BetBright Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 36.5s

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Selected odds by:

Paint The Clouds²³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 138

1/3

Successful in this race for the past two years and winner of the prestigious Champion Hunters' Chase at Stratford over 3m4f in addition to finishing third at Cheltenham last season. Unraced since Stratford but goes well fresh (won this event off a similar absence last year) and likely to prove very hard to beat once more.

Form: 213-511

Harris³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss E Chaston⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Smith-chaston| OR: 99

80/1

Winner of a handicap chase at Bangor in April 2015 but won just once in point-to-points since and well held behind a fair rival at Friars Haugh under today's rider when making his debut for this stable in January.

Form: P314-04

Ardea¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr S Davies-Thomas⁽⁷⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 126

3/1

Travelling well when unseating late on on his chase debut in a hunter chase at Kelso in April but made amends at Hexham later that month. Successful twice at Alnwick this season and runner-up behind a front running winner at Wetherby earlier this month. Very good amateur jockey takes the ride here.

Form: 111221

Arkose^p²⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: J Martin⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Thirlby| OR: 118

25/1

Winning chaser for his previous yard and successful on seasonal debut in a point-to-point on rain softened ground at Ampton in January. Finished second to Fakenham runner-up Warden Hill at Thorpe Lodge subsequently but has a bit to find with the principles on form.

Form: 412432-

One More Tune^p,t1³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: P Rowley| OR: 109

14/1

Sent off a huge price when finishing runner-up to today's rival Paint The Clouds in this race in 2016 and twice a point-to-point winner subsequently. Well beaten in two point-to-point outings this season but yard have already tasted success in this sphere in 2017 and no surprise to see him perform well again here.

Form: 21-2165

Forecasts

Paint The Clouds (1/3), Ardea (3/1), One More Tune (14/1), Arkose (25/1), Harris (80/1)

PAINT THE CLOUDS has won this event for the past two years and looks the most likely winner of the 2017 renewal. He brings top class hunter chase form into this race and despite his advancing years showed no signs of decline when last seen in action back in May and he is taken to get the better of the improving Ardea who finished runner-up at Wetherby last time out and One More Tune who finished second to the selection in this race in 2016. 1. Paint The Clouds 2. Ardea 3. One More Tune