Bidfood Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 50.9s

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Selected odds by:

Man Of Steel^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr D Peters⁽⁷⁾| T: A Hill| OR: 113| CD

4/6

Winner of this race in both 2016 and 2017, he arrives seeking the hat-trick following clear cut victories in point-to-points at Godstone (3m) and Dingley (4m). Ultra competitive on his favoured patch with ground conditions ideal.

Form: 33P41-1

Abbeyview¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss Laura Fenwick⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Fenwick| OR: 104| C

7/2

Hasn't raced under rules since finishing a distant last of six in this race in 2017, but has won here previously in the 2m5f maiden hunter chase on May Bank Holiday Monday (2016). 2 from 7 in point-to-points in 2018.

Form: 4U13-U1

Firmount Gent³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Thomas Forsyth⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs B Ewart| OR: 95

80/1

Finally won under rules for Dan Skelton in October 2017 (2m1f+) but has moved on more latterly and was pulled up on debut for this trainer at Sedgefield last month (2m3f+). Obvious stamina doubts.

Form: 513F4P-

Clues And Arrows^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: Miss G Walton| OR: 89| C

14/1

Won over hurdles here for Jonjo O'Neill and Tony McCoy in May 2014 (2m6f good), but never since during a light career for John Wade/Rebecca Menzies. Pulled up, never involved on hunter chase (stable) debut in February.

Form: 32P65-3

Forge Valley^p²⁵

Age: 14| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Thomas Greenwood⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss G Walton| OR: 83

16/1

Veteran who was left toiling to the tune of 12L by Man Of Steel in this contest in 2017, but did pick up a weak three-runner point-to-point at Heslaker (3m good) earlier this month. Likely to struggle.

Form: 02374-1

Sposalizio^t²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr John Dawson| T: C T Dawson| OR: 93| C

25/1

Walked over in a point-to-point at Sedgefield on Sunday to bring his record between the flags to 10 from 32. Best over 3m, he has won over C&D previously back in May 2014 when taking the 2m5f maiden hunter chase by 11L.

Form: FPP1-5P

Martha's Benefit¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr W J Milburn⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Nicholls| OR: 99| C

6/1

Ran out a very ready 11L winner of the 2m5f maiden hunter chase here in May 2017, but hasn't had the greatest of campaigns in points this term and was beaten over 7L when third to Sposalizio at Witton Castle in April (3m good).

Form: 1PP3-64

Forecasts

Man Of Steel (4/6), Abbeyview (7/2), Martha's Benefit (6/1), Clues And Arrows (14/1), Forge Valley (16/1), Sposalizio (25/1), Firmount Gent (80/1)

Regular hardened racegoers at Cartmel will be familiar with the majority of this seven strong field, with Sposalizio (2014) Abbeyview (2016) and Martha's Benefit (2017) all past winners of the 2m5f maiden hunters chase on May Bank Holiday Monday. However, the Alan Hill trained MAN OF STEEL has made this stronger race his own over the past two years, and arrives fighting fit on a hat-trick with ground conditions forecast to be ideal, so is impossible to oppose having put today's rival and ever-ageing veteran Forge Valley in his place to the tune of 12L in 2017.