Wetherby Charlie Hall Chase triumph to put Sam Spinner on Gold Cup standard

It is hoped that Sam Spinner’s course experience will overcome the Yorkshire horse’s relative inexperience over fences as he takes on the likes of Cyrname, formerly Britain’s highest-rated steeplechaser.

Several of jump racing’s all-time greats have won this race since its inception 40 years ago in 1981 to honour former Tadcaster trainer Charlie Hall, who was so prolific at his local track.

But few have the emotional appeal of the lightly-framed Sam Spinner, who became a Grade One-winning hurdler, and who was good enough to finish second to Stayers’ Hurdle hero Paisley Park at the Cheltenham Festival, before winning his first three starts over steeplechase fences until suffering a pelvic injury.

He is trained at Leyburn by Jedd O’Keeffe, who was close to packing in racing because of financial pressures, and his own fight with throat and neck and cancer, when owners Paul and Caron Chapman asked if he would train more of their horses.

That loyalty resulted in the Chapmans asking O’Keeffe to buy a couple of store horses at the Doncaster Sales in 2015 – one of which was a £12,000 buy called Sam Spinner, who takes his name from his sire Black Sire Bellamy and dam Dawn Spinner.

Sheffield-born jockey Joe Colliver’s good fortune to be in the saddle when the horse made a winning debut at Catterick the following February was enough to convince connections to repay that early faith when the jockey lost his liberty, and riding licence, over motoring offences.

Yet the fact that this unlikely combination – Harrogate-based Chapman is a retired investor – have so much appeal is because of their special bond with their horse.

Colliver has not ridden Sam Spinner since last December when he did well to land in the saddle after a shuddering mistake in a Grade Two chase at Doncaster. Shortly afterwards, a pelvic injury was discovered.

“It’s great to get him back and it’s great to have such a ride on such a big day,” Colliver, 29, told The Yorkshire Post. “I’ve done a bit of schooling with him and he jumped well every time.

“I would say he’s bigger and stronger. There’s definitely more muscle definition on him than this time last year and I’d say he will come on for the run.

“As a horse, he’s kept me afloat. I’ve had more good days on him than bad days – and they’re not many horses that you can say that about.

“He’s not the easiest ride – but he’s a good ride at the same time. He can be going great and then he takes his eye off the ball. He’s got his quirks but that’s what makes him stand out.”

A strong showing today will tell connections if they have a possible contender for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup or not.

It is why Chapman referred to a sense of both anticipation – and apprehension – as a high-quality field of 10 runners was declared.

“He’s a dream horse. A once in a lifetime horse,” said Chapman. “He didn’t cost a lot and we have turned down loads of money for him. We’re hopeful he’s still as good as ever after the injury – but the Charlie Hall will tell us a lot more.”

Asked to define his trainer’s qualities, Chapman said: “Dedicated and knowledgeable. I don’t know. If I knew, I’d be training them myself!”

As for O’Keeffe, who grew up in Wetherby, he is just pleased to be in a position to train horses of Sam Spinner’s calibre.

“We were having a rough time – I was having treatment for cancer and business wasn’t great. Paul wanted to expand his racing interests and we were the lucky beneficiaries,” he said.

“It looks like the ground is going to suit and, although the opposition does look very stiff, it is time to get on with it and find out where we are at with him.

“The Gold Cup is obviously something we are thinking about and it would be a great story, but the horse has to go out there and prove himself now.”

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