15:10 Warwick

Thursday 25 January 2018

All12:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 37.60s

Fourovakind^b²⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss K Lyons⁽⁵⁾| T: M Hazell| OR: 125| D

20/1

Has won over 3m6½f on testing ground when with Harry Whittington, but seen only twice in 2017, the latter being on his debut for this trainer in a point-to-point. Looks to have a bit to prove today on that evidence.

Form: P1P/43-6

Bivouac¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Jonathan Bailey⁽³⁾| T: J P Owen| OR: 133| BF

10/1

Just about stays 3m, though has yet to win over further than 2m3½f. Acts on soft ground. Has been point-to-pointing without success since leaving Nicky Henderson, form whom he won a 2m novices' chase last year. Has to prove he retains that ability.

Form: 212-3U4

Lord Heathfield^b1³⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: Miss C Mews| OR: 112| D

16/1

Won a Uttoxeter handicap chase (3m, soft) last season from a mark of 110 and did quite well from higher marks after. Out of sorts on his reappearance at Market Rasen last month and looks short of the ability of some of these.

Form: 6/132F-P

Mon Parrain^p,t²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: Page Fuller| T: Mrs K Smyly| OR: 134| DWS

5/1

Former smart handicap chaser who won Fontwell hunter chase (3m1½f, soft) for Paul Nicholls last season, before leaving him after wind surgery. Beaten in two point-to-points since, so not sure what ability he now retains but claims if he has some.

Form: 125-382

Poole Master^b²⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D Edwards| T: C Honour| OR: 130| C

14/1

Beat Mon Parrain here in a 2m4f hunter chase (soft) in March ran well in Aintree Foxhunters, before returning to be a 2L second here again in May. Pulled up in recent point-to-point and stamina a concern over this far.

Form: 10-F38P

Kristian Gray¹³⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: F Hutsby| OR: 100

14/1

Has won a few point-to-points, including on soft, and also won a 2m4f maiden hunter chase at Leicester 11-months ago. Well beaten in these sorts of races since then, however, and looks up against it in this field.

Form: 3U/

Grandturgeon^t1¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| D

11/10

Prolific point-to-point winner who handles soft ground. Returned from eight-month break to win easily on his reappearance between the flags at Sheriff Hutton earlier in the month. Belated debut under rules here and is interesting.

Form: 1/112-11

War Path²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Hannah Lewis⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss H Lewis| D

5/1

Multiple point-to-point winner who also comes here in good form after scoring at Chaddesley Corbett last month. Had a reasonable yardstick behind there and if the form can be trusted then he could make an impact today.

Form: P11P-21

Non-Runners

Glint Of Steel⁶⁶⁴

Weight: 12-2| Age: 12

T: Cynthia Woods J: Mr Charlie Marshall

Forecasts

Grandturgeon (11/10), Mon Parrain (5/1), War Path (5/1), Glint Of Steel (6/1), Bivouac (10/1), Kristian Gray (14/1), Poole Master (14/1), Lord Heathfield (16/1), Fourovakind (20/1)

Not an easy race to assess on the face of it, with MON PARRAIN and Bivouac the best on official ratings and the latter gets the vote in the hope that he retains some of the ability that has him on an official mark of 134 going into this. Bivouac's stamina is a concern and the same applies to Poole Master. Glint Of Steel, Grandturgeon and War Path are all interesting contenders, with the first-named particularly so if supported after a very long absence.