Exciting Star set for Wetherby
Star De Mohaison is likely to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday.
Paul Nicholls has also entered his exciting inmate in the £100,000 (€149,100) United House Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot, but connections remain keen to head North, provided the ground does not deteriorate significantly.
“The decision as to where he goes will really be made by the ground,” explained Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden.
“The Charlie Hall is the preference. That’s always been his main objective for the start of the season and we’ve simply put him in the race at Ascot because of the ground.
“The forecast, I am told, is pretty much rain for the rest of the week though, and Paul has said that if the ground was very soft at Wetherby he wouldn’t want to run the horse there.
“Of course if it was very soft at Ascot then he wouldn’t run there either. We just don’t want to run on very soft ground on his first run of the season.”
Regarding jockey plans for the weekend, Simpson added: “I think Ruby Walsh will ride him and I presume wherever Star De Mohaison goes then Ruby will be there.”
Star De Mohaison enjoyed a profitable novice campaign last term, winning the SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the Mildmay Chase at Aintree.
Nicholls is also considering saddling another promising five-year-old in the shape of Neptune Collonges, but warns he would be a doubtful runner if Star De Mohaison were to line up in the £90,000 (€134,200) feature.
The ex-French gelding was a smart staying novice hurdler last winter, and while he has yet to jump fences in public in Britain, he was a five-time winner over the large obstacles in his native country.
“I intend to run either Star De Mohaison or Neptune Collonges in the Charlie Hall,” explained the Ditcheat handler.
“They wouldn’t take each other on because they both want different ground.
“Neptune Collonges is in good order and we would want it to keep raining for him as he loves it testing.”
Echoing Simpson’s assessment regarding his other entry, Nicholls added: “Star De Mohaison has done very well since last season. We’re very pleased with him and he looks in good form, but he would not want it soft.
“Saturday’s race will be tough, but my pair are in fine fettle. I’m not making any predictions at the moment and everything will depend on the weather.”
