19:05 Stratford

Friday 2 June 2023

All17:3518:0518:3519:0519:3520:0520:40

Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:09 | Winning time: 6m 50.3s

Cheltenam De Vaige²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Broughton| T: Miss H Lewis| OR: 117

40/1

Fairly useful chaser. First run since leaving Fergal O'Brien when good 22 lengths third of 12 to Law of Gold in hunter chase (12/1) at Cheltenham (32.4f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 58121-3

Clara Sorrento¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R Stearn| T: D Kemp| OR: 120

22/1

Useful hurdler/chaser for Noel Meade back in 2018. Mulitple points winner since, latest only 19 days ago, so he can't be discounted.

Form: 15111-1

Fr Humphrey^p¹²

Age: 15| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss N C Hennessy| T: Miss N Hennessy| OR: 95

100/1

Untrustworthy individual. First run since leaving Neil Mulholland when creditable third of 5 in hunter chase at Killarney (23f, good, 20/1) 18 days ago. Has since landed a point but others are still preferred.

Form: U1-1131

Law Of Gold²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Peters| T: D Kemp| OR: 135| CD

9/4

Most likeable and consistent hunter chaser who landed 12-runner hunter chase at Cheltenham (32.4f, good to soft) 28 days ago. This C&D winner is well in the mix.

Form: 2/2221-1

Not A Role Model²³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Fern O'Brien| T: Ms Ms J Nolan| OR: 117

50/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser for Sam Thomas. 5 out on yard debut in hunter chase at Haydock (22.2f, good to soft) 104 days ago. Scored twice in points since though so can't be ruled out.

Form: P32U-11

Secret Investor^p,t³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss N Parker| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| C

5/1

Just a useful chaser nowadays but he scored for the third time in 2022/23 in 3m hunter chase (8/13) at Ludlow 37 days ago. Enters calculations for top yard.

Form: 1/611F1-

Steely Addition^p¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: C T Dawson| OR: 115| BF

66/1

Fairly useful chaser who was a dual points scorer before posting a solid third of 4 in hunter chase at Perth (23.8f, good) 16 days ago. Needs another step forward here, however.

Form: 1231-13

Vaucelet¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| OR: 140| BF| CD

10/11

Very useful Irish chaser who comes here on the back of a good second of 7 in hunter chase (4/6) at Downpatrick (28.7f) 14 days ago. Took this event in good style 12 months ago and he looks the one to beat again with age very much on his side.

Form: 11172-2

Wagner^p,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: M Comley| OR: 112

150/1

Fairly useful winning chaser at his best for Matthew Hampton. Runner-up between the flags for his new connections 26 days ago but this is much tougher.

Form: 32140-2

Singapore Saga²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D Andrews| T: J Heard| OR: 111

14/1

Irresolute performer but he landed a point before creditable third of 5 in hunter chase at Cheltenham (25.2f) 28 days ago. Others still make more appeal.

Form: 11121-3

Non-Runners

Graasten⁴¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 11

T: S G Allen J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Vaucelet (10/11), Law Of Gold (9/4), Secret Investor (5/1), Singapore Saga (14/1), Clara Sorrento (22/1), Cheltenam De Vaige (40/1), Not A Role Model (50/1), Graasten (66/1), Steely Addition (66/1), Fr Humphrey (100/1), Wagner (150/1)

VAUCELET was a stylish winner of this contest a year ago and teed himself up well for a repeat success when runner-up at Downpatrick a fortnight ago. C&D scorer Law of Gold is a really likeable sort so should ensure David Christie's very useful Irish challenger doesn't have things all his own way. Secret Investor isn't the force of old but Paul Nicholls' veteran can still edge out Cheltenam de Vaige for minor honours.