19:50 Stratford

Friday 8 June 2018

All17:3518:0518:4019:1519:5020:2521:00

Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:52 | Winning time: 7m 15.90s

Asockastar^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs| T: D Bourne| OR: 107

20/1

1-30 under rules but already off the mark during a brief point-to-point career and outran odds of 50/1 at Cheltenham last time. Tailed off on last start here and likely to be outclassed.

Form: 48142-2

Balnaslow⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: G J McKeever| OR: 135

7/4

Tends to deliver on the big occasions but arrives under a cloud following a poor run at Punchestown. Possible that came too soon after his Aintree heroics and regular rider back on board here. Runner-up to Young Hurricane in this last year

Form: 1/2P71P-

Chosen Dream^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: G J McKeever

66/1

Irish challenger races to a consistent level but it is not one that will be good enough in this company.

Form: 2B152-3

Kilbree Kid^b,t¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N George| T: T R George| OR: 128

10/1

Showed the benefit of his comeback run to beat a good field at Kelso and he arrives fresher than most. Has to be respected.

Form: 515P-31

Mon Parrain^p,t³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Page Fuller| T: Mrs K Smyly| OR: 113

50/1

Without a win this season and finds himself taking on some of the very best hunter chasers around. Looks opposable.

Form: 2323P-2

Now Ben³²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 114| CD

6/1

Landed the novice on this card last year and arrives for this 3-4 in point-to-points since December. Faces the stiffest test of his career.

Form: 1P121-1

Ourmanmassini^t⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Anthony Fox| T: G Elliott| OR: 107

40/1

Beat Gilgamboa in a point-to-point in December but he has gone backwards since. Hard to fancy even given his trainer's capabilities.

Form: 4F1P2P-

Strumble Head^b²³

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Peter Bryan| T: M Bowen| OR: 119| C

18/1

Useful handicap chaser who has adapted well to the hunter ranks and has landed back to back races at Newton Abbot. Had Vivaldi Collonges in trouble a long way out last time and that makes him a threat to all in this.

Form: 51231-1

Vivaldi Collonges^b1,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| BF

33/1

Form has an in and out look to it these days and he was never travelling well at Newton Abbot. Blinkers given a go here but they are likely to go a good gallop. There is a chance he will once again be ill at ease on another sharp circuit

Form: PPP/P1-3

Wonderful Charm^p,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129| D

5/2

Top class hunter chaser who was third in this last year. Has not looked as good this year despite a recent Fontwell success.

Form: 0/31P0-1

Young Hurricane¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Guy Brewer| OR: 125| CD

9/1

Surprised Balaslow and Wonderful Charm in this 12 months ago when delivered with a well-timed run by this rider. Arrives in peak form from between the flags and with question marks against those same rivals.

Form: 12PP-11

Non-Runners

Spencer Moon⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: Kieran Price J: Mr Byron Moorcroft

Forecasts

Balnaslow (7/4), Wonderful Charm (5/2), Now Ben (6/1), Young Hurricane (9/1), Kilbree Kid (10/1), Strumble Head (18/1), Asockastar (20/1), Spencer Moon (33/1), Vivaldi Collonges (33/1), Ourmanmassini (40/1), Mon Parrain (50/1), Chosen Dream (66/1)

Young Hurricane denied Balnaslow and Wonderful Charm in this 12 months ago and arrives in better form than that pair this time. Now Ben is a useful point-to-pointer who could prove good enough despite his stiffest task to date, whilst Strumble Head is in good hands and holds Vivaldi Collonges on Newton Abbot form. KILBREE KID is just preferred as he is fresher than most and beat a good field at Kelso 12 days ago.