19:50 Stratford

Friday 31 May 2019

All17:4518:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 7m 2.4s

Asockastar^p²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Shane Quinlan| T: D Bourne| OR: 117

13/2

Runner-up last year and arrives in form having outstayed a good field at Fontwell. Unbeaten under this rider and has each-way claims again

Form: 2218P-1

Ballyrath²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Huw Edwards| T: Miss H Brookshaw| OR: 114

33/1

4-17 record in point-to-points and his two most recent victories have come over 4m. Will have no problems staying but he lacks the class of some of these.

Form: 41214-1

Caryto Des Brosses²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Peters| T: D Kemp| OR: 130| C

8/13

Winner of seven of his last eight point-to-points. However, he will be all the rage here having run the mighty Hazel Hill to a neck at Cheltenham last time. Stable have a good record at this meeting including a success in this four years ago.

Form: 12111-2

Chosen Dream^t²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: G J McKeever| OR: 123| CD

7/1

Winner on merit when he pulled off a 66/1 surprise in this last year. Appears to be coming to the boil again judged on his latest start in Ireland. Will not be inconvenienced by rain.

Form: 124P4-3

For 'n' Against^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mrs Izzie Hill| T: A Hill| OR: 115

33/1

Consistent sort who generally operates at a lower level than the main protagonists here. Last of two finishers at Fontwell two weeks ago and blinkers removed here.

Form: 12332-2

Garde Ville⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Stephen Paul Davies| T: Mrs P A Rigby| OR: 114| CD

22/1

Landed the novice on this card 12 months ago. Has been busy this year and his efforts show he is not up to this standard.

Form: 12-2223

Sambremont^t1¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James| T: D M Christie| OR: 134

20/1

Rated 139 at his peak when with Willie Mullins. Off the mark in his first point-to-point of 2019 but beaten in better races since. Faces tough opposition again and needs a few to underperform.

Form: 3314-34

Wonderful Charm^p,t⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| D

7/2

Top class at peak, beaten a neck in 2017 Foxhunters by stablemate Pacha Du Polder. Third in the last two runnings of this and can be forgiven another Aintree failure last time.

Form: P0/131P-

Forecasts

Caryto Des Brosses (8/13), Wonderful Charm (7/2), Asockastar (13/2), Chosen Dream (7/1), Sambremont (20/1), Garde Ville (22/1), Ballyrath (33/1), For 'n' Against (33/1)

Chosen Dream, Asockastar and Wonderful Charm were 1-2-3 in this last year and all three are in the mix again. The former created a 66/1 shock but there was no fluke about the performance and he has been trained with this in mind. Preference though is for CARYTO DES BROSSES who is hard to oppose, having run Foxhunters winner Hazel Hill to a neck at Cheltenham, and representing a highly respected yard who know what it takes to win this.