Racing TV Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:59 | Winning time: 6m 40.9s

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Selected odds by:

Hazel Hill²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 147| D

1/4

2019 Foxhunters' winner at the Cheltenham Festival who has been beaten only once (in a point) in the past five years. Easy winner of a point last month, on his reappearance. Likely to be too good for this field, despite conceding weight to all.

Form: 2/111-11

Minella Rocco^p,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137| D

5/2

Second to Sizing John in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Largely disappointing since then, but bounced back with an easy hunter chase win at Warwick (3m, soft) recently. Bit to find now on official ratings, but hard to dismiss with confidence back.

Form: PPP-P81

Thyne For Gold^h¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Fred Timmis⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Owen| OR: 104

66/1

Dual chase winner at around 2m4f (on good/good to soft). Suffered narrow defeat in a match on his recent point-to-point return, but looks well short on class again the two principals here.

Form: 43347-2

Shantou Prince^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Christopher Furness⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J W Furness| OR: 114| D

28/1

Multiple point winner whose sole hunter chase success came at Kelso (2m5½f, good) in May 2018. Couldn't win any of his three points last season, and well held on his recent reappearance in that sphere. Others preferred.

Form: 12622-3

Craggaknock³⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: S W Byrne| OR: 117| C

25/1

Won two novices' hurdles here (both 2m) when with Mark Walford. Couldn't add to that for Richard Guest, and well held on recent point debut at Sheriff Hutton. Playing for placed money at best.

Form: 4/02705-

Forecasts

Hazel Hill (1/4), Minella Rocco (5/2), Craggaknock (25/1), Shantou Prince (28/1), Thyne For Gold (66/1)

There may be five runners, but this looks to be a match between the former Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco and HAZEL HILL, and despite conceding 4lb to his chief rival, the latter is preferred due to his consistency. It was heartening to see Jonjo O'Neill's runner back in the winner's enclosure last time, but he now has to back that up, which has proved a problem over recent years. Craggaknock is proven here and may be the one to chase them home.