Hunter Chase Betting Service

Fri, May 14, 2010

Aintree – Friday May 14th

TAKE THE STAND – Fourteen years old but still good enough to score for the third time at his beloved Cheltenham at the evening meeting a week and a half ago, staying on strongly in ultra-game fashion after having made the running. Carries a penalty for that win but in his prime would have conceded the best part of four stone to most of these; particularly suited to the Prestbury Park course but finished second in a Betfair Bowl over this course and distance a while ago and as long as last week’s effort hasn’t taken it out of him should take all the beating off this mark.

LISADELL KING – Horse and rider a revelation this season, winning his three completed starts in Hunter Chases. Good ground ideal and clearly at the top of his game this term, but still has it to prove over this sort of trip under Rules, as he was pulled up over 3m at Leicester in March.

JAMES PINE – Has done well at Cheltenham in the past so a little disappointing when a remote fourth there last week, especially as it had come off the back of a fine win against the smart Cedrus Libani in a Woodford Open; another who will be suited by these conditions but doesn’t look particularly well in at these weights and likely to find a couple too good.

BELEM RANGER – Flat track specialist who has a particularly good record fresh so surprising that he is being brought out again just eight days after finishing a moderate fourth at Easingwold; track and ground will suit today but almost exclusively runs over short trips these days in Hunter Chases and weakened tamely the last time he ran over a distance in extreme of 3m.

THUNDER HAWK – Second in this race last year on rain-softened ground and disappeared for nine months after a brief and fruitless foray into handicaps; returned at Kelso last month and ran well for a long way over 3m1f, which should have put him spot on to try and go one better today; this is a stronger renewal but he is getting the best part of two stone from the top-weights, which could put him right into the mix.

PRELUDE D’ESTRUVAL – Error-prone and moderate Pointer; made no show at Cheltenham last year and can easily be left out of calculations in this company.

Conclusion – None of these can be fancied with any particular confidence; Take The Stand had a fairly hard race last week but he is best in at the weights and should have no trouble handling track or ground; Thunder Hawk could be the one to follow him home.