Overbury Stud National Hunt Stallions Crudwell Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 6m 26.50s

Garde Ville³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Stephen Paul Davies⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P A Rigby| OR: 114| BF| CD

11/2

Won this last year, and went close at Bangor in March, but this prolific point-to-point winner (10-18 in that sphere) has been beaten into second in his last three starts between the flags, and may be vulnerable conceding weight all round.

Form: 312-222

Marcle Ridge¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Sam Jukes⁽⁷⁾| T: Sam Jukes| D

11/10

Four wins and two seconds from six completed starts in point-to-point field, and made a winning debut in this sphere at Cheltenham early this month. Unexposed, and leading claims with potential for better taken into account.

Form: 11112-1

Master Sunrise^p¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr James King| T: A Ralph| OR: 95

25/1

Moderate handicapper under Rules, did come good at Southwell last summer but often looks a hard ride and pulled up at Cheltenham's hunter chase meeting last time.

Form: 13636-P

After Aspen^b¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Daniel Cherriman⁽⁷⁾| T: L Horsfall| OR: 107

50/1

Moderate under Rules for Olly Murphy. Hasn't progressed in the point-to-point field, and failed to complete in hunter at Cheltenham early this month.

Form: P0223-P

Chase Me^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ridley| OR: 80

16/1

Has won his last three starts in point-to-point contests, but exposed a modest sort under Rules, and while he's clearly improved, this looks tougher than his recent assignments.

Form: 3351-11

Killaro Boy^h²⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 129

7/4

Useful chaser at his best for Adrian Murray in Ireland, and makes debut for new yard having missed a couple of outings due to coughing earlier in the year. Market will guide, but not taken lightly.

Form: B3/9776-

Forecasts

Marcle Ridge (11/10), Killaro Boy (7/4), Garde Ville (11/2), Chase Me (16/1), Master Sunrise (25/1), After Aspen (50/1)

MARCLE RIDGE hasn't achieved as much as Garde Ville or Killaro Boy, but he was a facile winner on his hunter chase debut at Cheltenham, and is clearly open to plenty of progress in this sphere, so gets the verdict. Last year's winner Garde Ville has been hitting the bar in points, and it may be a similar story again here, with Killaro Boy a bigger threat given the level of form he was capable of in Ireland.