led in start, blundered 14th, always behind, pulled up 3 out
took keen hold, chased leaders, blundered and weakened 16th
soon in rear, mistake 11th, behind when pulled up 15th
always behind, mistake and ridden 12th, fell last
led, hit 14th, headed next, stayed close up until weakened 3 out
close up, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 16th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, behind 10th, soon struggling, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, led 15th, made rest, idled flat, in command
mid-division, struggling 3 out, pulled up next
in rear, headway to modest 5th and driven after 2 out, no chance
prominent, challenged from 3 out, kept on under pressure from last
mid-division, headway and in touch 11th, 3rd at 17th, 2nd 2 out, lost 2nd briefly last, rallied flat, no chance with winner
behind, headway 9th, 4th 2 out, went 2nd last, looked dangerous briefly, lost 2 places near finish
Nonrunner
A good looking field run in this Champion Hunters' Chase and Southwestern could add to a fine record at Stratford, however preference is for ROULEZ COOL ahead of Ice Tea. Roulez Cool was brought down back in March at Cheltenham but interestingly, five of today's other runners ran in that race and did not do any better. Since then Roulez Cool has won a point-to-point to reaffirm consistent performances over the past couple of seasons. Ice Tea and Take The Stand are both on winning form and there are plenty of other decent horses who could spring a surprise. Southwestern won this race last year and has run decently before at Stratford. However, it appears that even considering favoured course and conditions, it may be a tall order to repeat last year's fine performance. So in a top quality but wide open hunters' chase Roulez Cool gets our vote.
Border Fusion 7-2 (12-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, mistake next, headway to chase leaders 12th, tracked winner 14th, soon ridden, staying on to challenge when mistake last, no extra, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Ice Tea (12-4) at Bangor 3m hts chs (4) gd.
Coolefind (IRE) 4-5fav (11-13) Tracked winner 3rd, not fluent 14th, led travelling well last, driven out flat, won at Towcester 3m hts chs (6) gf beating Fruitfull Citizen (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Dennis The Legend 3-1 (10-3) Raced wide, in touch, pushed along and outpaced before 4 out, blundered last, stayed on again flat, 4th of 8, 8l behind Oscar Bay (11-8) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Drybrook Bedouin 11-2 (11-8) Not fluent, mid-division, headway and in touch 10th, reminder 13th, soon struggling, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Take The Stand (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd.
Ice Tea (IRE) 4-5fav (12-4) Prominent, led 2nd, clear after 11th, hard driven approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Bangor 3m hts chs (4) gd beating Border Fusion (12-4) by 10l, 7 ran.
Marblehead (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Soon tracked leader, led briefly 5 out, blundered next, driven and outpaced after 3 out, no impression with winner from next, 2nd of 11, 10l behind The Cool Guy (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gd.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 9th (water), headed 17th, led again 19th (water), made rest, pressed after 3 out, ridden and stayed on well approaching last, won at Cheltenham 4m 1f hts chs (4) gd beating It's Like That (12-1) by 13l, 18 ran.
Oranger (FR) 8-1 (11-13) Pressed leader, led 9th, mistake and headed next, 3rd fom 4 out, stayed on to 2nd after last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Farmer Frank (11-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hts chs (6) gd.
Roulez Cool 4-7 (12-0) Led 6; qcknd clr aft 3 out, won at Ashorne 3m ptp beating Ruairi (12-0) by 15l, 6 ran.
Silver Adonis (IRE) 4-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden next, one pace approaching last, 4th of 7, 13l behind Postmaster (10-9) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Apr.
Simonsberg (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, headway in 3rd 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and kept on well from before last, won at Down Royal 2m 7f hnt chs gf beating Huncheon Wells (11-7) by 1l, 6 ran.
Southwestern (IRE) 5-1 (11-13) Held up behind, headway 17th, chased leading pair 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon one pace and beaten, 3rd of 8, 18l behind Take The Stand (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd.
Take The Stand (IRE) 7-4fav (12-2) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, led 5th, headed narrowly 8th, led 4 out, clear from 2 out, hit last, kept on well, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp hunt chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Lisadell King (12-4) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Templer (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, blundered 12th, went 2nd 14th (water), challenged 3 out, kept on and every chance until ridden and one pace flat, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Take The Stand (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd.
Turthen (FR) 4-6fav (12-6) Tracked leaders on inside, led 15th, reminder after 3 out, just over 2 lenghts ahead when blundered last, headed soon after, unable to recover, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Ask Again (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf.
Here's Johnny (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden and not fluent last, no extra last 100 yards, 6th of 16, 2 3/4l behind Elusive Muse (10-7) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
