Cyrname proves ‘class is permanent’ in winning Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase

The highest-rated steeplechaser silenced every critic in Wetherby’s flagship race, sauntering clear of the highly-regarded Vinndication and gallant Aye Right.

But it was the manner of the win that so pleased the beaming jockey when asked by The Yorkshire Post how the horse compared to previous seasons. “Different,” he replied thoughtfully.

“He’s not as keen or forward-going. I think we can get him better after that. This year he seems a different horse. I think there’s a little more under the bonnet. Hopefully, we’ve not bottomed him out – I don’t think so.”

The cheery 21-year-old’s grounds for optimism are three-fold after one of the most visually impressive wins in the illustrious race’s recent history.

First, Cobden was able to settle his charge early on while Aye Right, trained in Scotland by Harriet Graham, set the pace under a confident Callum Bewley.

It enabled Cyrname to conserve energy, and travel with ominous ease, in this three-mile plus test.

Next, Cyrname’s jumping was foot perfect – and breathtaking at the open ditches in the back straight where his scope was jaw-dropping. There were no after-effects from his heavy fall at Ascot in February.

Finally, he galloped all the way to the line – dispelling any doubts about his stamina or going left-handed (Cyrname’s best performances in the past have come at Ascot).

No wonder former champion trainer Paul Nicholls was becoming more and more animated as he watched Johnny de la Hey’s Cyrname clear the final four fences with such fluent poise.

Speaking while rushing to greet the horse, and saying that “class is permanent”, he said the manner of the victory had opened up options – Kempton’s King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, where Cyrname was a weary second to stablemate Clan Des Obeaux, and Newbury’s Denman Chase.

He then stressed that he would not be pushed into talking about a Cheltenham Gold Cup entry because “that’s March and this is October”. Within minutes, it was already in his calculations. “I’m thrilled to bits – that meant a lot,” said Nicholls, who praised Wetherby for the ground which had deteriorated to soft.

“Everyone was saying he wouldn’t go left-handed and wouldn’t get three miles, but everything he does at home suggests he wants three miles and more. He’s a different horse now to what he was two or three years ago. To see him jump and travel like that today just shows he’s grown up.”

Regarding future targets, Nicholls said: “This opens up lots of doors – it doesn’t matter now if he goes left-handed or right-handed and he’d definitely go round Cheltenham. I’d say he’ll go to Kempton, then the Denman Chase at Newbury and then we can think about the Spring. I don’t think he’s a Ryanair horse – I don’t think he’s quick enough. If we were going to Cheltenham, I think he’ll be running in the Gold Cup.”

Of the Yorkshire runners, Brian Ellison’s Definitly Red finished last – the trainer was slightly perplexed after Mrs Hyde won the earlier Mares’ Hurdle for his stable – while Joe Colliver pulled up Jedd O’Keeffe’s Sam Spinner after an error at the sixth, the big ditch that so played to Cyrname’s strengths.

As for Cobden, he said it is the “big days” like this that matter so much more – and that he can look forward to the season with burgeoning confidence and a growing belief there is more to come from Cyrname, who had not even been given a racecourse gallop before heading to Wetherby due to firm ground in the South West.

He also does so in the knowledge that racing – as an elite sport – can continue, albeit behind closed doors, during the next Covid lockdown.

That, ultimately, was the best result of all in eerie times which saw Cyrname return in triumph to silence, and a desolate winner’s enclosure, rather than the rapturous ovation he so deserved.

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