18:05 Stratford

Friday 8 June 2018

All17:3518:0518:4019:1519:5020:2521:00

White Swan Hotel Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 18:07 | Winning time: 4m 15.5s

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Selected odds by:

Numbercruncher²²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr David O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: David O'Brien| OR: 105| CD

4/1

Pulled up in a similar event at Leicester won by Argot. Has come back to score at Fontwell three weeks ago and holds a few of these on that running. Has claims of repeating last year's success.

Form: 1P2U-71

Argot^b¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: J R Barlow| OR: 116

9/1

Winner of a Leicester hunter chase over 2m in March when beating a good field. This looks less competitive and two of his best performances this year have come under this rider.

Form: 3154-14

Such A Legend^p1,t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: Tracey Bailey| OR: 122| D

20/1

Useful chaser in his prime,but recent efforts at Kempton (tried to make all) and then at Hackwood Park rather suggest he's lost his way at present. Top rider on board and cheekpieces tried this time.

Form: 2PPU5-6

Treat Yourself³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Richard Collinson⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss M Bentham| OR: 100| D

33/1

Surprised many when forcing the useful Port Melon to pull out all the stops at Kempton on penultimate outing. Failed to back that up next time and a record of one win during the past four years makes him hard to take seriously.

Form: 4/54P2-5

Bambi Du Noyer²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Emma Yardley⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 101| D

66/1

Handicap hurdle winner for David Pipe back in October. That form amounts to little and well beaten in last two hunter chases at Southwell.

Form: 53456-5

Benemeade^b²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Byron Moorcroft| T: Kieran Price| OR: 113| BF

9/1

Fair handicap hurdler in Ireland and at his best on quicker ground. Has won a point-to-point this year, but he does not truly stay 3m and this looks more his trip.

Form: 8823-12

Brave Jaq^h,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs⁽³⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 95

25/1

Strong puller who has failed to last home on his last two starts at around this trip. Burst a blood vessel last time and Cheltenham may have demanded too much two weeks earlier. This circuit may suit him better.

Form: P/3PP-64

Drive The Bus^p,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs B Thomas| OR: 87

150/1

Pulled up in four of his six starts this year and tailed off in the other two. Faces another stern test.

Form: PPPP-P4

Gallox Bridge^t²⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: J Martin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Annabel Wheatley| OR: 113

66/1

Picked up his first race in four years when scoring at Cottenham (2m4f) in December. Age is creeping up on him and others preferred.

Form: 3/212P-3

Gowanauthat^p,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: Francesca Nimmo| OR: 117| C

18/1

Had a lucrative campaign in 2016-17 for Charlie Mann. It had been downhill since then until landing a small race at Tabley three weeks ago, but this may be on the sharp side for him.

Form: 4522-41

Jamrham^p,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Hugh Nugent⁽³⁾| T: Miss S McQueen| OR: 78

100/1

Likes this ground but wasn't up to much under Rules and is in no form at present. Hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 2UUP-P5

Magic Music Man^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 109| D

9/2

Winning hurdler for Alan King who opened his account for top point-to-point yard at Tabley(2m4f) three weeks ago. Handles the ground and has the speed for this trip.

Form: 416/P2-1

Noble Friend^h,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss B Childs| OR: 101| C| D

66/1

Sent off at 33/1 and in trouble when unshipping his rider at Fontwell. Appears to face another stiff task.

Form: P/4PP-5U

Right Of Reply^p1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: J P Owen| OR: 107

50/1

Failed to make an impact for Dan Skelton and tailed off at Towcester this month on hunter chase bow, has talent but chance is taken on him showcasing it, market may tell more.

Form: 3/1564-5

Robin Des People^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: D Brace| OR: 100

9/2

Has won five point-to-points this year. Soundly beaten on most recent hunter chase start, but possible he is more at home on a quicker surface.

Form: P13-111

Velvet Maker²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: D M Christie| OR: 143

9/1

Has some top-class form in Ireland and contested the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last year. Better effort last time, but still nowhere near the force he was and needs to be.

Form: 30/8FU-3

Exclusive Rights²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Mrs C Hardwick⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Claire Hardwick| OR: 93

12/1

Outran odds of 50/1 to run Numbercruncher to a neck at Fontwell. Opposes on 4lb better terms but no guarantee he will perform to a similar level.

Form: P24PP-2

Non-Runners

As De Ferbet³²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: David O'Brien J: Mr Cai Williams

Forecasts

Numbercruncher (4/1), Robin Des People (9/2), Magic Music Man (9/2), Velvet Maker (9/1), Argot (9/1), Benemeade (9/1), Exclusive Rights (12/1), Gowanauthat (18/1), Such A Legend (20/1), Brave Jaq (25/1), Treat Yourself (33/1), Right Of Reply (50/1), Bambi Du Noyer (66/1), Gallox Bridge (66/1), As De Ferbet (66/1), Noble Friend (66/1), Jamrham (100/1), Drive The Bus (150/1)

Last year's winner Numbercruncher holds a few of these on recent Fontwell running, but preference is for MAGIC MUSIC MAN who comes from a top yard. His fair hurdling form suggests he will suited by the trip and he arrives having improved with each run in point-to-points this year. Leicester hunter chase winner Argot will appreciate the return to 2m as will Benemeade who had some decent form in Ireland.