16:20 Ffos Las

Sunday 19 February 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Dunraven Welsh Foxhunters Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 6m 30.8s

Lackamon^p1²⁹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Henry Morshead⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Z Hammond| OR: 128

20/1

North Yorkshire Grand National winner (3m6f) at Catterick for Sue Smith in January 2016, and also finished ninth of 17 in Newcastle's Eider Chase (4m1f) last season. Makes stable/hunters chase debut at the age of 12, off a nine month break in the first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 656P5-U

Night Alliance^b,t⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: P Philips| OR: 110

20/1

2013 Tommy Whittle Chase winner for Dr Richard Newland (2m6f Haydock Soft) who is a two time C&D winner, including in this race in 2016. Just the two starts to date in 2017, and finished behind Benvolio when ninth at Warwick last month before being bogged down on desperate ground at Hereford last time.

Form: 0P9P25

One Term^p⁶⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 129

7/1

Talented chaser (rated 138 at best) who rattled up a hat-trick in novice chases for this trainer between July and September 2013, but has on the whole failed to fulfil his potential. Returns from 21 months off the track at a realistic level, and yet to win beyond 2m4f.

Form: PP165/P-

Tony Star^p¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr J J O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: M Bowen| OR: 122

3/1

Formerly with Phillip Hobbs but did well for this yard in 2016, and won over this C&D in June (Good to Soft), backing up a victory in a match race at Towcester (1/4f). Finished last of the four to complete at Wincanton behind Ask The Weatherman earlier this month, but probably needed that return (first start since July 2016).

Form: P09443

Desertmore View¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Matthew Barber⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Rhead| OR: 109

9/2

Hasn't raced under rules since his novice hunters days in the spring of 2015 (won over 2m7f at Chepstow in April 2015), but has been in good form in point-to-points since, including when making all for this rider to score by eight lengths in a Mens Open at Howick (Curee and Llangibby) in March 2016.

Form: 11/U11-3

Dolatulo^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Gittins⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 139

3/1

139 rated chaser who ran in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2016, and was pulled up in the Scottish National at Ayr on his final start for Warren Greatrex. Made a good start for this trainer chasing home Black Thunder (rider eased near finish) at Kelso last month, but tailed off subsequently at Warwick. Returns with a clear chance on that Kelso run (albeit not looking as solid as it did at the time), but needs to bounce back from his Warwick showing.

Form: 8P/2810-

Richmond^p¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: P P Turner| OR: 108

7/2

Not won since November 2014 (for Venetia Williams), but plugged on to be placed (third) over 2m4f at Hereford just over a fortnight ago. Now aged 12 needs to find plenty more to trouble the principals on these terms.

Form: 743313

Renta Gallery¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr H Hunt⁽⁵⁾| T: R Thomas

40/1

With the exception of a sole rules start at Chepstow (pulled up) in April 2015, has raced solely in point-to-points winning four times in 11 starts. Unseated rider at Horseheath earlier this month on return from a long break having previously won a three runner mares and fillies contest at Lystep (3m Good) in May 2015.

Form: 21P34/1-

Non-Runners

Benvolio²⁴

Weight: 12-4| Age: 10

T: Dr Charles Levinson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dolatulo (3/1), Tony Star (3/1), Richmond (7/2), Desertmore View (9/2), Benvolio (5/1), One Term (7/1), Night Alliance (20/1), Lackamon (20/1), Renta Gallery (40/1)

Plenty of former talented handicappers line up for this popular Open Hunter's Chase, and obviously these are the horses which it will pay to focus upon. Dolatulo was a bitter disappointment last time at Warwick, and his earlier showing at Kelso doesn't look quite as strong as it did back in January with Black Thunder turned over at odds of 1/8 at Kelso on Thursday. Both Lackamon and Night Alliance appear to be in decline as they fast approach their teenage years, whilst the lightly raced and one time progressive One Term arrives from a long absence, also having not won over further than 2m4f. Therefore, the vote goes to BENVOLIO, who won for Paul Nicholls in April 2016, and was entitled to have needed his return to the track at Warwick last month. 1. Benvolio 2. Dolatulo 3. One Term