Six Irish Challengers set to run at Stratford

David Christie is set to bring across four runners to the Stratford Hunter Chase meeting which takes place on Friday evening.

He saddles Velvet Maker who makes his first appearance in a hunters chase since June 2018 in the second race on the card, a 2m1f open hunters chase. The 10-year-old has been a touch disappointing since he was purchased by his owner David Maxwell and looks to have plenty of opposition in this 15-runner field with Barry O’Neill in the plate.

The £20,000 Champion Novices Hunters Chase which is run over an extended 3m3f has attracted 2 Irish runners and the Anthony Black – trained Casey Jem heads the line-up.

The five-year-old is unbeaten on his last three starts, having won two point-to-point and a hunters chase. Rob James is set to take the mount.

Meanwhile Barry O’Neill and David Christie team up again with Winged Leader. The son five-year-old 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.

Last year’s winner Chosen Dream is amongst the entries for the Champion Hunters Chase which sees a field of eight go to post. 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.

Sambremont is the only other Irish representative in this race for the David Christie and Barry O’Neill combination. The nine-year-old is a dual winner in opens. To his credit the French-bred never runs a bad race between-the-flags, although he failed to complete in his last two starts under rules.

Former Galway Plate winner Road To Riches is the final Irish raider, as the veteran is set to take part in a 2m4f handicap hunters chase. The David Christie – trained runner ran a huge race in the Aintree Foxhunters under owner/rider David Maxwell, although Barry O’Neill takes the mount on this occasion.

See the full declarations here.