The Kim Bailey-trained Charbel will not run again this season according to the trainer after his disappointing run in the G1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree on Saturday.
Sent off the 6/5 favourite for the two mile event, that did not tell the whole story as the gelding was originally around a 4/6 shot in the morning before taking a massive drift in the market as support came for Paul Nicholls’ Politologue, who looked assured of victory before stumbling on landing under Sam Twiston-Davies after jumping the last.
By contrast, Charbel never jumped with any real fluency with this run a far cry from his effort in the G1 Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, where he looked to be travelling well before falling at the second last.
Jockey David Bass never looked happy with the son of Iffraaj with the six-year-old eventually trailing in a disappointing 13 length third.
Discussing the race and future plans, Bailey said:
He came back very stiff behind as he banged a hind joint when he made that mistake. He was disappointing on the day. I think maybe the atmosphere got to him a little bit as he was jumping a little bit cautiously.
You can’t make mistakes in a race like that and get away with it. The mistake he made would have stopped anything. I don’t think he’ll run again this season.
