Just one Irish trained horse has won Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase in the last thirty three years but First Lieutenant looks like getting the opportunity to try and change that statistic on Saturday.
Mouse Morris’s consistent star has been installed an 11-4 second favourite by Powers after 11 entries were left in the Grade 2 feature.
The Paul Nicholls trained King George hero Silviniaco Conti is a clear favourite but Morris could allow First Lieutenant a chance to score across channel rather than tackle Down Royal's Grade 1 feature, the JNWine Champion Chase, on the same day.
"I'm very happy with him. He's getting older so we'll have to see how he bounces out this season," the Co Tipperary trainer said. "He ran in blinkers on his last run; we'll keep them on for now."
Last year's Charlie Hall winner Harry Topper is also in contention to run, as is the Grade 1 winner, Menorah, and Silviniaco Conti's stable companion, Rocky Creek.
Sackville was the last Irish trained winner of the prestigious chase in 2001.
