Turner Trophy (Hunters' Chase)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 16.6s

Unioniste⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-8| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125| D

15/8

Very smart chaser in his prime (rated 153 at best); gained a hat-trick in this sphere during 2018 (all with cut in the ground). Returned from a break in a tough handicap this year before turning in doughty effort at Bangor (hunter chase) last time.

Form: 017/242-

Asockastar^p³³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: D Bourne| OR: 108| D

2/1

Different horse since being sent hunter chasing (only ran in three point-to-points) although he's been found out in the Cheltenham/Aintree Foxhunters. Will appreciate a drop in grade but faces a stiff enough task; only minor appeal.

Form: 2/2218P-

Mr Mix³³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Stuart Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Robinson| OR: 132| D

11/8

Never involved when unseating in the Aintree Foxhunter last time but his previous form would bring him right into this especially his hunter chase debut (second to Hazel Hill). In between he won his first point-to-point; looks to set the standard.

Form: 9/3221U-

Non-Runners

Steeles Terrace¹⁷

Weight: 12-2| Age: 7

T: A Pennock J: Mr Richard Collinson

Play The Ace¹²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: M Bowen J: Mr Peter Bryan

Forecasts

Mr Mix (11/8), Unioniste (15/8), Asockastar (2/1), Play The Ace (7/2), Steeles Terrace (10/1)

Two Paul Nicholls horses (one ex) look to be the principals in this with MR MIX despite his Aintree Foxhunters mishap the one that appeals most having chased home subsequent Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Hazel Hill at Warwick on his hunter chase debut. Unioniste who is still with the Nicholls barn was only narrowly beaten in this sphere when last seen by one (Optimised) who ran a fair race at Cheltenham subsequently at their hunter chase evening; he looks the main danger. Play The Ace is sure to have come on from his Perth run which looked much needed while the other two protagonists face a stiff task in this small field.