round in some of them, he would have been nearer than he was and he wasn't far away.

"He goes well on soft ground but I wouldn't say he needs it – he stays and is always running on over these longer trips so he has plenty of stamina. He's a big horse and he wouldn't want firm in the ground. I'm hoping they have some rain down at Wetherby before the end of the month.

"I am sure he has improved through the summer – now we just need a bit of luck in running."

Another who has a bright future over the bigger obstacles is The Giant Bolster, who makes his chasing debut in the Fred Rimell Memorial Novices' Chase at Worcester this afternoon.

Despite his sole success coming at Market Rasen just under a year ago, David Bridgewater thought enough of his five-year-old to pitch him into the Grade One won by Peddlers Cross at the Cheltenham Festival.

He belied his 200-1 starting price there to finish an excellent sixth, before proving that was no fluke by going one place better, again at the top level, behind Wayward Prince at the Grand National meeting.

Stamina is his forte and he has more scope for improvement than his older rivals in today's contest.

Opening the card is the Book Christmas Parties At Worcester Racecourse Mares Novices' Hurdle, in which Ebor-winning handler Gordon Elliott attempts to plunder another prize on these shores, this time courtesy of Boragh Princess.

Her Downpatrick victory in August makes her the only previous winner under Rules in today's field, and she has a penalty to shoulder as a result, but she carried Tony McCoy into second at Ludlow most recently and can start the day off on a high for the champion jockey.

Paul Nicholls has chosen the following ws-promotions.co.uk Tribute Bands Maiden Hurdle as a returning point for Spock, but the Ditcheat trainer has a more obvious chance over at Fontwell, where Violin Davis reappears in the 888sport Affiliates Mares' Intermediate Open NH Flat Race.