WHO says you need a big field to have a great race?

Only five lined up for the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday, and just a couple of lengths split the first three. Welsh raider Deep Purple landed the prize for trainer Evan Williams and jockey Paul Maloney, who won it last year with State Of Play.

The popular Ollie Magern, looking for his third win in the race, looked the most likely winner at the final fence, but in the end couldn’t match the finishing kick of the winner and gallant runner-up Tamarinbleu.

The winning rider said: “He was a good novice last season and he is as tough as old boots. He’d just die for you every day of the week.

“The last thing the boss said to me was ‘same as last year’ – don’t get into a dogfight going to two or three out and thankfully it all worked out.”

In the Mares Listed Hurdle there was controversy when Barry Geraghty took the wrong course when seemingly holding every chance on the favourite My Petra.

The Grand National winning rider, who needs one more winner to gain his 1,000th career success, picked up a 12-day suspension, from November 14, ruling him out of the final two days of Cheltenham’s prestigious Open meeting.

The race was won by Santia, to give jockey Robert Thornton a double, after his success on the Irish-trained Skylancer.

Middleham trainer Micky Hammond, who has been quiet of late, enjoyed better fortune at Wetherby with a winner on both Friday and Saturday.

Dawn Ride took the final race on Friday, before Mr Crystal made a winning start over fences on the opening day on Saturday.

Both were ridden by conditional rider Fergal Davies.

Also on the scoresheet at the West Yorkshire venue was Howard Johnson, who took the final race of the meeting with Kealshore Boy. The six year-old, formally a decent bumper horse for George Moore, looks the type to score again in the coming weeks.

Catterick stage their final Flat meeting of the season tomorrow. The sixrace card gets underway at 1.40pm.

The nursery at 2.10 looks the most interesting race, and the top weight Cono Zur, can make it two from two.

The Mark Johnston-trained Colt can make all the running under the excellent Joe Fanning.