Office Bar Hawick Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 6m 36.63s

Al Co³²

Age: 13| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Peter Bryan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Bowen| OR: 129| CD

5/2

2014 Scottish National winner in his pomp and bounced back to form beating Cultram Abbey by ¾L over C&D last month. Difficult to work out which horse was fittest there (both back from a break), and also helped by a dismal run from Vivaldi Collonges.

Form: U0P0-71

Cultram Abbey³²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr John Dawson| T: N G Richards| OR: 139| BF

11/8

Hasn't all that many miles on the clock for his age (22 starts), and conceivably might have needed the run when beaten ¾L by Al Co over C&D last month. A winner on his last start on heavy ground (2016), and top-rated off 136.

Form: 5F2-P12

Sir Jack Yeats^b⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr James King| T: R Spencer| OR: 130| D

5/2

Five time winner in Ireland for Ellmarie Holden, and at the age of seven arrives early to this type of race. Idled, but always had the race in the bag winning over 3m at Market Rasen last week on his second start for this trainer. Appealing.

Form: 4P0531

Winged Crusader¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: Miss A Waugh| OR: 114| C

12/1

Won his share of races over the years, but not in the same class as a few of these, and was comfortably put in his place on stable debut here last month by both Al Co and Cultram Abbey. Needs to find much more.

Form: 2P3-132

Killer Crow^h1,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Kit Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123

33/1

Placed in a couple of point-to-points (Alnwick and Friars Haugh) since joining current connections from Gordon Elliott. Much sharper on the second occasion, beaten a neck by Cave Hunter, but that level of form doesn't quite look good enough here.

Form: P6-6932

Forecasts

Cultram Abbey (11/8), Sir Jack Yeats (5/2), Al Co (5/2), Winged Crusader (12/1), Killer Crow (33/1)

A virtual repeat of the C&D contest on January 14th, but with Sir Jack Yeats replacing the disappointing Vivaldi Collonges. Working out which one of Al Co, CULTRAM ABBEY or Winged Crusader was fittest that afternoon is difficult, but we'll opt to row in with the Nicky Richards trained runner in the hope that he can reverse a ¾L deficit on identical terms. That said; the Richard Spencer trained youngster Sir Jack Yeats is clearly a live threat to one and all, and he's certainly very much respected at this level.