Hunters’ Chase Tips: Premier can Magic up big win

| March 14 |

4 mins read

Immediately after the excitement of the Gold Cup comes the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase - the Gold Cup for amateur riders over the same three-and-quarter-mile trip. We've previewed this one and given you our Hunters' Chase Betting Tips.

Hunters' Chase Betting Tips

Premier Magic @ 7/1

1. Billaway (Willie Mullins/TBC) @ 6/1

Came from the clouds to win this in 2022 in stunning fashion for favourite-backers and yet to play his cards when falling last year. Figures of 221F in this contest and warmed up with a good second at Naas.

2. D'jango (Victoria Collins/Immy Robinson) @ 33/1

Just 4-48 over fences in his career, winning a Warwick Hunters Chase (3m, soft) in January but well beaten since at Haydock under this rider.

3. Ferns Lock (David Christie/Barry O'Neill) @ 5/2

Prolific in this sphere with four wins in six. Just touched off behind Its On The Line at Down Royal (3, soft) over Christmas (pair clear) scored decisively since at Thurles. Contender for leading trainer in this arena.

4. From The Heart (Lisa Jones/Natalie Parker) @ 100/1

Well beaten in a couple of hunter chases at Taunton and Newbury in the spring last year. Mixed bag since in point-to-points and up against it seemingly in this company.

5. Its On The Line (Emmet Mullins/TBC) @ 2/1

In cracking form this season in Hunter Chases, beating Ferns Lock on Boxing Day at Down Royal and then just about holding off Billaway at Naas (3m1f, heavy) last month. Just seven and everything points to a big run.

6. Premier Magic (Bradley Gibbs/Bradley Gibbs) @ 6/1

Caused a major shock when winning this at 66/1 last season, sticking on gamely to repel Its On The Line as a few faltered late on. Won here again in May and 2-2 in points so far in 2024. Big player again.

7. Quintin's Man (J Heard/Darren Andrews) @ 20/1

Wincanton Hunters Chase winner in February and ran well over shorter since when third at Haydock (2m6f, heavy). A bit to find on paper with the best of these.

8. Ramillies (David Christie/Rob James) @ 14/1

Has contested Grade 1s at this meeting in the last three years (bumper, hurdles, chase) and began 2024 with a brace of points successes. Tailed off since at Naas/Gowran Park in Hunters Chases and something to prove now.

9. Samcro (Gordon Elliott Todd Hamilton) @ 13/2

A dual Grade 1-winning novice at this Festival in 2018/2020 over hurdles/fences, he was tailed off in the Grand National at Aintree last spring, but has reinvented himself with a string of point-to-point wins this season. He'd be an incredibly popular winner.

10. Shantou Flyer (Sam Loxton/Olive Nicholls) @ 33/1

Regular visitor here from his base nearby in the Cotswolds, he has been second in an Ultima, third in the Kim Muir and has figures of 233 in this race. He's a teenager now but warmed up with a point win this month.

11. Time Leader (Hannah Roach/Toby McCain) @ 14/1

Versatile sort in Hunters Chases in terms of trip and has five wins in seven attempts in the last 13 months, including at Haydock (2m5f, good to soft) in January. Stamina is not strictly a given for this test.

12. Sine Nomine (Fiona Needham/John Dawson) @ 12/1

Has a 3-5 record in this sphere and no stamina worries. Both defeats have come here, though only by a half-length last May. Prolific in points, arrives off a Wetherby win, though some of these hold a class-edge on the only mare in the line-up.

Premier Magic @ 7/1

Samcro or the teenager Shantou Flyer would be wildly popular winners, but they face some young, thriving rivals here.

Ferns Lock and Ramillies are solid contenders for David Christie, though the former was beaten fair and square by Its On The Line at Down Royal over Christmas.

Emmet Mullins' runner was third in this last year and should be a big force again, but there was no real fluke in the win of PREMIER MAGIC that day.

He got hampered at three out and did it well after, while he cruised to another course win in May. He has readily won a pair of point-to-points en route back here and, at the prices, he's value for Bradley Gibbs again.