ON an afternoon when just a solitary favourite prevailed in the heat at Stratford, it was no surprise then that an outsider should claim the Intrum Justitia Cup Champion Hunters Steeple Chase, writes Mervyn Collins.

The 45th running of the race, formerly the Horse and Hound Cup, boasted a top-class field in which Earthmover was sent off a firm favourite.

However, it was 25/1 shot Bitofamixup that overcame Bright Approach to take the honours under a tremendous ride from Mrs Jenny Gordon.

It was a fourth straight win for the 12-year-old, who now boasts one more chase triumph than Point-to-Point first places after a seventh win under rules.

The winner is no stranger to Stratford and the strength needed to complete the three and a half-mile circuit and jump the 21 fences after finishing runner-up behind Celtic Abbey six years ago.

It was very much an occasion for the amateur riders in front of a bumper crowd in the sweltering heat as Quiet Water, ridden by Richard Stephens, and 14-year-old Balisteros, the mount of Jenny Wormald, both provided rich pickings for the bookies as the favourites again failed to come up with the goods.

The closest finish of the afternoon saw Shampooed, trained at Alscot Park by Robin Dickin, miss out by a neck in the Knight Frank Handicap Steeple Chase.

The nine-year-old was reverting back to fences and came off a third place finish over hurdles at Hereford last time out.

"I don't normally run my horses from out of the handicap but I wanted this good safe ground for her," Dickin, who could give Shampooed a break ahead of a possible tilt at the big handicap at Market Rasen n July 19, revealed.

A winner of three chases and seven hurdle races, Dickin's mare gave everything in the straight but was just pipped by top weight Ei Ei, who won for a 14th time in a profitable career.

Another course and distance winner, Ei Ei, was swiftly back in the winners' enclosure after a win at Wetherby the previous week.

The Stratford handler completed a hat-trick of runner-up spots at Worcester the following afternoon when favourite Bobsbest and Wrens Island were both pipped at the post.