16:40 Hereford

Monday 29 January 2018

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Festival Preview Night 1st March Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 5m 33.15s

De Bene Esse²⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-6| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss C Packwood| OR: 100

40/1

Easily best effort when winning a novice chase for Evan Williams in the mud at Exeter two years ago but little else to recommend him. Last seen tailing off in a point-to-point in May.

Form: 15/PFP-4

Drumhart^t¹⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss Josephine Banks⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D Ralph| OR: 106| D

66/1

Nothing special as a maiden over hurdles but did pick up a couple of chases in Ireland in 2016. Not sighted for five months and would probably prefer better ground as he tackles his first hunter chase.

Form: 736656

Full Trottle^t⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Jonathan Bailey⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Thomas| OR: 115| D

4/1

Prolific point-to-point winner who impressed when landing successive hunter chases last spring. Advertised present well-being by going close in an open point-to-point last month, though better ground would have been preferred here.

Form: 1211-12

Opening Batsman^t²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr M Legg| T: H Fry| OR: 136| D

7/2

Won a Grade 3 chase at Kempton in his prime (February 2013) and retained sufficient ability to record successive handicap wins last April. Decent reappearance when fourth at Taunton and clearly a potential player in this company.

Form: 55011-4

Shotavodka³¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 12-6| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss H Brookshaw| OR: 124

10/1

Has become increasingly hard to win with, having not tasted success since winning a veterans chase at Newbury almost two years ago. First run as a hunter on his return from a 10 month absence.

Form: 503736-

Sir Jack Yeats^p⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr William Biddick| T: R Spencer| OR: 129

10/1

Really came good last summer when winning two handicap chases in Ireland before just going off the boil slightly in the autumn. Reappears for a new yard and no surprise to see him go well on his hunting debut.

Form: 514P05

Toby Lerone²⁹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr S Davies-Thomas⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 129| BF| CD

4/1

Very useful at his peak and made his mark in the hunting sphere last winter when scoring twice in testing conditions, including when defying an absence to take this race. Obvious claims once again.

Form: 1P/1213-

Paddy The Stout^t¹⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr L Humphrey⁽⁷⁾| T: L Humphrey| OR: 96| D

100/1

Veteran campaigner who has shown next to nothing in point-to-points since landing the second of his two career wins at Fontwell in June 2016. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 1P-UPP6

Bouggietopieces²²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr James King| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 98| D

66/1

Gained the last of two career wins under rules in a chase at Perth in 2015 but only moderate form in a handful of runs since. Would prefer better ground on his return from a lengthy break.

Form: PU384-P

Got The Nac¹⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: Mrs K Smyly| OR: 121

9/1

Won over hurdles and fences for Oliver Sherwood and Keith Dalgleish respectively in his younger days and showed he retains ability by winning a point-to-point in the mud when last sighted in October. Respected in this grade.

Form: 2216/F-1

Loughaderra Prince²⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N George⁽⁵⁾| T: T R George| BF

4/1

Successful pointer who was an impressive winner of a Naas bumper in 2015 on decent going only to lose his way in maiden hurdles. Lengthy absence to overcome but an interesting runner for a respected new yard.

Form: 31/4440-

Rouge Et Blanc⁶⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Pippa Glanville⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 122| D

40/1

Gained the last of four career chase wins at Newbury in November 2015 but has gone badly off the boil ever since, pulling up when last sighted in a point-to-point in November.

Form: 5P0/UP-P

Non-Runners

Deadly Sting⁶⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: Paul Henry Webb J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Opening Batsman (7/2), Full Trottle (4/1), Loughaderra Prince (4/1), Toby Lerone (4/1), Got The Nac (9/1), Shotavodka (10/1), Sir Jack Yeats (10/1), Deadly Sting (16/1), Rouge Et Blanc (40/1), De Bene Esse (40/1), Drumhart (66/1), Bouggietopieces (66/1), Paddy The Stout (100/1)

Dan Skelton plotted a similar course when sending out TOBY LERONE to defy a lengthy absence in this race 12 months ago and, with suitable testing conditions prevailing once again, the 11-year-old could take some stopping. Opening Batsmen, Sir Jack Yeats and Got The Nac look the most persuasive of the remainder, whilst any market move for Loughaderra Prince would be interesting.