16:55 Kelso

Sunday 28 May 2017

All14:1514:4515:1515:5016:2516:5517:25

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:58 | Winning time: 6m 44.58s

Cave Hunter^b,t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: Mrs W Hamilton| OR: 118| CD

15/8

Winner of multiple point-to-points (won last two) and dual winner of this event winning by 11l last tear. Unseated rider in his latest Hunter Chase but given his record in this race has to be respected here and this prominent runner has a good chance of landing the hat-trick.

Form: 172U-11

Damiens Dilemma³³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Miss H L Bryce⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Coltherd| OR: 95| D

22/1

Fairly modest sort in handicap chases but has won six times in point-to-points. Unseated his rider on his last start in this sphere at Hexham and his jumping can leave a bit to be desired.

Form: 16630U-

Havana Jack^v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Ryan Nichol⁽⁵⁾| T: L Kerr| OR: 89| CD

28/1

C&D winner when taking a maiden Hunter Chase here in April on his seventh attempt in that grade. Failed to follow up that win back here last time although he did have rather a luckless run and will be far better back over this trip.

Form: 34511-4

Monsieur Jourdain^p¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr William Easterby⁽³⁾| T: W Easterby| OR: 109| C

6/1

Front-runner who may well get the run of the race here and hasn't been disgraced in any of his last three starts in Hunter Chases. Well beaten last time out when failing to get to the lead but better than that run and should run a sound enough race here.

Form: 11212-2

Tallow Fair²²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Lucy Horner| OR: 103

20/1

His point-to-point record stands at 7/19 and he's shown fair form of late under Rules winning his first Hunter Chase on his last outing. Stayed on well to win at Hexham over 3m and this extra distance is unlikely to be beyond him.

Form: P/14R3-1

Charlie Snow Angel^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S E Forster

25/1

Very solid record in point-to-points from four starts (one win) and shaped really well in novices' Hunter Chase last time out over shorter. Didn't really get the run of the race last time out (had traffic problems in the closing stages) but rallied well to take the runner-up slot and likely to run well again but could benefit from stronger handling.

Form: 8/2221-2

Molten Brown^p¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss C Dun⁽⁷⁾| T: Tony Hogarth| OR: 100| D

33/1

No slouch in point-to-points (four wins) but generally finds one or two too good in this type of race under Rules and has work to do with his rivals here.

Form: P414-14

Young Hurricane³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Guy Brewer| OR: 106

11/4

Six-time winner in point-to-points having previously been with a couple of professional yards and a winner over hurdles and fences. Only a runner-up last time out but travelled smoothly and has some back class and likely to trouble the best of these given that run.

Form: U4F112-

Miss Biscotti²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss E Todd⁽³⁾| T: Gary Rutherford| OR: 101| CD

12/1

Winner of a three runner Hunter Chase over C&D in March beating an odds-on favourite (was the outsider of three) but hard to know what to make of that form. Pulled-up when a 7/1 chance at Cheltenham last time out (reportedly lost two shoes) and this looks a stronger contest.

Form: 3P/421-P

Running In Heels^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucy Horner| OR: 75

100/1

Has shown only poor form so far in a couple of Hunter Chases and was beaten 19L last time out at Fontwell Park for her previous yard and will do well to take a hand here for her new yard.

Form: 30P43-5

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

Shantou Magic²⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: R Dobbin J: Mr W B Ramsay

Forecasts

Cave Hunter (15/8), Young Hurricane (11/4), Shantou Magic (7/2), Monsieur Jourdain (6/1), Miss Biscotti (12/1), Tallow Fair (20/1), Damiens Dilemma (22/1), Charlie Snow Angel (25/1), Havana Jack (28/1), Molten Brown (33/1), Running In Heels (100/1)

Cave Hunter the winner of this for the last two years looks as though he’ll make a bold bid again off the back of a smooth point-to-point win but this looks quite a deep race this year with both Shantou Magic and YOUNG HURRICANE looking capable of being successful in this sphere. The former makes his first start for this yard but has shown up well in better races than this in the past and the same could be said of the latter. Monsieur Jourdain is likely to turn in his usual consistent run with Tallow Fair and Charlie Snow Angel worth a look at bigger prices.