Starting with a 2m110y 0-135 handicap hurdle, still a good contest despite the withdrawals of Australia Day, Osric and Exulto. It wasn't run at a particularly strong gallop and the winner and third were in a good position when the race took shape four out, so for me the runner-up is the one to take out of it.

The rapidly-improving Tiger O'Toole (medium-height, leggy) seems to live on his nerves - very much on his toes in the paddock, with two handlers - but was backed from 7/2 to 9/4 to follow up his Southwell win three days previously and did so, well positioned throughout, produced to lead coming off the home turn and holding Forty Thirty all the way to the line.

Forty Thirty was the pick of the paddock, presumably having come on for his outing at Aintree when third to The Jigsaw Man earlier in the month, and might have given the winner more to do if he'd been better placed before the fourth last, the winner having already gone for home when Forty Thirty was really set alight coming off the home turn. Pepporoni Pete looked well and gave his running, in the first two most of the way (mistake fourth), and a good effort from Dishdasha in fourth, up the weights after his recent Uttoxeter win and also not ideally placed four out, but he needs to come down the handicap.

Although handicap debutant Palmito finished last, this mare, who'd won a weak novice hurdle when I went to Ffos Las in October 2009, might be interesting if tried in a novice chase, here looking well but edgy in the paddock and weakening after setting a medium pace at best to three out.

Those people who 'doorstepped' the riders coming back after the first to ask them what the ground was (Stratford is one of the easiest courses for getting a jockey's autograph, or heckling them if they've ridden you a loser) got answers like 'will get slower as the night goes on', and 'good to soft', and before the second race the going was officially changed to good all round.

That second race was one of the the weaker events on the card, a 2m3f 0-110 handicap hurdle for amateur riders, the finish fought out by the two most interesting horses running in it, the pair separated by a nose at the line. This one was strongly run thanks to De Luain Gorm (looked burly) who was readily swallowed up come the home turn.

Alldunnandusted, in a race where good recent form was thin on the ground, confirmed his last-time-out Towcester second (had won at Fontwell before that), looking to be struggling a circuit out but running through them from five out and leading after three out, staying on well enough despite getting the worse jump at the last and his rider Mr Kevin Jones getting in a state with his reins from the last to the line, appearing to be trying to pull his whip through to his left hand but unable to do so. As a result of that his mount drifted left and into Just Victor, but the result was allowed to stand after the subsequent stewards' enquiry.

Just Victor (leggy, fit enough) was making his handicap debut and proved his stamina over an easy 2m3f, indeed was the moral winner in some eyes. Always up there, he was going better than the winner turning out of the back straight, stayed on when Mr Jonathan Bailey got into him from two out and got the best jump at the last, gaining as the rider on the winner got into difficulties and appearing to have got up, but while the photo showed that Just Victor's backside was in front of Alldunnandusted's, unfortunately for Just Victor and Bailey it was his rival's nose that was in front on the line.

Chasing the front pair home, indeed gaining on them late, was Pips Assertive Way (leggy, patchy in coat), who's long been one to have on your side in sellers at Stratford in the Summer - also two wins at Worcester last year - and will be again on this showing.

A supposedly competitive 2m1f110y 0-135 handicap chase was turned into a procession by Passato (neat, leggy and sparely made, hardly a chasing type), up no less than 10 lbs to 113 for his last-time-out Exeter victory, but making light of that and what looked stronger opposition on paper to utterly hose up, never out of the first two and in no danger after two out.

Mister Benedictine (workmanlike, could be made fitter), up to now an underachiever over fences, ran a career-best over the larger obstacles, going well throughout and every chance till the winner went on. He just held on to second from moderate jumper Miss Sarenne (about medium, leggy, looked well), who'd unseated her rider last time but was a fortunate winner at Aintree the time before - she was at work after slight mistakes four out and three out, and is one to take on over fences.

Even poorer jumper Tempting Paradise (well made, deep-girthed) couldn't have been a more fortunate winner at Plumpton the time before and got reminders after the sixth and eighth, coming back tailed off, Norborne Bandit - who normally gives his running without winning - was also let down by his fencing (already not getting into it when blundering three out), and Leamington Lad, who could be given a chance off his proper mark (out of his depth in the Grade 2 Silver Trophy at Cheltenham in April), didn't want to know when Passato came back upsides him at the seventh and dropped the lot.

The best supporting race on the card came next, the 2m5f110y Class 2 0-140 handicap chase (for the Gambling Prince Trophy); a couple in this are likely to turn up in the better chases during the Summer, but the winner could well be seen next in a big 2m4f handicap chase in the Autumn once the season proper gets going. The open ditch in the back straight was omitted, presumably damaged in the previous race.

The eight-year-old King Troy (well made), fit enough on his first start since falling at Cheltenham in October in a novice chase won by Just Amazing, is clearly unexposed and, jumping better than he has done, won in workmanlike style off a mark of 140, held up early and improving readily to be prominent a circuit out, going best of the three leaders on the home turn and staying on well once asked for his all going to the last; this form would entitle him to a chance in something like the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November.

Herons Well (workmanlike, dipped-backed, sweating behind) has done well since being switched to fences but isn't the strongest finisher, and was sent on too far from home when only third to Postmaster at Ffos Las on his previous outing. He acquitted himself well here stepped up in class, despite - not because of - his taking the lead even further out than he did at Ffos Las, to his credit staying on better than he sometimes does once headed. He's likely to play a part if he runs at Market Rasen in the Summer Plate in July.

Tanks For That (medium-to-tallish, workmanlike), patchy in his coat, returned to form after two pulled-ups, held up in rear early but turning up on the scene going to three out (normally four out) and pulling clear, along with the first two, by the second last, beaten off approaching the final fence. Like King Troy, this one is unexposed - as well as being a year younger - and, if his jumping holds, should be a factor in good handicap chases at up to around 2m4f when the season proper starts.

North Island (medium-height, leggy), from the Peter Bowen stable, seems likely to be turning up at Market Rasen in July (course winner on reappearance), despite this reverse on this first appearance in a Class 2 race; going off 9/2 favourite, he took a good position and went well until slight errors crept in from the ninth onwards, pushed along and losing touch with the first three passing the omitted fence and held from two out.

There wasn't much from the others, Bill's Echo (bit backward) only making late ground after being held up as usual, Buck The Legend (tallish, workmanlike, coat various shades) on the back foot after a huge blunder at the ninth and Storymaker never in it on ground not soft enough for him despite the rain (and needs to come down the weights anyway).

Main event-time; the 15-strong field looked in good shape for what is now called the Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase, although Marblehead, Roulez Cool and Aintree Foxhunters' winner Silver Adonis got warm in the paddock and Oranger had two handlers. It looked a mighty strong renewal on paper, and four of the first five in the betting fought out the finish, three of which didn't race in the first six or seven over the first few fences. The open ditch on the back straight was back in action for this and the following ladies' hunter, and it was at that obstacle that the favourite and eventual winner had a moment that set him back a place or two on the first circuit, making it less easy to argue that Templer's last fence-mistake cost that one the race, and an honourable mention is due to Turthen, whose stamina gave out only inside the last 100 yards.

Roulez Cool (well made, sweating, 5/2 to 2/1), at seven the youngest winner of this for a few years, was let down by his jumping in the Christies Foxhunters' at the Cheltenham Festival. Back on track after a point win in a good time at Ashorne on May 3rd, regulation fences nearly found him out again as he made a mistake at the second, the open ditch, and Mr Sam Waley-Cohen lost his right iron, getting it back by the next but causing Roulez Cool to lose a good early position. He was back in touch a circuit later, led at the 15th and was going best on the home turn, then started to tire a few yards off the last, but had enough left to beat off Turthen's challenge and hold the rallying Templer and Take The Stand.

When interviewed by raceday presenter Tim Peters afterwards, his trainer Robert Waley-Cohen immediately nominated the 2011 renewal of the Christies Foxhunters' as Roulez Cool's main target next season. So we'll have to wait a bit before we see him again, unless the Waley-Cohens have a change of mind and try handicap chases again - he won a handicap in 2009 and, you'd think, would be capable of a good show in a big staying handicap chase in the Autumn. Either way that's provided that his jumping holds, as his early mistake here suggests that he's yet to turn the corner in that regard.

Templer (only workmanlike in build), who'd been winning over hurdles as recently as last Autumn, looked unfortunate to some, having stayed on and got upsides Roulez Cool when blundering at the last, but most (including me until I watched the race back) hadn't noticed the winner's earlier mistake. Held up away from the early leaders, he made ground to chase the pace five out, was struggling three out and looked well held when coming under pressure two out, until the winner tired shortly before the last letting Templer just about upsides. With a good jump Templer would have had a chance, but he blundered, and only Turthen tiring very late allowed him to get the second place he deserved.

Take The Stand, now 14, looked a picture in the paddock and ran a mighty race, deserving of extra credit for being at the front end throughout, even rallying late in the day to go a close third having held every chance with four to jump. Will he run again?

Turthen, who'd run Ice Tea close at Bangor then looked an unlucky loser at Wincanton behind Ask Again before coming here, failed for stamina late on over what is a maximum trip for him (had been a 2m4f-horse when with Paul Nicholls). Held up in midfield most of the way, he was brought with a superbly-timed challenge by Miss Charlotte Tizzard approaching the last. There was only Roulez Cool to aim at when Templer blundered, and Turthen briefly looked the winner, but he got tired 100 yards out and weakened out of the first three when the rallying Templer and Take The Stand stayed on past him.

Last year's winner Southwestern sat last early on and ran through beaten horses to claim fifth, a mistake three out making little difference, while Ice Tea made a lot of the running and started to struggle after jumping the 14th on the wrong leg, ridden and fading from four out, and the winner of the four-miler at Cheltenham's hunter chase evening Martha's Kinsman - this time unable to lead - lost a good position a circuit out, eventually pulled up.

Whilst not quite in the same class, the lady riders' hunters' chase over 2m7f still looked an above-average hunter, with the first and second from last season renewing rivalry, but some of the field didn't perform, allowing the runner-up from last year Cannon Bridge (workmanlike, looked well) to go one better, making all and ridden out from the last.

Lady Myfanwy (workmanlike), last year's winner and strong in the market (3/1 second favourite), looked primed for a repeat bid after victories in her last three points, but ran a strange race, losing her place and becoming detached from the main group before four out, rallying to go second before the last (still disputing seventh place at the previous fence), and looks to have gone the wrong way temperamentally. Whataboutya (leggy) stepped up on his previous run at Ludlow to get third.

The favourite Mad Victor (about medium in height, looked well), who looked a good recruit when he won well at Southwell, but unseated at Cheltenham next time, now looks to have a serious jumping problem. Miss Polly Gundry took over in the saddle from regular rider Miss Claire Allen and the pair didn't get on, Mad Victor barely getting one fence right and a spent force after getting into contention before two out, his mistakes surely doing for him. Others below expectations were Innocent Rebel (looked well), who should have been suited by the longer trip after running third in the two-miler at Cheltenham earlier in the month but was ridden and done with after four out, and That Look, making his hunter debut and with the assistance of Miss Gina Andrews, this small gelding looking fit after 618 days off but losing his place with two to jump and coming back tailed off (he has no jumps wins when going left-handed).

It had been an excellent card, but there was a turkey to finish with in the form of a 2m110y 0-105 novices' handicap hurdle. In a race run at a modest pace the rest of the field allowed handicap debutant Cubism (leggy, looked well) a soft lead, and when jockey Warren Marston drove his mount as if his life depended on it after three out the horse went well clear, Cubism safe at the last and able to be eased down by Marston close home.

This was a first placing over hurdles for Cubism, making his handicap debut. He'd not appeared to run near his 95-mark previously over hurdles but was fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time. His trainer Milton Harris attributed Cubism's improvement to that in the stewards' room post-race, and the trainer's comments have reportedly been referred to the British Horseracing Authority.

Space Telescope (leggy, fit enough) chased the leader throughout but was fighting a losing battle after two out - this isn't one to go with anyway, having run lazily when third at Market Rasen on his last start 177 days previously - and Monkhair (rugged up), still without a hurdles win, was placed again. The one most disadvantaged by the steadily-run race, however, was Uttoxeter winner Shipboard Romance (looked well and well backed), who was held up in last and couldn't get any further forward than midfield; her run here should be overlooked next time.

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© Roy Waterhouse
2010

'The Meal Deal'