Irish set for Stratford raid

Stratford hosts its annual Hunter Chase evening on Friday the 31st of May and there are a number of Irish challengers amongst the entries.

The £20,000 Champion Novices Hunters Chase ran over an extended 3m3f has attracted 11 entries, three of which are from this side of the Irish Sea.

The Anthony Black – trained Casey Jem and the Shark Hanlon handled Rewritetherules both bring very competitive form to the table, as the duo are unbeaten in their last few runs on home soil. 

Casey Jem has won two point-to-point and a Cork hunters chase since the New Year, while Rewritetherules has won hunter chases at Down Royal and Tipperary this Spring. Both should have big chances here if taking up their entries. 

Meanwhile the five-year-old Winged Leader, trained by David Christie could also appear here. The son of Winged Love is a model of consistency having been placed in a number of competitive contests this season, both in hunter’s chases and between-the-flags.

The £25,000 Champion Hunters Chase has also attracted three Irish entries although this looks set to be a bigger field with 16 entries.

Both the Aintree Foxhunters winners – Top Wood and the Punchestown Champion Hunter Chase winner Caid De Berlais head the line, while last seasons’ shock winner Chosen Dream is back to defend his title for Graham McKeever.

While not having entered the winners’ enclosure since, the 11-year-old was not disgraced when beaten 10 lengths on his last start in a Down Royal Hunters Chase. This was the same contest taken by the previously mentioned Rewritetherules who is double entered in this contest for Shark Hanlon.

The final Irish entry is the David Christie – trained Sambremont, a dual winner in opens. To his credit the nine-year-old never runs a bad race between-the-flags, although he failed to complete in his last two starts under rules.

To see the full list of entries click here.