15:45 Musselburgh
Saturday 4 February 2017
All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:20
bet365 Scottish Foxhunter Open Hunters' Chase
- 5YO plus | Class 3 | 3m 2f 139y | Good | 10 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 6m 53.2s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Prolific winner in point-to-points and landed a brace of hunter chases last year under today's raider. Unbeaten run ended by One Conemara between the flags last month, but has to be respected.
Multiple point-to-point winner who is also a three-time hunter chase winner. Looked as good as ever when scoring a bloodless victory between the flags last month and decent ground here will be ideal. Obvious claims.
Veteran performer who only seems to come alive at Hexham these days, recording a fifth course success there last April. Pulled on his debut/hunter bow for new yard last month.
Steady sort who usually runs his race and has rarely been out of the frame over the last couple of years, though he hasn't won since July 2015. Not seen since a below par effort at Kelso in October, others preferred.
Gained the last of his five chase wins in this contest a year ago but the suspicion is this is a stronger renewal. Should be competitive all the same, after a decent second between the flags recently.
Won chases for Dr Richard Newland in the past but well-held in handicaps this autumn. Beaten 8 lengths behind Cave Hunter in a recent point and obviously has something to find with that rival.
Opened his account at the sixth attempt under rules when winning at Hexham in June and returned to the pointing ranks in good order when scoring last month. No surprise to see him run a big race without quite troubling the principals.
A three-time point-to-point winner, he was placed twice in decent hunter chase company last spring though he unseated when returning to action between the flags last month. Still has improvement in him.
Still winless despite 20 attempts under rules and, though he has bagged a couple of second places in the pointing field, his form is a long way short of what is required here.
Very smart chaser at his best who was even sent off odds-on against Don Cossack once in 2014 (finished second) but lost his way a little last spring. Fascinating to see how he fares in hunter company.
Forecasts
Wonderful Charm (1/2), Cave Hunter (4/1), High Hatton (9/1), Carlton Ryan (12/1), Top Cat Henry (16/1), Damiens Dilemma (20/1), Railway Dillon (25/1), Pena Dorada (33/1), Chicago Outfit (100/1), Little Fritz (100/1)
A good quality hunter chase - much stronger than last year's renewal won by Railway Dillon - and all eyes will be on Foxhunters' hopeful WONDERFUL CHARM. Paul Nicholls' charge is a dual Grade 2 winner and, though he ended last season out of sorts, he is no back-number at the age of nine and should prove a class apart here. The prolific Cave Hunter looked better than ever beating Top Cat Henry in a recent point-to-point and that pair can give the selection most to think about with Carlton Ryan also an each-way option.
1. Wonderful Charm
2. Cave Hunter
3. Carlton Ryan
Prize Money
1st: £5,996.002nd: £1,873.003rd: £936.004th: £468.005th: £234.006th: £118.00
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