Timico Mixed Open Gold Cup Final Hunters' Chase

Off time: 18:52 | Winning time: 7m 1.40s

Hazel Hill⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 147| CD

1/4

Foxhunters winner, that coming off the back off excellent efforts at Warwick and Chaddesley and merely showed his progression has not yet finished, Looks a class above these and with no trip or track issues, is the one to beat.

Form: 112-111

Master Baker¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: Mrs L Jefford| OR: 126

16/1

Has shown a good level of form this season, beating the useful Southfield Vic at Newbury in February but does need to bounce back from a trouncing by the useful Risk A Fine at Stratford last time. Place chances all the same.

Form: 1F1112-

Virak¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss N Parker| T: Mrs R Loxton| OR: 127

6/1

Very useful point-to-pointer, winner of his last five starts but in truth, has not come up against an opponent of the quality of Hazel Hill as yet. His good jumping should keep him in it for a long time, but places may be the best he can hope for.

Form: 3-11111

Caryto Des Brosses¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr D Peters| T: D Kemp| OR: 117

12/1

Hard to knock what he's achieving in point-to-points around the Midlands this season, and has won seven of his last eight starts, but he'll need to find more improvement if he's to challenge Hazel Hill for top spot here.

Form: 1/12111-

Kelvingrove^p,t1²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Ben Jones| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 122

66/1

Have to go back to 2017 to find his last win, never been the most consistent and recent efforts leave him with plenty to find. Others readily preferred.

Form: P16/433-

Gran Paradiso¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R Wilson| T: N Sanderson| OR: 107

80/1

Stays very well, having won over 29f at Corbridge earlier in the year, but limitations rather exposed at Hexham last time out and the minor places may be the best he can hope for.

Form: 141F13-

Path To Freedom²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Mrs C Coward| OR: 118

28/1

Winner of four of his last five, including a couple of Open wins, and deserves a shot at a race like this on his narrow defeat to the useful Diplomate Sivola at Catterick in March. Some rain would help his cause, and he might challenge for places.

Form: P11211-

Forecasts

Hazel Hill (1/4), Virak (6/1), Caryto Des Brosses (12/1), Master Baker (16/1), Path To Freedom (28/1), Kelvingrove (66/1), Gran Paradiso (80/1)

HAZEL HILL has had a cracking season already, winning the Foxhunters here last time out, and he simply looks a cut above these. As long as he's not over the top for the season, he should be winning this. The battle for second looks more open, with Virak looking the obvious option, but you can make cases for Cartyo Des Brosses, Path To Freedom and Master Baker as well. If there's any rain around, then Path To Freedom might be the one for the silver medal.