South Notts Hunt Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 5m 23.6s

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Selected odds by:

Ballotin^p⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

11/10

Former 143-rated chaser with a career record of 13-35 and landed a 2m hunter chase penultimately. Still in with every chance when falling latest and barring a repeat he looks a cut above these.

Form: 520/41F-

Shimla Dawn⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss E Todd| T: Mrs C Drury| OR: 117| D

5/1

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 his first win under rules in over three years. Tougher ask here but may prove second best.

Form: 15/3P1P-

Dark Mahler⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Joe Wright⁽³⁾| T: Guy Brewer| OR: 110

15/8

Very lightly raced eight-year-old who won at Ludlow in November before weakening quickly there in January after racing prominently. Underwent wind surgery after but still struggled on return at Exeter. More needed now.

Form: 6/6511-1

Hurricane Vic²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: S J Robinson| OR: 86

33/1

Won two of 12 recent point-to-points but thoroughly exposed in 11 unsuccessful Rules races earlier on. Second of four at Sedgefield latest his best ever run but rated 49lb inferior to Ballotin.

Form: 1/52352-

Martha's Benefit¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr W J Milburn⁽⁷⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 102| D

16/1

Won a couple of low-grade races for Mark Walford in 2018 and a point-to-point since. Didn't stay 3m1½f at Cheltenham latest but back at a more suitable trip she will be one of the more likely rivals to Ballotin.

Form: 31141-P

Forecasts

Ballotin (11/10), Dark Mahler (15/8), Shimla Dawn (5/1), Martha's Benefit (16/1), Hurricane Vic (33/1)

This looks a fine opportunity for prolific scorer BALLOTIN to gain a 14th success and second in hunter chases and barring a repeat of his fall last time out he ought to win this pretty easily. Shimla Dawn looks best of the rest ahead of Martha's Benefit.