held up, lost place approaching 5th, blundered 7th, unseated rider 5 out
chased leaders, lost place 8th, kept on from 4 out, never dangerous
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
chased winner, blundered 7th, blundered 5 out, one pace from next
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
made all, clear from 5th, in command from 4 out
behind, kept on from 4 out, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner
mistakes throughout, chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out until blundered last
ONLY DREAMS is not bomb-proof but he holds the form to land a race of this nature and is duly nominated ahead of Oaklands Luis, Paradise Bay and Benwell. The market can often be the best place to start when approaching these Hunter Chase contests so any significant support for any of the eight should be noted. We side with Only Dreams who has not been in exemplary form of late in the point-to-point sphere. However he has winning form on the racetrack proper and was backed to win when he obliged at Leicester in March. He was then a favourite for a better race at Cheltenham but he failed to complete. Benwell is another who has had his jumping frailties in the past but he was a good winner at Sedgefield in April and he is unlikely to be far away if in the same frame of mind this afternoon. Oaklands Luis ran in some good races last season and obviously has ability, although if the ground was to get any softer it would add a question mark to his chance. Paradise Bay had some fair form when trained over in Ireland, and despite a poor strike-rate it would be unwise to rule him out here, especially if there is any confidence behind him in the betting. A tricky race to fathom, but the former Enda Bolger and Jonjo O'Neill inmate Only Dreams is taken to land this race.
Benwell 3-1fav (12-5) Ev ch when fell in race won by Bobby Buttons (12-5) at Mordon 3m ptp gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Oaklands Luis 12-1 (12-5) Led til rn wide bend aft 5; pulled up in race won by Pristine Condition (12-0) at Sheriff Hutton 3m ptp sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Only Dreams (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Wl bhnd when pulled up in race won by Wickford (12-0) at Barbury Castle 3m ptp gd in Jan, 20 ran.
Benny Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Messager (11-7) at Hexham 3m 1f mdn hts chs (5) hvy in May.
Earl Sigurd (IRE) 80-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Astarador (11-3) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
Jubilee George 10-1 (11-2) Led, headed 5 out, weakening when mistake next, 4th of 6, well behind Brize Norton (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Jul.
Nocatee (IRE) 14-1 (12-5) Prom til wknd 14, 5th of 8, 7l behind Cheyne (12-5) at Thorpe Lodge 3m ptp sft in Jan.
Paradise Bay (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 17th of 20, well behind Clover Pearl (10-4) at Galway 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-123 gs in Jul.
