tote - Back With Better Value Guaranteed Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 41.99s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Bob And Co^h1,t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-8| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148| BF

1/1

Well-fancied on British/hunter debut (sent off EVSf), but was way too keen for his own good and was unrideable for most of the race before being pulled-up. Something to prove off the back of that, but this is a weak contest.

Form: 345P3-P

Pass The Hat^t²⁹⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 12-8| J: Miss S Rippon⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S Rippon| OR: 127| BF| D

8/1

Sprung a minor surprise when winning with such ease at Carlisle (2m4f; heavy) in this grade. However, he was pulled-up in the Foxhunters', and then posted an underwhelming effort on his final start of 2019 when only third in a point-to-point.

Form: P/141P3-

Swift Crusador³³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-8| J: Mr S Burton⁽⁷⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 122| D

2/1

Lightly raced for a nine-year-old, and official ratings suggest he wouldn't be without a chance in this contest. Slight guessing game regarding his fitness given this is his first run for 336 days. Drops in grade on this hunter chase debut.

Form: 347/134-

Ballynagour^h,t²²

Age: 14| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: J W Stevenson| OR: 125| D

5/1

Was in the process of running a big race, despite pulling very hard throughout the contest on his return to rules action in this company at Ludlow (3m; soft) last month. Claims if settling better.

Form: 0UP/F3F

Forecasts

Bob And Co (1/1), Swift Crusador (2/1), Ballynagour (5/1), Pass The Hat (8/1)

A small-field but nevertheless an intriguing affair. Pass The Hat is the only one in this race who can be comfortably ruled out given the questions he has to answer after his previous two efforts. On official ratings, BOB AND CO should win this easily. However, he was a major disappointment on his UK/hunter chase debut recently when pulling his riders arms out before being pulled-up. He is given another chance in the hope that was a one-off as his French form entitles him to plenty of respect. Swift Crusador lacks fitness, but was contesting decent handicaps at Sandown/Newbury when last seen, while Ballynagour is another who will need to settle if he is to feature