Hunter Chase Betting Service

Fri, May 28, 2010

Stratford – Friday, May 28th

Happy 60th Birthday Jonathan Bourne Hunters’ Chase (2m1.5f)

PREDATEUR – Weak finisher over trips in excess of an extended 2m so no surprises that he capitulated in the home straight at Folkestone last time; comes right into the equation on the strength of his earlier 2m win at Leicester but faces no easy task under his big weight and even this distance may be a shade further than he would ideally want to go.

EMOTIONAL ARTICLE – Best at around 2m4f in Ireland and rated a lofty 140 after finishing a close third in a Grade 3 in 2009, but went downhill very quickly afterwards. Well held by useful rivals at Ludlow this season before managing to win over 2m4f at the Shropshire track earlier this month; that was a poor race but this isn’t much better and he has place claims at least, even taking into account that the drop in trip isn’t ideal.

BOROUJ – Dual 2m hurdle winner on firm ground in Ireland a couple of years ago but thoroughly awful since (including on his sole chase start); predictably failed to stay in a 3m Novice Riders’ Point at Garthorpe five days ago and best watched on his Hunter Chasing debut tonight.

CALGARY JOCK – Tailed off in seven starts under Rules since winning over hurdles at Bangor in August 2008 (2m1f, good); glimmer of promise in his sole Pointing completion this season and these conditions likely to suit, but will still probably find the competition too hot.

CELTIC STAR – The last of his four NH wins came way back in 2004 (best at 2m-2m4f on fast ground) and a very poor performer in Points these days, even taking into account that 3m is too far for him. Beaten 18L on his sole completion this season and a likely back-marker in this company.

FAIRWOOD PRESENT – Beat Church Island by 20L in a 2m4f Kilbeggan chase in May 2005 (his sole run over fences, previously sixth in the Coral Cup) but disappeared following an outing on the Flat a week later and only resurfaced in Points last season. Steadily improving this term and only found Emotional Article three-quarters of a length too good at Ludlow last time (2m4f); not a strong stayer so the drop in trip will suit and no surprise if he turns the tables.

GOOD COMPANY – Dual winner at up to 2m2f under Rules (best on good or softer ground) and fair efforts in defeat so far in Hunter Chases this term; not beaten too far when 6th off 124 in a Worcester handicap last time and leading claims in this company judged on that; does have a tendency to race lazily and lack fluency, but disappointing if he doesn’t go close in this weak contest.

IRISH STREAM – Was only a very moderate performer even when able to win (has never won beyond 2m); very limited promise so far this season and his ecclesiastical partner is not much of a jockey; can’t be fancied.

MADE IN FRANCE – Hurdle/chase winner several years ago but a complete waste of time these days and finished miles behind a couple of these at Ludlow last month.

MEDIA MAN – Won a 2m Maiden Chase on firm at Perth in 2008 but missed the following campaign and nothing short of a complete disaster under today’s pilot this season. Bolted out of control at Southwell on the latest occasion and one can only hope that he doesn’t get in anyone else’s way.

RYEMAN – Incredibly hard to win with but a fair performer at this level on his day and recent efforts in defeat (including in a big field at Cheltenham) look good in the context of this race. Conditions will suit and although he is likely to find at least one too strong in a finish, he is obvious Placepot material.

SMART BOY PRINCE – Fair novice hurdler several years ago but ended his NH career in a seller; struggles to get the trip in Points but finds Hunter Chasing simply too tough and has been tailed off at Ludlow and Cheltenham this term; this is the weakest event he has contested so far but still has plenty to find.

WALTER DE WODELAND – Improved Pointer this season and beat a useful performer when winning at Charlton Horethorne; looked unlucky in a Newton Abbot Hunter Chase and fancied to go well at Exeter next time, but failed to get home after travelling well. Drops drastically in trip today but has a fair amount of speed and it should not be a major concern in this company; today could be the day for him.

WAZIRI – Selling class 2m maiden over hurdles who has yet to race over regulation fences; shocked 1/8 Glacial Call in a farcical renewal of his Members on his Pointing return but unwise to read too much into that and difficult to fancy today.

Conclusion – Plenty of dead wood here and those that have leading form claims are none too reliable; perhaps this could be the day that Walter de Wodeland breaks his duck in Hunter Chase company. The obvious bet is Ryeman for a place but he won’t be any sort of price.

pointtopoint.co.uk Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase (for the John Corbet Cup) (3m4f)

APOLLO BLAZE – Has always possessed plenty of raw ability but was breaking a run of moderate form when winning at 20/1 over 3m2f at Newton Abbot; has won over 3m4f in Points in the past but generally a weak finisher and his front-running style looks likely to only set the race up for others.

BRADLEY – Very progressive in Points this year, bringing up the hat-trick when landing a Woodford Intermediate in a good time, before coming from miles off the pace to collar the useful William Somers on the line in the Red Mills Intermediate Final at Cheltenham. Clearly on a steep upward curve and although exaggerated waiting tactics will be difficult to pull off on this course, the race is likely to be run to suit and he has got to be shortlist material.

GOOD EGG – Looked destined for mediocrity in Ireland having taken 10 races to break his Maiden tag, but has since shown high class form in Hunter Chases, notably when an excellent third to the exciting young On The Fringe in the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown (good ground). Kept going in good style that day so 3m4f shouldn’t be a problem; that form looks at least as good as anything else on offer here.

HEMINGTON – Enjoyed a successful season last year with three wins (but also beaten favourite on three occasions), with his best performance coming when two lengths third in this race. Again showed his liking for Stratford when a close fourth here over 2m7f in March but form otherwise has been particularly disappointing, including in a handicap last time; chances rest on whether he can perk up on what appears to be his favourite track.

HORSHAM LAD – Missed the whole of 2009 and after finishing a promising third on his Pointing debut has racked up a string of four impressive victories, culminating in an easy victory from modest opposition at Bangor. Has yet to race beyond 3m or on ground quicker than good, but looks a horse of serious potential and granted luck in running, should be bang there at the finish.

LISADELL KING – Unbeaten novice Pointer in 2008 and has come back better than ever after a year off – easily beating William Somers at Larkhill on his comeback before winning Hunter Chases at Leicester, Stratford and Fakenham (produced a rare poor run on his second appearance at Leicester). Lost nothing in defeat when trying to concede 2lbs to a former Gold Cup runner-up last time out. A real credit to himself and his remarkable owner/rider, and is the clear form choice, but may not be ideally suited by this test of stamina.

MAD VICTOR – Unbeaten in his last six completed Points (only blip came when pulled up on his final 09 outing and not seen since), and transferred that form to the Hunter Chase arena when winning easily at Southwell. Right on the heels of the leaders when unseating at Cheltenham and now has the presence of the talented Josh Guerriero in the plate instead of his regular (now-retired) rider. A thorough stayer and the only negative is that the ground may be a shade on the quick side; leading chance otherwise.

MINSGILL MANS – Veteran novice who has shown plenty of form in the Hunter Chase sphere without actually winning, especially at Chepstow where he has twice finished second in the Dunraven Bowl. Stays well but rather onepaced these days and difficult to see him improving on his remote fourth to Southwestern in this race three years ago.

MORE TROUBLE – Undoubtedly has his own ideas about the game but no doubting his class and produced a career best when scoring over 2m5f at Folkestone (good/firm). Stays 3m well enough but any further is an unknown and will have to brush up his jumping if he is to make an impression in this company. Has the raw ability to run a big race but opposable on the balance of his form.

PASTEK – Fairly consistent sort but limitations thoroughly exposed in Opens this season and while his third at Uttoxeter last time was probably a seasonal best, he will have to up his game significantly if he is to have a prayer of going close in this company.

PENNY DOC – Fairly consistent in sub-3m Hunter Chases, winning at Folkestone and Fakenham, and also ran well for a long way in the Aintree Fox Hunters before capitulating on the run-in. Looked to be feeling the effects of a long season at Newton Abbot last time when he was never travelling and plodded on into a moderate and never dangerous third. Yet to give any impression that this sort of trip will suit (despite winning numerous 3m Irish Points) and has plenty to prove.

SPRINGFIELD DANTE – Has broken blood vessels in the past and only a Maiden win to his name, but only very lightly raced and his second to Horsham Lad, at a respectable distance, last time represented a sizeable personal best; clearly has a mountain to climb on form but has the scope to improve further, conditions likely to suit and a big run at a massive price would not be completely out of the question.

TEETON BOLLINGER – Desperately hard ride but stays all day, as he proved when passing the post in front over 4m at Dingley (disqualified) and then benefiting from a superb effort from today’s rider to score over a similar distance at Folkestone. This slightly shorter trip on quick ground is a negative and needs to jump a lot more fluently than he did last time, but will get every assistance from the saddle and not without hope.

THE CAMERENGO – Talented on his day but has plenty of ideas about the game; proved he stays extended distances when a close second to Teeton Bollinger at Folkestone, but stuck his head in the air and allowed that rival to pass him very easily on that occasion and likely to find this company too tough.

GLACIAL CALL – Poor hurdler in 2009 but has made giant strides as a Pointer, winning four times and never finishing out of the first two; posted a career best when scoring readily in the Exeter Intermediate Final on fast ground earlier in the month and still open to improvement in this sphere, but not the easiest of rides at all and may well find the hurly-burly of this contest not to her liking.

ROYAL TENDER – Poor performer under Rules but found low-grade Points more to his liking last season; ran well in a Tabley Open last time but limitations badly exposed in Hunter Chases in the past and a likely wooden spoon candidate in this company.

Conclusion – Another competitive renewal of this valuable prize. Lisadell King has the best overall form but 3m4f may not be his ideal trip and he is passed over in favour of the highly progressive Horsham Lad, who has done nothing wrong so far and was particularly impressive when winning at Bangor last time. Irish challenger Good Egg looks likely to be his main challenger, following a fine effort at Punchestown last month, with Bradley, Mad Victor, Springfield Dante and Teeton Bollinger looking best of the rest.