Smurfit Kappa Inspirepac Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 7m 18.56s

Auldthunder²³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr Nick Orpwood⁽⁵⁾| T: T Reed| OR: 105| DWS

5/1

Won a Sedgefield handicap chase (3m2½f, good to soft) almost two years ago from a mark of 113. Largely out of form since then and level of form doesn't look good enough to make an impact unless wind op can bring belated improvement.

Form: U32P-65

Galway Jack²⁶³

Age: 13| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr T A McClorey⁽⁵⁾| T: G Bailey| OR: 130| CD

1/7

Won this last year on heavy ground and dropped back in trip to add to more successes before the hunter chase season was out. Powers don't appear to be waning with age and if fit first time he will be thereabouts again.

Form: F11P2-1

Non-Runners

Top Wood³⁶

Weight: 12-4| Age: 11

T: Miss Kelly Morgan J: Mr S Davies-Thomas

Wells De Lune³⁷⁵

Weight: 12-4| Age: 7

T: M Bowen J: Mr Peter Bryan

Treat Yourself²⁴⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 11

T: Miss M Bentham J: Mr Richard Collinson

Forecasts

Galway Jack (1/7), Wells De Lune (2/1), Top Wood (5/2), Auldthunder (5/1), Treat Yourself (25/1)

If Wells De Lune does manage to see this out then he has the ability to have a big say, but there has to be some doubt about that in this testing ground and GALWAY JACK may again prove good enough to back up last year's success in the race. There has to be a nagging doubt that a 13-year-old can win first time out, but he does have a bit in hand at the weights and we know that he handles these conditions at this venue. Top Wood looks to be the biggest danger after proving his fitness between the flags.