Hunter Chase - 5.00 Haydock

[Darran]

More profit on Friday and again I will catch up on looking back at the action once today's race is out of the way. It is a shame that the sponsors have got rid of the Walrus part of the race title, but there we go. As usual there it is a quality looking race which will see changes on the Cheltenham market (speaking of races which has had their name changed!)

Having backed Bob And Co for Cheltenham I am clearly looking for a big run and I am pretty confident he will win. Paul Nicholls shares my confidence as well and as I mentioned on my Cheltenham thread he thinks the wind op has improved him. If that really is the case then he is going to be a big player next month given he was already the top rated pointer/hunter chaser from last season. It should also help him stay better than he looked like he would last season. He settled so much better at Bangor and Fontwell than he did at Warwick when he pulled his owners arms out the whole way. I guess the concern is he does that again first time up, but at least this time he has a pro jockey on which will help if he is that keen again. This looks the perfect race to set him up for Cheltenham in a months time.

A good run from The Worlds End would obviously be a boost for the Highway Jewel form so hopefully he runs well, but clearly connections are trying to get him qualified for Cheltenham so a 1st 4 finish will be enough and after a fairly tough race at Warwick they surely won't be over hard on him if they don't need to be. Even so I think Bob And Co can give him 8lbs anyway.

I thought Wishing And Hoping might have got beaten at Catterick earlier in the week and it is hard to see how the ground here is going to be much different to the ground at Catterick. He was beaten by Alcala in this race last year and given the form of his two runs this season aren't as good as the form he showed last season I just don't see how he can win this.

No doubt the trainer will be backing Ravished and the slight drop in trip will help. He ran really well at Ludlow and I am sure he will run well here, but I just don't see how he can beat Bob And Co.

Ennistown is the only other one worth a mention and although he has ground to make up on Ravished on that Ludlow run he was a big eye-catcher that day. It actually wouldn't surprise me if he finished in the first 3 although and they could have found an easier race to qualify for Cheltenham or Aintree, but that could be a sign that connections are expecting a big run from him. He could be one for the betting without markets. Ultimately though I can't see past Bob And Co. 

Bob And Co 3pts @ 11/8 with most bookies

[paceman]

Very competant!