Hunter Chase - 5.40 Worcester

[Darran]

Before getting to the preview a quick look back at Warwick on Wednesday. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say the best horse won. I thought Zac gave Killaro Boy a really good ride because he knew if he let Marcle Ridge get an easy lead then he could be hard to peg back. He was clearly primed for this and it was a really decent effort given how easy he won. Hard to know though where he goes from this. I guess he might feature among the Stratford entries on Saturday, but otherwise its into handicaps and if the handicapper puts him up then it is hard to think he is well treated. I think this is as good as Marcle Ridge is and like I said in the preview it was not a strong race he won at Cheltenham. Garde Ville has regressed from last season for sure and he was well beaten. Master Sunrise went back to his sulking ways although they probably went too fast for him. I still would be tempted if he goes handicapping this summer as his mark will drop again after this.

I'd have like to have taken Sausalito Sunrise on really, but I just can't see what is going to beat him and he easily has the best form in the race this season. It was a solid enough comeback after 2 years off at Chepstow and then he went on to beat solid yardstick Ravished at Hexham. I thought that was a good effort and he really should be winning this based on that.

I was hoping the bookies might base the prices on BHA ratings as Diamond King is rated 13lbs higher than the favourite. Sadly though they haven't fallen into that trap. The former Cheltenham Festival winner has won 2 of his 4 starts in points and the first start was impressive. The 2nd to Dabinett Moon was a solid effort on his next start and he was in front of Kalabaloo so that was good as well. Only beating Moscow Prices by a couple of lengths the next start wasn't great and then he was 3rd last time although the form comment suggests that Phine Banks was out ridden which to be honest isn't a massive surprise. 

Silvergrove achieved very little when beating a very under par Sir Jack Yeats at Fakenham. His two previous runs were poor so on the balance he has to be taken on especially as I didn't think a great deal of his pointing form in 2017.

Drumhart has been supported in the early beting. I can sort of see why as some of his placed pointing form has been decent this season. A close 3rd to Optimised and then a 2nd to a good horse in Wishing And Hoping were good efforts. He was then 3rd to Knight Bachelor when 2m4f was too sharp a trip. He then won a couple of weakish race. He was a well beaten 3rd last time though. The other problem is his jumping which isn't always great in points and was pretty bad when he was tried in 3 handicaps last summer. Those came off marks of 10, 98 and 96 twice under James King and once under Richard Johnson. He has had a wind op ahead of going back pointing this season so that might help bring some improvement about, but it isn't going to help his jumping. Chances are he is going to have to run at least 20lbs better than he did in those handicaps last summer.

I can't have Kit Barry at all. They said after he won last week that Cheltenham might have left a mark so for them to run again so soon is surprising. I wouldn't fancy him anyway though as this is stronger than last Fontwell.

I think at this stage I am going to make it a no bet race. 4/5 about Sausalito Sunrise seems about right to me and he looks the most likely winner. It's hard to even put up a forecast play as I don't really like any of the others strongly enough to put them up at this stage as they all have questions to answer. I will see what the market does tomorrow and add any bets then.

[Darran]

Those who got a big price on Drumhart will be annoyed he has come out. It seems Silvergrove is the one that has come for money, but it is hard to see how he can be backed in any confidence based on his what he has done this season. That has meant though that Sausalito Sunrise has drifted to 5/4 and I think that is a price we can back him at. Usually you wouldn't want to see a horse from the yard drift, but from memory I think he drifted at Hexham and that was because of the support for the 2nd and Hunter Chases markets can be different from other race markets so I don't think the usual rules apply here. Therefore I am happy to get involved despite the drift.

Sausalito Sunrise 2pts @ 5/4 with William Hill and most others