A pair of Aintree Foxhunters’ Chase winners are among a host of talented horses heading to Stratford tomorrow for the annual end-of-season hunters’ chase meeting.
The Joe O’Shea-trained Gracchus De Balme, who won the Randox-sponsored race last month, lines up in the Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters’ Chase (for the Horse & Hound Cup) (7.35) for Joe O’Shea’s Cheshire stable, while Chris Barber’s 2023 Aintree winner Famous Clermont lines up once again in the Olly Murphy Racing Ladies’ Open Final (6.25). Famous Clermont won last year’s race under Izzie Hill (pictured above), who again has an enticing book of rides at the meeting.
She also partners the Alan Hill-trained Learntalot – who won the restricted race on the Stratford card 12 months’ ago and who now tackles the Pertemps Network Foxhunters’ Chase – and his stablemate Coolagh Park, who runs in the pointtopoint.co.uk Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase (for the John Corbet Cup) (7.00).
Learntalot after his Stratford win last year with trainer Alan Hill (Ce)
Izzie says: “Last year’s meeting was definitely one of the highlights of my career and I’ve watched the replays a lot. I’m very lucky to have three nice rides tomorrow.
“When Famous Clermont won the ladies’ race last year Chris casually said it would be great to come back here in 12 months. I was hopeful I would keep the ride because he’s a classy horse, and is suited by flat tracks and sub-three mile races. He’ll be wearing cheekpieces for the first time which should help him travel further into the race.”
Famous Clermont faces just three rivals, but they include last year’s runner-up Imperial Esprit from Rob Varnham’s stable, and Fairly Famous who will be ridden by trainer Gina Andrews. Hill says: “I ride against Gina most weeks, but the one thing in my favour tomorrow is that I can claim 5lb. My horse carries a double penalty, but he will still receive 2lb from Fairly Famous.”
If Fairly Famous wins it will at least give Hill added hope that Learntalot can get into the money in the evening’s most valuable race. Learntalot finished half a length behind Fairly Famous (conceding 5lb) at Cheltenham recently.
Hill says: “Learntalot keeps stepping up – he ups his game every time he runs, even if he doesn’t win. Two out at Cheltenham I thought ‘here we go’, but the hill caught him out, so we’re hoping that returning to a flat track will suit him better. He won over three miles, four furlongs earlier this season so we’re not worried about the trip.”
Of Coolagh Park she says: “He ran well at Huntingdon last time, and returning to a left-handed track will definitely suit him. He won left-handed at Fakenham [in March] and while he’s had injury issues over the years he’s in such rude health Alan thought we had nothing to lose by running.”
Racing starts at 5.50pm with the Pointing Pointers Restricted Novices’ Hunters Chase in which O’Shea’s Barton Snow bids to follow up his recent Cheltenham victory. Dangers include Largy Pearl, who is trained near Huntingdon by Dale Peters and owned by his aunt, Beryl Close.
I'm Spellbound, ridden here by Jack Andrews, but partnered by sister Gina tomorrow (Ce)
I’m Spellbound chases a sixth straight victory when lining up in the John Corbet Cup, in which rivals include the recent Lady Dudley Cup first and third Jeux D’Eau and Red Delta. The Pertemps Network Champion Hunters’ Chase is spiced by the only mare in the race, Latenightfumble, who won at Cheltenham after a lengthy break during which she produced a foal, while Rebel Dawn Rising bids to go one better having finished second in last year’s running of the Tipsterreviews.co.uk Handicap Hunters’ Chase (8.10).
Six horses go to post for the finale, the White Swan Hotel Stratford Open Hunters’ Chase (8.45), in which Samtara runs for Racing Post point-to-point correspondent Claire Hart. Izzie Hill’s brother, Charlie Marshall, takes the ride.