Hunter Chase - 4.40 Fontwell

[Darran]

A quick look back at Doncaster first and it was good to get another winner on the board with a very game performance from Silsol. I think he might have got it in the stewards room anyway as Monbeg Gold didn't leave him with much room on the run in, but he out battled him anyway so it didn't matter. The jockey switch was key for me and we know he stayed well. Connections might look at at Cheltenham, but for me I would be thinking 4m race on hunter chase night instead.

There was money for Monbeg Gold before the off and it was very well placed as he put in a much improved performance from Warwick. I'm not sure he found an awful lot on the run in though and I would put a squiggle next to his name.

Law Of Gold travelled well until tiring and it was a fair enough prep for Cheltenham. Not sure what you do with Captain Cattistock after this as he found very little for pressure. Surely they have to think about retirement for Joe Farrell after his well beaten 5th. He might win a weak contest, but he clearly is nowhere near a 132 horse now.

Onto today's race at Fontwell and instead of the usual small field we have a max field of 16 for the final hunter chase that can be used to qualify for Cheltenham. Safe to say though that only Sametegal will be going to Cheltenham out of the 16. If he had been up against anything of note then I might have been worried about his stamina, but he is miles clear of these and should have no worries winning let alone finishing in the first 4.

Obviously he is very short and rightly so. Kashmir Peak is 2nd in and did run well against Minella Rocco at Warwick last January. My feeling is he was flattered by that though as his two runs after that weren't as good. Even so he should be in place contention against this lot.

The Galloping Bear looks to be improving. The winning times of his wins are nothing special, but it did show that he looks a strong stayer. He ran at Kimble back in November and finished 2nd in an Intermediate. I think it was probably his best run yet and unlike most of these he should have his best years ahead of him.

Djin Conti hasn't run since December 2019 when he was well beaten by Earth Leader. Prior to that he won a Warwick handicap off 119 for his former connections. A repeat of that would give him a place chance here, but after so long off it is hard to know what form he is still in.

Le Reve was going the wrong way when he was last seen last season and at the age of 13 I am happy to pass him over although he has the back class to hit the frame. 

Frelia looked very good when winning on Cheltenham hunter chase night in 2017, but it's been mainly downhill since then and she didn't show a great deal at Chaddesley Corbett in December. 

One at a big price who could outrun his odds is Sonneofpresenting. The slight concern is that he is likely to front run and there might be competition for that, but there will be nothing like the quality of horse who was fighting him for the lead at Warwick last time. He didn't run too badly that day on ground which would have been too soft for him and that was a hot race. The fact a pro jockey is on and not his owner/trainer is a big plus and he's been racing in much better races than this. He would need something bad to happen to the favourite to win, but I will take a chance on him to hit the frame.

Sonneofpresenting betting without fav 0.5pts e/w @ 7/1 with Bet365

Over at Hereford I think it is worth backing ex pointer/hunter chaser Tinkers Hill Tommy in the 3.50. I did think that he wanted better ground than he will get today and also at Chepstow last time, but he ran really well to finish a very good 2nd. Given that was the first time he completed a race in nearly 3 years that was a good effort. He looked a very good horse in hunter chases back in 2017/2018 and he bolted up in the Dunraven Bowl at Chepstow 3 years ago. I'm amazed the handicapper gave him a mark of 112 after that and he's even been dropped 2lbs for the Chepstow run. This is a poor race with horses on the downward spiral, but he has not had much racing and there should be more to come from him.

Tinkers Hill Tommy @ 15/8 with Willliam Hill

[The Equaliser]

3.10 Font Brewingupastorm is top rated by RPR and Timeform but I don't want to take on Mcfabulous.  I don't want to back Mcfabulous either at a best price of 4/5

3.40 Font I am trying to get £8 at 2.28 on Fantasticus, hoping that a lot of money wiil come for Brewers Project. Interesting that Timeform select this one over their top rated Fantasticus.  I can't see why the shorter trip will be a hindrance to my selection

5.10 Font Looked at Storm Dennis, Top rated but the price has been slashed from 9/2 last night into about 3/1 now.  Not worth a bet at that price imo

3.20 Her Trying to get £2 matched at 6.2 on Grand Turina; currently 5.2.  4 live contenders so I will hold out for the better price or let it go

4.20 Her Bothwell Bridge Around evens for this one looks like a lousy bet to me especially with the extra distance it has to run

4.50 Her Gilwen Grayson Had £1 to win on this at 12/1. I like Banana Joe but not betting on it at 4.5