Horse racing tips | Stratford 28th May

It could turn out to be quite a good night’s work for David Maxwell, who has an excellent book of rides – starting with ECU DE LA NOVERIE. The seven-year-old, trained by Philip Hobbs, is a very useful individual, who has only finished outside the top four in all starts over fences. He’s gone well fresh before and should be a cut above these, while CAPITAINE isn’t the force of old but is more than capable of making his presence felt on his day, particularly if the return to the minimum trip has the desired effect.

Selections: ECU DE LA NOVERIE, CAPITAINE

17.45 – Skinner’s Ladies Open Point-To-Point Championship Final (Hunters’ Chase For Lady Riders) – 2m6f

Another excellent race in prospect in which DEANS ROAD arrives in rude health following back-to-back victories between the flags. He has valuable top-class handicap form to his name and should be thereabouts in this discipline. BARNEY DWAN was far from discredited when fourth in a hunter at Cheltenham on return and was successful in a point earlier this month too so, with a sufficient round of jumping, he is a huge player.

Selections: DEANS ROAD, BARNEY DWAN

18.20 – pointtopoint.co.uk Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase – 3m3f

FUMET D’OUDAIRIES had loads in hand when scoring at Cheltenham last-time-out and has established himself to be one of the best in hunters this season. He’s two-from-two under rules this year and should have little trouble in completing the hat-trick here, though CAPTAIN MCGINLEY looked better than ever when forging away to score by a wide margin at Cheltenham 28 days ago and should be competitive with a similar performance here.

Selections: FUMET D’OUDAIRIES, CAPTAIN MCGINLEY

18.55 – Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters’ Chase – 3m3f

BOB AND CO was all heart when landing the Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown at the end of April and has yet to taste defeat in completion for the champion trainer. He is undeniably the best horse on this evening’s card and this top-class chaser is certainly the one to beat. ADRIEN DU PONT has plenty of class, too, and looks poised to push the favourite close here if seeing out the longer distance.

Selections: BOB AND CO, ADRIEN DU PONT 

19.30 – White Swan Hotel Handicap Hunters’ Chase – 2m4f

ALCALA was a smart chaser in his prime and showed he retains a lot of his ability when winning back-to-back events in the spring for connections. He seems sure to go well, though he is up against MONSIEUR GIBRALTAR, who has won four of his last five starts and should have come on significantly for the run having finished a tired third when last sighted.

Selections: ALCALA, MONSIEUR GIBRALTAR 

20.05 – Print Concern Supports The NHS ‘Restricted Point-To-Point’ (Novices’ Hunters’ Chase) – 2m6f

It’s difficult to discount any of the last-time-out winners, including TEKAP who has been successful in points this spring and remains very lightly-raced for his age. I can envisage him running a big race here, while THE BONNY BOY has been a revelation in points of late, placing in his last six outings and has to be considered in this tight contest to wrap up today’s Place 6 at Stratford.

Selections: TEKAP, THE BONNY BOY