Gwillam's Annual Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 5m 58.5s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Sausalito Sunrise^p³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Alex Ferguson| T: O Murphy| OR: 130

11/10

Smart handicap chaser when with Philip Hobbs (rated 159 at his peak); off the mark in this sphere for his new yard at second attempt. Had to work a little harder than the odds (11-10) suggest to win last time (held on well); leading player.

Form: 5U30/21-

Silvergrove^t³²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J Smith-Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Owen| OR: 117

7/2

Useful handicap chaser when with Ben Pauling (rated 139 at his peak); 4-6 in point-to-points. Scored his first success (third attempt) in this discipline in a match at Fakenham last time (easy task); this will prove to be a stiffer test.

Form: 111/241-

Kit Barry^p⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Charlie Dando⁽⁷⁾| T: David Dando| OR: 103

9/1

Third to Arthur's Secret in this last year he's 3-8 in point-to-points (over a year since he won in that sphere). Finally got off the mark under Rules last time at Fontwell (3m2f) in a weak novices' hunter chase; this is far tougher.

Form: 4243-21

Diamond King^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Josephine Banks⁽⁷⁾| T: M H Weston| OR: 143| BF| D

5/2

Stable won this last year and this former useful sort for Gordon Elliott (former Coral Cup winner) gives them another good chance. Only effort for Olly Murphy failed to encourage; 2-4 in point-to-points since last seen under Rules.

Form: P/4121-3

Non-Runners

Drumhart²⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 10

T: Mrs D Ralph J: Mr James King

Forecasts

Sausalito Sunrise (11/10), Diamond King (5/2), Silvergrove (7/2), Kit Barry (9/1), Drumhart (16/1)

This looks like so many of these races this year to boil down to a couple of main players with SAUSALITO SUNRISE and Diamond King in the starring roles this time around. The former should have won in easier style at Hexham last month but he still has a fair bit of class about him and in Alex Ferguson has the far more experienced pilot on board. The latter of the main duo bids to follow up for the team that took this last year and they have another good chance especially as their charge has been in fine form between the flags of late. It looks as though Silvergrove is the best of the remaining trio although this will be tougher than his win in a match at Fakenham last time.