Download The Free At The Races App Hunters Chase

Off time: 16:42 | Winning time: 6m 10.9s

Salsify³⁴⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr R O Harding⁽³⁾| T: R Sweeney| OR: 139| CD

7/2

Once a beacon in this sphere, winning at Cheltenham Festival in 2012 and again in 2013. Long way below that form in March when last spotted. Now 13-years-old, is without a win since March 2016, but worth a market check on seasonal bow.

Form: 21/4F40-

Sizing Coal¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr J J Codd| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 132

5/4

Fair effort behind Gilgamboa at Down Royal on Boxing Day (third) and very easy winner of point-to-point at Oldtown earlier this month. That ought to leave him spot on for this and is the one to beat.

Form: P2-1331

A Decent Excuse⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 118

10/1

No win under rules since a 2m4f Killarney chase in August 2015, three-time point-to-point winner this winter however so not ruled out. Pulled up last month at Killeagh in that sphere, so must bounce back to hold claims.

Form: 01115P

Eddies Miracle²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie

4/1

Looks a solid point-to-point representative but has fallen in both hunter chase starts in career including last time out in November. Won a point-to-point at Tyrella last month, entitled to respect on strength of that.

Form: 2621F1

Le Braye^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr R McLeigh⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell

8/1

Fairly most hurdler in Britain, made winning start in point-to-points for Peter Flood in December and again went well last month in that sphere. Worth paying attention to now making chase debut for this new yard.

Form: 30F-412

Rossvoss^b,t⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr M J Stenson⁽⁷⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 131

12/1

Weakened and pulled up at Down Royal on Boxing Day on first start for a year, entitled to have need that run but still going to have to work very hard to overturn form with Sizing Coal seemingly.

Form: 0P/250-P

Forecasts

Sizing Coal (5/4), Salsify (7/2), Eddies Miracle (4/1), Le Braye (8/1), A Decent Excuse (10/1), Rossvoss (12/1)

SIZING COAL ran a sound race behind the impressive Gilgamboa at Down Royal on Boxing Day, with the winner franking that form since. He represents the winning trainer/jockey team that landed this contest 12 months ago and is likely to take some stopping this afternoon. Eddies Miracle impressed winning a point-to-point last month, while the youngster of the pack, Le Braye, has also scored in that sphere this winter and is one to note now going chasing for new trainer Gavin Cromwell. The veteran Salsify won this in 2016 and makes his seasonal bow today. Now a teenager, he may be vulnerable.