Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy (Open Hunters' Chase)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 38.10s

Mendip Express^t²⁹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

2/9

His last three races have all come in top quality hunter chases where he finished in behind On The Fringe, the preeminent horse of the division. Off since Punchestown last year but a simple replication of any of his spring festival form from last year should see him take this easily.

Form: 83-3295

Mr Mercurial^t²⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr William Biddick| T: Mrs S Crow| OR: 116

9/2

Was well behind Mendip Express in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham last year, and no conceivable reason why today should be any different.

Form: 0P/418U-

Daring Article^p,t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Ed Glassonbury⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 114

20/1

Hasn't won since December 2013, and has been well beaten on all of his recent starts. Looks to have little chance of beating some of these on that evidence.

Form: P7P-P6P

The Ould Lad^t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Ed Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: G Slade-Jones| OR: 119

40/1

Well beaten on all of his starts for the past couple of years, including when well fancied in good races at Sandown and Wincanton. Looks to be well past his best, and that's what would be needed here.

Form: P7-FP3P

Non-Runners

Gauvain²⁸⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 15

T: Miss V Collins J: Miss Leanda Tickle

Forecasts

Mendip Express (2/9), Gauvain (3/1), Mr Mercurial (9/2), Daring Article (20/1), The Ould Lad (40/1)

If MENDIP EXPRESS can show anything like the form he did to finish within 10L of hunter chase legend On The Fringe three times last spring, then he'll win this, and it would seem to be as simple as that. Should he falter, perhaps the veteran Gauvain can pick up the pieces, having won well at Fontwell last time, albeit in a much weaker contest. Mr Mercurial looks the best of the rest, though he was well behind the selection at Cheltenham last year. 1. Mendip Express 2. Gauvain 3. Mr Mercurial