White Swan Hotel Stratford Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 4m 15.72s

Frere d'Armes^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

10/1

Back to winning ways in hunter chase at Ludlow in February but has disappointed more recently and finished tired when well beaten at Cheltenham last time.

Form: P1230-8

Joker De Mai⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: Harry Derham| OR: 129

8/15

Useful chaser in France and has held his form well for his new yard, easily landing the odds in 2m hunter chase at Leicester in March. Didn't get far in Aintree Foxhunters' latest but holds strong claims here.

Form: 222/31F-

Figaroc^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Edward Vaughan⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 122

50/1

Fairly-useful hurdler who posted best effort over fences for Willie Mullins when third in listed handicap at Gowran (16f) 14 months ago. Offered little in either start for current yard, though.

Form: 3340/P-5

Kansas Du Berlais²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: C M Clarke| OR: 112

5/1

Fairly useful hurdler who was returning from 6 months off when fourth of 7 in hunter chase at Cheltenham (16.3f, good) on debut for new yard 28 days ago. Should be straighter for that run but has something to find on form.

Form: 622/33-4

Samtara²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Charlie Marshall⁽⁵⁾| T: Ms Hart| OR: 93

33/1

Hurdles winner who had a mixed record over fences for Martin Keighley and well held in former sphere on final outing under Rules 12 months ago. Lines up here having opened his account in points for new yard at the start of the month but this understandably much tougher.

Form: 44/282-1

The Big Lense^p,t²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R Stearn⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Owen| OR: 126

9/2

Fairly useful chaser who resumed winning ways over hurdles at Southwell (20.4f) last summer before a good second over fences at Market Rasen. Down the field in Summer Plate next time but unbeaten between the Flags subsequently and he rates a big player returned to this company.

Form: 12011-1

Forecasts

Joker De Mai (8/15), The Big Lense (9/2), Kansas Du Berlais (5/1), Frere d'Armes (10/1), Samtara (33/1), Figaroc (50/1)

JOKER DE MAI got no further than the Chair in the Aintree Foxhunters' last time but has the gears for this shorter trip and should take plenty of beating. The Big Lense has been prolific in points in recent months and can provide chief resistance.