4 T H RA C E 7 . 05 PM The Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters

Champion Hunters’ Steeple Chase (Class 2) (The 64th Running For the Horse and Hound Cup)

THREE MILES ABOUT THREE AND A HALF FURLONGS (3m 3f 119yds) for five yrs old and upwards

Total prize fund £22000

Owners Prize Money Winner £9348; Second £4673; Third £2336; Fourth £1168; Fifth £585; Sixth £293. (Penalty Value £10755.80) A HC

SEE PAGE 42 FOR CONDITIONS OF THIS RACE.

1 CHELTENAM DE VAIGE (FR) (28) 50121-3 11 12 0

B g Forestier (FR) - Ratina de Vaige (FR)

O Matt & Sally Burford

T Miss Hannah Lewis, Upton-On-Severn

H Berkeley

YELLOW, ROYAL BLUE triple diamond, ROYAL BLUE and YELLOW check sleeves, quartered cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Fairly useful chaser First run since leaving Fergal O’Brien when good 22 lengths third of 12 to Law of Gold in hunter chase (12/1) at Cheltenham (32.4f, good to soft) 28 days ago.

Shortlisted Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 117 MR TOM BROUGHTON

2 CLARA SORRENTO (FR) (19) 15111-1 12 12 0

Gr g Maresca Sorrento (FR) - Call Me Clara (FR)

O Mr S. J. Stearn

T David Kemp, Thetford

BLACK, WHITE cross belts, check cap.

H Suffolk

S Greencomp Ltd

TIMEFORM VIEW Useful hurdler/chaser for Noel Meade back in 2018. Mulitple points winner since, latest only 19 days ago, so he can’t be discounted Star RatingHHHII Official

3 FR HUMPHREY (IRE) (12)

Ch g Carlo Bank (IRE) - An Realt Beag (IRE)

O Miss Niamh Carol Hennessy H Avondhu

T Miss Niamh Carol Hennessy, Ireland

3U1-131 15 12 0

LIGHT GREEN and YELLOW diabolo, LIGHT GREEN sleeves, YELLOW cap

TIMEFORM VIEW Untrustworthy individual First run since leaving Neil Mulholland when creditable third of 5 in hunter chase at Killarney (23f, good, 20/1) 18 days ago Has since landed a point but others are still preferred.

Star RatingHHIII Official BHA Rating 107 MISS NIAMH HENNESSY

4 GRAASTEN (GER) (41)

Ch g Sholokhov (IRE) - Golden Time (GER)

O Mr S. G. Allen

T S. G. Allen, Chinnor

H Heythrop

32PP44- 11 12 0

BLACK and PINK (quartered), BLACK sleeves, PINK spots

TIMEFORM VIEW Fairly useful hurdler/chaser Sole run for Andrew Martin when pulled up in handicap chase at Worcester (23f) last July Rejoined former yard and fourth in a point 41 days ago. Has lots to find on form.

Star RatingHHIII Official BHA Rating 105 MR HENRY CROW

5 LAW OF GOLD (IRE) (28)

B g Gold Well - Nylon (GER)

O Mr David Kemp

T David Kemp, Thetford

2/2221-1 CD 10 12 0

H Dunston Harriers

EMERALD GREEN and LIGHT BLUE check, LIGHT BLUE sleeves, PURPLE cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Most likeable and consistent hunter chaser who landed 12-runner hunter chase at Cheltenham (32.4f, good to soft) 28 days ago This C&D winner is well in the mix.

Star RatingHHHHI Official BHA Rating 135

6 NOT A ROLE MODEL (IRE) (23) P32U-11 11 12 0

B g Helissio (FR) - Mille Et Une Nuits (FR)

O Mrs Caroline Mackness

T Ms J. Nolan, Naunton

H Cotswold

PURPLE and BEIGE stripes, PURPLE and RED hooped sleeves, PURPLE cap, RED spots.

TIMEFORM VIEW Fairly useful hurdler/chaser for Sam Thomas 5 out on yard debut in hunter chase at Haydock (22.2f, good to soft) 104 days ago. Scored twice in points since though so can’t be ruled out.

Star RatingHHHII Official BHA Rating 117

7 SECRET INVESTOR (GB) (37) 1//611F1- C 11 12 0

B g Kayf Tara - Silver Charmer

O Mr C. J. Hitchings H Blackmore & Sparkford Vale

T Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat S Morson Group

YELLOW, ROYAL BLUE spots

TIMEFORM VIEW Just a useful chaser nowadays but he scored for the third time in 2022/23 in 3m hunter chase (8/13) at Ludlow 37 days ago. Enters calculations for top yard.

8 STEELY ADDITION (IRE) (16) 1231-13 BF 11 12 0

B g Craigsteel - Blond’s Addition (IRE)

O Mrs J. L. Buckingham H South Durham

T C. T. Dawson, Ferryhill S Step By Step Supporting Independence Ltd

ORANGE, WHITE chevron and sleeves, striped cap.

TIMEFORM VIEW Fairly useful chaser who was a dual points scorer before posting a solid third of 4 in hunter chase at Perth (23.8f, good) 16 days ago. Needs another step forward here, however.

9 VAUCELET (FR) (14)

B g Authorized (IRE) - Peggy Pierji (FR)

11102-2 CD 8 12 0

O Samuel John Hegarty/Miss Jennifer O’Kane H Fermanagh

T D. M. Christie, Ireland

PURPLE, YELLOW stars, RED and YELLOW striped sleeves, RED cap, BLACK star

TIMEFORM VIEW Very useful Irish chaser who comes here on the back of a good second of 7 in hunter chase (4/6) at Downpatrick (28.7f) 14 days ago Took this event in good style 12 months ago and he looks the one to beat again with age very much on his side

10 WAGNER (IRE) (26)

B g Mahler - Astalanda (FR)

O Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited H V.W.H.

T Max Comley, Cirencester

32140-2 8 12 0

DARK GREEN andWHITE diabolo,WHITE and DARK GREEN diabolo on sleeves, DARK GREEN andWHITE quartered cap

TIMEFORM VIEW Fairly useful winning chaser at his best for Matthew Hampton. Runner-up between the flags for his new connections 26 days ago but this is much tougher

11 SINGAPORE SAGA (GB) (28) 11121-3 8 11 7

B m Midnight Legend - Kim Tian Road (IRE)

O Gardener, Hooper and Heard H Eggesford

T J. Heard, Okehampton MAROON, YELLOW hoops and armlets.

TIMEFORM VIEW Irresolute performer but he landed a point before creditable third of 5 in hunter chase at Cheltenham (25.2f) 28 days ago Others still make more appeal

2022: VAUCELET (FR) 7 12 0 Mr Barry O’Neill 4-9 (D M Christie) 9 ran

PLAY SMARTER

BETTING FORECAST:

6-4 Vaucelet (FR), 3-1 Secret Investor (GB), 4-1 Law of Gold (IRE), 14-1 Cheltenam de Vaige (FR), 33-1 Not A Role Model (IRE), 40-1 Steely Addition (IRE), 50-1 Clara Sorrento (FR), 66-1 Fr Humphrey (IRE), 80-1 Singapore Saga (GB), 100-1 Graasten (GER), Wagner (IRE)

RACE SUMMARY:

VAUCELET was a stylish winner of this contest a year ago and teed himself up well for a repeat success when runner-up at Downpatrick a fortnight ago. C&D scorer Law of Gold is a really likeable sort so should ensure David Christie’s very useful Irish challenger doesn’t have things all his own way Secret Investor isn’t the force of old but Paul Nicholls’ veteran can still edge out Cheltenam de Vaige for minor honours.

1-2-3:

1.VAUCELET (FR) 2.LAW OF GOLD (IRE) 3.SECRET INVESTOR

FREE form for all British and Irish meetings is available online every day at timeform.com/free

P E R T E M P S

Pertemps have generously sponsored this race and will kindly award a memento to the winning owner and a £100 cash prize to the stable employee responsible for the best turned out horse

A B A N D O N M E N T Re Fu Nd

In the event of racing being abandoned before the first race has been run, NO refunds will be made on the day, but racegoers should retain all badges/tickets & return these by post to the racecourse for a refund (or replacement badges for another meeting if preferred). Once the first race has been run, there will be no refunds.

A Warm Welcome Awaits...

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The White Swan Hotel, Rother Street,Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.CV37 6NH

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