Hunter Chase Betting Service

Fri, May 28, 2010

Stratford – Saturday, May 29th

W & S Recycling Champion Hunters’ Chase (3m4f)

BORDER FUSION – Form figures in the Bangor North-West Final down the years reads: 1112 (beaten 10L by Ice Tea in the latest) and has never won a Hunter Chase away from that track. Fifth in this race last year having held every chance jumping two out; this looks a stronger renewal and is becoming increasingly moody with age.

COOLEFIND – Lightly raced but smart veteran who finished third in this race in 2008 (probably a weaker renewal than today’s); has proved that he retains almost all of his old ability when winning his last three starts in this sphere, albeit in weak contests. Ground fine, but wouldn’t be the strongest of stayers over this trip and his occasional jumping errors would be costly in a race of this class.

DENNIS THE LEGEND – Took a break from a handicapping campaign to win the John Corbet Cup over this course and distance twelve months ago; form not as good this year and he has been well held twice at Cheltenham, subsequently finishing a onepaced fourth in a Worcester handicap. We know conditions will be fine, but appears to be facing a stiff task in this company.

DRYBROOK BEDOUIN – Won the Connolly’s Red Mills Final at Cheltenham last year and fancied to run well in the Foxhunters this season, but could never really get competitive in the rain-softened ground; back to form at Taunton next time out when he defeated Sericina but ran with no zest whatsoever at back at Prestbury Park the next time and very hard to see him bouncing back at this level.

HERE’S JOHNNY – Very useful novice chaser in the early part of 07/08 but off the track for nearly two years after finishing down the field in the National Hunt Chase. Took a while to find his feet in Hunter Chases but took a notable scalp when successful at Exeter and has since gone close in a handicap hurdle at Taunton. Possibly not the easiest of rides (has a high head-carriage) and this is by far his stiffest task to date at this level, but can’t easily be ruled out.

ICE TEA – Useful handicap chaser who went off the boil after scoring off 129 at Wetherby in late 2008, but has resurfaced with a vengeance in Hunter Chases at Bangor this season. Beat Turthen (who is 13lbs better off today) narrowly in the former, then disposed of Border Fusion by an easy 10L in the latest. Has failed to finish over extended trips over fences in the past but should stay under these conditions and looks a major player.

MARBLEHEAD – Useful front-runner at his best; lost his form completely last season but bounced back when fitted with blinkers at Leicester back in March; not as good since, however, and firmly put in his place by The Cool Guy at Cheltenham earlier in the month. Ground is fine but has a fair bit to find on form and readily opposable.

MARTHA’S KINSMAN – Fairly useful staying handicapper at his best and relished every yard of the 4m1f trip when successful at Cheltenham earlier in the month; respected on the basis of that win and guaranteed to get home, but was well beaten by Ice Tea the time before and conditions may be a shade on the sharp side if the ground remains quick.

ORANGER – Gained a deserved win at this level when successful here (2m7f) on fast ground a couple of months ago but is essentially only an average performer and looks to have a huge amount on his plate in this company.

ROULEZ COOL – Close second in a handicap off 142 last May and started favourite for the Foxhunters after two impressive wins in Larkhill Opens, but was never really travelling (reported to be not completely right afterwards) before being brought down at the fourth last. Back to his imperious best in his owner’s own Point-to-Point meeting at Ashorne last time (beat Border Fusion by 22L) and clearly has a leading form chance on the strength of that, but still doesn’t fully convince that he is a stayer and does have a little to prove over this extended distance.

SILVER ADONIS – Fair sub-3m handicapper who went into the Aintree Fox Hunters’ as a 50/1 outsider following a distant second at Ludlow, but produced a fine round of jumping to run out a fairly ready winner. Good ground fine but has raced almost exclusively over short trips in a long career (pulled up on his only outing over 3m) and with that in mind can’t realistically be fancied over today’s trip.

SIMONSBERG – Irish raider; landed a hat-trick in 2009 and was cruising when coming down three from home in the John Corbet Cup; has suffered with jumping problems again since but it has all come right again of late, narrowly winning a Ladies Open at Tattersalls Farm and a low grade Hunter Chase at Down Royal. Chances on the pick of his form and should stay the trip, but any jumping errors are going to be thoroughly exposed in this company.

SOUTHWESTERN – Has enjoyed a long and fruitful career at this level and his form figures over this course and distance read: 141 (winner of this race last year), but signs this term that he may not be as good as he once was. Never really got competitive in the Foxhunters, given a moderate ride when sixth at Punchesown (a race in which he has run well in previously), then lost touch tamely at Cheltenham when behind Take The Stand and Templer. Conditions fine and will give it his best shot, but likely to come up short.

TAKE THE STAND – Hugely popular veteran who has finished second and third in the last two renewals of this race; clearly as good as ever despite advancing years and has shown a thoroughly likeable attitude when winning at Cheltenham (from Templar, who is 2lbs better off today) and Lisadell King in an Aintree handicap. Conditions absolutely fine and stays extremely well, will probably find one or too two good but there would be no more popular winner.

TEMPLER – Useful handicapper (winner off 126 over 3m at Cheltenham last October) and won on his Hunter Chase debut at Ludlow, but has found both Theatre Diva and Take The Stand too strong up the hill over an extended 3m2f at Cheltenham the last twice. Has the form to go close but has a bit to prove over the trip and opposable.

TURTHEN – High-class Pointer/Hunter Chaser on his day and finished a tremendous second in last year’s Foxhunters, but not quite as good this year (down the field in this year’s renewal) although only went down by a neck when trying to give Ice Tea 13lbs at Bangor. Disappointing odds-on favourite next time and still has a little to prove over this trip, but the pick of his form is probably better than anything else on offer and if on-song looks certain to go close.

Conclusion – A high-class renewal with only a few pounds separating at least half a dozen of them on their best form. Turthen is the pick on overall form but his odds-on defeat last time tempers confidence a little, and preference is for his Bangor conqueror Ice Tea despite the fact that Sian McCain’s gelding is 13lbs worse off at the weights. Here’s Johnny and Simonsberg could well be the pick of the remainder, while old favourites Southwestern and Take The Stand can’t be easily ruled out.

INTERBRANDS EUROPE LADIES HUNTERS’ CHASE (2m7f)

WHATABOUTYA – Successful four times on fast ground in Ireland and made a slow start to his Hunter Chasing campaign, albeit on ground slower than ideal, but loved the fast ground at Ludlow in April and ran out a ready winner from Distant Thunder (winner since). Shade below par on slower ground the next time, highlighting the fact that the faster the ground, the better. Leading chance on his best form but may be worth opposing if the forecast rain materialises.

DUMADIC – Regressive fast ground specialist when last seen under Rules in 2007 and subsequently went missing for the best part of two-and-a-half years. Resurfaced in Points this season and, while he has shown fair form when runner-up in Ladies Opens, he hasn’t been finishing his races particularly strongly and appears to have plenty on his plate in this company.

MAD VICTOR – Unbeaten in his last six completed Points, with the only blip coming when pulled up on his final 09 outing (not seen afterwards). Transferred that form to the Hunter Chase arena when winning easily at Southwell, then was right on the heels of the leaders when unseating at Cheltenham. A thorough stayer who was fancied but withdrawn from yesterday’s John Corbet Cup; presumably connections are hoping that the forecast rain arrives as good/firm would certainly be on the quick side for him.

THAT LOOK – Extremely versatile performer who won eight races (two on the Flat, four hurdles and two chases) between 2006 and 2008, but not seen since winning a 2m Yarmouth handicap 20 months ago. Very interesting that his shrewd yard has decided to give him his comeback in this fairly useful contest, the ground will suit and likely that the market will point the way to his winning chances.

CANNON BRIDGE – Has enjoyed a hugely successful career as a Pointer (19 wins) and has enjoyed something of an Indian Summer this season, winning both of his completed starts under this rider. Not seen since suffering a crashing fall in a two runner farce at Bitterley, which casts a few doubts as to his wellbeing, but on the positive is extremely well in at the weights, will handle the ground and looks likely to make a bold bid to improve on last season’s second place.

GENTLEMAN ANSHAN – Very useful novice Pointer last season and ran with plenty of promise on his comeback, but flopped in big style on fastish ground at Guilsborough next time, then taken to Cheltenham where he was tailed off when falling two out. Would be in with a decent shout if able to bounce back, but confidence must be at an all time low at the moment and regular rider Hannah Watson has jumped ship to partner Dumadic.

GOLDFINGER – Moderate 2m hurdle winner (heavy) but has not found the Midas Touch in Points so far and basically looks a non-stayer beyond 2m4f. Can’t be fancied.

INNOCENT REBEL – Bred to win a Classic but never made the grade on the Flat or over hurdles and has relied on Points and Hunter Chases in order to finally win; scored at Newton Abbot by a wide margin on fast ground this season and after a consistent campaign in Points this season ran well to finish third over 2m1f at Cheltenham. His overall form is only ordinary but he is certainly one of the more reliable ones in the field and holds definite place claims.

SCOTMAIL TOO – Yet to race over regulation fences but a tough and reliable Ladies Pointer who has appeared to be in better form than ever this season. Comes here off the back of two wins and three seconds from five outings this term and although fast ground would not be a concern, any rain would certainly help his cause. Main problem would be the fences, as he is quite small and is occasionally prone to ploughing through one.

THE GENERAL LEE – Modest chaser/hurdler and rather unpredictable in Points, although he impressed when making all at Cold Harbour last season and arrives here off the back of some fair efforts in Ladies Opens. Still has a bit to find on form, however, and was pulled up on his sole previous outing over regulation fences.

FRUITFULL CITIZEN – Fast ground specialist who won at Towcester last year by 15L (left well clear when Back Nine fell three out) and back to form despite the ground going against her at Pentreclwydau in early May. Gave Coolefind a real fright for a while when trying to repeat her Towcester success last time out and clearly arriving here at the top of her game; rain would be the only negative.

LADY MYFANWY – Admirably tough mare who has won 23 times during her career including this very race last year; made a slow start to this season but has bounced back in style under the present rider in Ladies Opens, although she didn’t have to be anywhere near her best to win at Bredwardine last time. Very small, but jumps well on the whole; impervious as to ground conditions and looks likely to make a bold bid to win this race again.

Conclusion – The Welsh raiders look to have this between them, namely Cannon Bridge, Fruitfull Citizen and Lady Myfanwy. Preference is for the latter who won this last year and has developed a fine relationship with Sally Randell in her last few races. Innocent Rebel would also have an each-way chance as would Whataboutya, but rain would be a definite negative for the latter’s chances.