Hunter Chase - 3.30 Taunton

[Darran]

The new Hunter Chase season is upon us and we have just over 90 races to look forward to between now and the end of May. Last season was another profitable one and the first half of the season was the best ever run I have had. I can't promise a run like that again, but hopefully we will have another decent profit come the end. We have a cracking race to get underway on Tuesday as well.

Buck Dancing - Being a hold up horse in a race which looks set to have a fair bit of pace in it could be to his advantage and he has clearly done very well since going to current connections. After a couple of false starts in hunter chases last season, he finally showed his very good pointing form when 2nd to Earth Leader at Stratford. Given how highly I regard that horse that was a good effort and connections knew they had a very well handicapped horse and he duly won a couple of handicaps at Southwell and Perth in the summer. Neither race was especially strong and the horses he beat at Perth have done little for the form since. After a well deserved break he made his return in a Ladies Open at Alnwick and was impressive in winning beating a decent yardstick in Irish Anthem by 5L. I still think a mark of 115 underrates him, but the problem is I am not sure he is going to be up to winning this and a place is the best he can hope for.

 

Captain Cattistock - The latest purchase for David Maxwell as he looks to dominate the hunter chase season again. He has only had 7 runs over fences and at 7yo he is quite unexposed for a horse going hunter chasing. He has some strong form as he was 3rd to the Ladbrokes Trophy winner last March at Uttoxeter and he was 2nd in the Southern National at Fontwell in November when Welsh National 5th The Two Amigos was in behind. He is likely to be up there with the pace which suits his jockey although he can need plenty of driving which might not suit his jockey. Clearly has a leading chance though as we know he his fit and is likely to have Cheltenham qualification as his aim.

 

Ultragold - You would imagine given his record over the National fences that the Aintree Foxhunters would be the target for him although he has been running in staying races of late including the Grand National last season. Having finished 3rd in last season's Becher Chase he ran in the Grand Sefton this time around and was a well beaten 7th. Laim Trott will be having just his 2nd ride under rules and has had only 21 rides in points riding just 1 winner. He might have needed the run at Aintree, but he doesn't really appeal as a likely winner for me.

 

Bishops Road - If he repeated his thrashing of Risk A Fine at Cheltenham in May then he would have a huge chance in this. The problem for me though is that form does look rather suspect. Risk A Fine didn't handle the track or the ground and clearly ran way below par. The others in the race were a pretty poor bunch as well so as impressive as it looked I have my doubts about him. Bizarrely he ran 3 days later and took a pretty nasty fall. He ran at Dunsmore on the first day of the season and couldn't quite run down Don Bersy who had built up a massive lead. That one finished 2nd at Barbury next time out in a decent race. On the Cheltenham form he is a massive price, but I am happy to pass him over given the doubts I have about him.

 

Mustmeetalady - Useful enough although the trip round here could be on the short side and it looks like he is being used to give Anthony O'Neill some riding practice more than anything else.

 

I'm All Set - Has a lot to find in this field.

 

Diligent - Couldn't win a handicap off a mark of 89 when last seen and won't be winning this.

 

Wishing And Hoping - Has looked very good in 3 points in 2019 on his first runs since October 2017. He won the Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett in April and then finished alone at Ffos Las last month. He made the running and just kept going as the others fell away in behind. This race is much stronger but the Foxhunters has already been mentioned as a possible target for him and Alex will no doubt bid to make all, although he could have competition for that. The other question mark is his jumping as he has fallen in 2 of his 3 starts over fences back in 2016. He could be better now he is older though and he clearly has a leading chance.

 

Summary - The 3/1 about Wishing And Hoping lasted a minute and the price has continued to tumble since. I had intended to tip him up, but I just don't think he is value at the current price. I think the front two in the market are priced about right at the moment. I don't fancy Ultragold so he certainly makes no appeal at the prices. I must admit even though I am suspect on his Cheltenham form there is a case to be made that Bishops Road should be a bit shorter than 7/1. The 25/1 about Buck Dancing didn't last long either, but as he looks more a place chance than a win chance his current price looks about right as well. So as much I would love to get involved given it has been so long since the last hunter chase, at this stage it is a no bet race for me and I will wait and see what options there are tomorrow to see if it changes. It is a fascinating opener to the season though and I am looking forward to it all starting again.

[Point the way]

Thanks Darran,an informative write up as usual. Fingers crossed for this season