16:05 Aintree

Thursday 4 April 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0516:4017:15

Randox Health Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase (National Course)

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 5m 45.2s

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Selected odds by:

Asockastar^p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: D Bourne| OR: 112

50/1

Victorious in a small field hunter chase over an extended 2m6f at Leicester (good) on seasonal debut in February but finished well held at Cheltenham last month and looks up against it in this company.

Form: 42-2218

Balnaslow^p1²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: G J McKeever| OR: 127| CD

25/1

Winner of this race 12 months ago but has pulled up on two of his four subsequent starts including over an extended 3m2f at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) last time out. Needs to return to form if he is to take this contest for a second time.

Form: 71P-47P

Bear's Affair⁴⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 121| BF| C| D

25/1

Finished runner-up to Balnaslow in this race last year and has won and placed in point-to-point company since. Beaten a neck by a stablemate in an Open contest at Bangor (3m, good-to-soft) in February and represents a top trainer/jockey combination.

Form: 2-621P2

Burning Ambition¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: Pierce Power| OR: 144

11/2

Dual hunter chase winner last season and twice a winner this time around including over an extended 2m3f at Down Royal (soft) last month. Missed Cheltenham to prep for this contest and is a leading contender with a top amateur booked to ride.

Form: 128-131

Champagne West^p,t1³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Lily Pinchin| T: T M Frost| OR: 139| D

50/1

Useful horse under Rules a couple of years ago but finished a well beaten 40L third of five over an extended 2m6f at Leicester (good-to-firm) on stable and hunter chase debut in February. Needs to improve on that to figure in this event.

Form: 3P7-953

Coastal Tiep^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B G Crawford| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 131| D

50/1

Point-to-point winner on good and good-to-yielding ground in the autumn but has had his limitations exposed since including when pulled up at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) last month. Drop in trip no issue but others make more appeal.

Form: 2-1152P

Crazy Jack^p²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G Crow| T: Mrs A R Hewitt| OR: 115| D

66/1

Handicap hunter chase winner over 2m5f at Stratford (good) in June last year but generally held in that sphere. Beaten 8L in a Confined point-to-point at Bangor (3m, good-to-soft) last time out and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 3-41645

Dineur^t²⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Peter Bryan| T: M Bowen| OR: 118| CD

33/1

Won and placed in this race in the past but missed the whole of last season and finished well beaten behind Road To Rome on seasonal debut at Haydock (2m6f, good) in February. Unseated rider subsequently and others look more reliable propositions.

Form: U721/7U

Gallery Exhibition^t²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G Disney| T: P W Mason| OR: 118| DWS

100/1

Placed in a couple of point-to-points since joining this stable most recently when beaten 2½L into second at Kingston Blount (3m, good) last month. More needed if he is to take this event.

Form: 0-U4P22

Greensalt^t⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Easterby| T: W Easterby| OR: 117

25/1

Finished a good third in this race 12 months ago and ran well when 3L second in a small field point-to-point at Duncombe Park (good-to-soft) on seasonal debut in February. Useful jockey in the saddle and interesting to see how he fares.

Form: 3133-B2

Just Cause²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Jack Andrews| T: J P Owen| OR: 104

100/1

Winner of five point-to-points and placed second to Asockastar over an extended 2m6f at Leicester (good) on his penultimate start. Pulled up at Cheltenham last month however and looks up against it on this occasion.

Form: 21212P

Kruzhlinin³⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| D

12/1

Useful Rules performer for Philip Hobbs a couple of years ago and the winner of seven of his eight starts since joining this stable. Represents a top yard and has completed on two of his three previous starts over these fences.

Form: 131111

Mr Mercurial^t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr W B Ramsay| T: Capt W B Ramsay| OR: 129| D

33/1

Multiple hunter chase winner finished eighth in this race two years ago. Good 24L third in a military riders contest at Sandown (3m, soft) last time out but others look to hold stronger claims in this event.

Form: 311-123

Mr Mix⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Stuart Robinson| T: S C Robinson| OR: 136| D

20/1

Rated 144 at his best under Rules and finished a good 11L second to subsequent Cheltenham winner Hazel Hill at Warwick (3m, good-to-soft) in January. Winner of a point-to-point since and may surprise a few better fancied rivals in this contest.

Form: 39-3221

Never Complain^p,t1⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Charlie Marshall| T: Mrs F Marshall| OR: 108| DWS

100/1

Well beaten in this race 12 months ago and has finished third on both subsequent starts including when 26L last of three in a point-to-point at Higham (3m, good) in January. Others make more appeal with a tongue-tie tried for the first time.

Form: UP30-33

Numbercruncher¹⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: David O'Brien| OR: 105

100/1

Winner of a 2m2f hunter chase at Fontwell (good) in May last year. Disappointing in three subsequent starts however. New jockey up and best form has come over shorter.

Form: U-71P34

Pass The Hat^t²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss S Rippon| T: Miss S Rippon| OR: 127| D

40/1

Promising debut for this yard in a point-to-point in February and saw off a useful rival and subsequent hunter chase winner over 2m5f at Carlisle (heavy) last time out. Likely more needed on this occasion however.

Form: 8/2P-141

Road To Riches^p,t¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: D M Christie| OR: 133

20/1

Dual Grade 1 winner in late 2014 and finished sixth in last years Grand National. Stepped up on his debut in this sphere when winning by 14L over an extended 3m at Carlisle (heavy) last time out.

Form: P6-6721

Road To Rome²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 139

11/4

Winner of seven of his eight starts since joining this stable and ran well when finishing fourth over an extended 3m2f at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) last time out. Top amateur up and could prove hard to beat dropping back in trip.

Form: 111114

Seefood³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss C R Crane| T: Justin Landy| OR: 128

16/1

Placed over C&D in the past and made a winning debut for this stable when successful by 7L over an extended 2m6f at Leicester (good-to-firm) in February and may surprise a few on his return to this venue.

Form: 26F/061

Shantou Magic¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N Phillips| T: Capt W B Ramsay| OR: 103| BF

100/1

Soft ground point-to-point winner over 3m at Hexham in December but well held in three subsequent starts including when pulling up at Friars Haugh (3m, soft) last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 25187P

Shimla Dawn³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss E Todd| T: Mrs C Drury| OR: 117| D

66/1

Put a below par effort when pulled up at Sheriff Hutton (3m, good) behind him when winning a 3m hunter chase at Musselburgh (3m, good) in February. Likely more needed if he is to register a victory in this race.

Form: 115-3P1

Sir Jack Yeats^b²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: R Spencer| OR: 127

16/1

Impressive 30L hunter chase winner at Fakenham (3m, good-to-soft) last time out. Well beaten in this race 12 months ago however and likely needs to improve on what he's shown in recent seasons to figure on this occasion.

Form: 1109-31

Starkie^t³³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Martin McIntyre| T: A Ward-Thomas| OR: 106

100/1

Placed in a hunter chase over an extended 2m4f at Kempton (good) just under 12 months ago and the winner of a 2m4f point-to-point at Hackwood Park (good) last May. Absent since and set a tough task on return from an absence.

Form: 43/233-1

Top Wood^t,v²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 137

14/1

Dual point-to-point winner last season and placed in the last two renewals of the Cheltenham equivalent of this event. Beaten 11L over an extended 3m2f on good-to-soft ground there on seasonal debut last month and is one to note in this contest.

Form: 2/112P-3

Ucello Conti^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 139| D

4/1

Completed a hat-trick in winning a 3m hunter chase at Navan (yielding) in February and finished a respectable 24L fifth over an extended 3m2f at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) last time out. Looks the pick of his yards two runners.

Form: PU-1115

Wonderful Charm^p,t⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Biddick| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| D

16/1

Registered a 55L victory when taking a 3m2f hunter chase on good ground at Doncaster on his return to action in February. Well beaten in this race last year however and best form has come over further.

Form: 1P0-131

Forecasts

Road To Rome (11/4), Ucello Conti (4/1), Burning Ambition (11/2), Kruzhlinin (12/1), Top Wood (14/1), Sir Jack Yeats (16/1), Wonderful Charm (16/1), Seefood (16/1), Road To Riches (20/1), Mr Mix (20/1), Greensalt (25/1), Balnaslow (25/1), Bear's Affair (25/1), Mr Mercurial (33/1), Dineur (33/1), Pass The Hat (40/1), Coastal Tiep (50/1), Asockastar (50/1), Champagne West (50/1), Crazy Jack (66/1), Shimla Dawn (66/1), Just Cause (100/1), Never Complain (100/1), Numbercruncher (100/1), Shantou Magic (100/1), Gallery Exhibition (100/1), Starkie (100/1)

ROAD TO ROME has shown some excellent form in this sphere this season and with a jockey who has won this race three times in the past he is taken to register a fifth hunter chase success of the campaign in this prestigious event. Burning Ambition has had this as his target all season and he can chase the selection home ahead of Top Wood who ran well when placed at Cheltenham last time out.