16:10 Cheltenham

Friday 16 March 2018

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 7m 17.20s

Balnaslow³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: G J McKeever| OR: 135

14/1

Useful performer on his day and ran well to finish 3L fifth in this contest 12 months ago. Best effort since came when winning at Punchestown in April and while he pulled up on his return to action, he should be spot on for this.

Form: 2521-2P

Barel Of Laughs^p²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 138| CD

20/1

Placed in this race a year ago and has won three of his four starts since, including over C&D on good ground in early May. Saw off five rivals in a point-to-point last month and he hails from a stable who are having a good season.

Form: 131-121

Burning Ambition³³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Codd| T: Pierce Power| OR: 146

3/1

Progressive youngster and winner five times in succession prior to finishing runner-up to leading hunter chaser Gilgamboa over 3m1f at Punchstown (heavy) last month. Has good form on soft ground though lacks the experience of some of his rivals.

Form: 11-1112

Caid Du Berlais^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Biddick| T: Mrs R Loxton| OR: 140| C

10/1

Classy performer under Rules and ran twice at this meeting in 2017. Unbeaten in three starts since switching to point-to-point racing this season and looks likely to run well again today with a leading jockey booked to ride.

Form: 5F8-111

Cousin Pete^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N Phillips| T: Mrs Brown| OR: 121| BF| C

25/1

Finished runner-up to Sir Jack Yeats on soft ground at Market Rasen last month and registered his sixth point-to-point win when scoring at Barbury Castle subsequently. Likely needs to improve to figure in this contest.

Form: 1FP-121

Foxrock^b,t⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Katie Walsh| T: A Fleming| OR: 144

7/1

Victorious at the highest level over fences and a winner four times in hunter chases last season. Satisfactory return to action when beaten 10L by Gilgamboa at Thurles last time and ground conditions are in his favour here.

Form: 1111P-2

Grand Vision⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 141

16/1

Hunter chase winner last season and winner twice from three starts in handicap company this time around. Saw off Kayf Adventure at Wincanton (2m4f, heavy) last time out and is an interesting runner in this.

Form: 120-121

Minella For Value²⁸⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D L Queally| T: D Queally| OR: 134| BF

25/1

Finished sixth in this race last year and has won twice in point-to-points in 2018. Beaten in all three hunter chases last year however and more is needed on his return to regulation fences.

Form: 6113-22

On The Fringe⁹⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms N Carberry| T: E Bolger| OR: 136| CD

14/1

Winner of this race in 2015 and 2016 but not the force he once was and could finish only second in a point-to-point on heavy ground at Borris House when last in action back in December.

Form: 24P5-P2

Pacha Du Polder²³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss H C Tucker| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| BF| CD

14/1

Winner of this race 12 months ago and made a satisfactory return to action despite finishing only third in a hunter chase over 3m2f at Doncaster (good-to-soft) last month. Interesting to see how he fares under today's inexperienced pilot.

Form: 34114-3

Premier Portrait^v²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G Levinson| T: Dr Charles Levinson| OR: 123| BF

50/1

Successful twice in hunter chases including when winning over 2m7f on soft ground at Taunton in January. Also winner of a point-to-point this season but blotted his copybook last time and looks up against it in this company.

Form: 10U-11U

Saddlers Encore²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Joshua Newman| T: Miss C Newman| OR: 116| BF

66/1

Useful horse a couple of years ago and winner of a point-to-point at Barbury Castle (good-to-soft) on his debut for this yard when returning from a long absence. Well held in a hunter chase last time out however.

Form: 1PP/3-12

Shantou Magic³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr W B Ramsay| T: Capt W B Ramsay| OR: 116

66/1

Three time chase winner and successful in both point-to-point starts this season, the latest coming on soft ground at Friars Haugh last month. Change of jockey today and others have a more obvious chance in this contest.

Form: 4542-11

Shotavodka²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Hugh Nugent| T: Miss H Brookshaw| OR: 128| D

33/1

Useful horse under Rules a couple of years ago and made a winning debut for this yard in a 2m5f hunter chase at Ludlow (soft) in January. Just touched off by Virak subsequently and may surprise a few here.

Form: 3736-12

Sir Jack Yeats^b²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: R Spencer| OR: 130

14/1

Finished third to Shotavodka at Hereford (2m5f, soft) in January but unbeaten in two subsequent hunter chase outings including on heavy ground at Kelso last time out. Interesting to see how he fares in this contest.

Form: P05311

Top Wood^t,v1⁷⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Davies-Thomas| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 124

20/1

Successful on heavy ground for David Pipe and unbeaten in two point-to-point starts on good-to-soft since joining this stable prior to this season. Useful amateur in the saddle and wears a first-time visor.

Form: 7542-11

Unioniste¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| C| D

20/1

Rated 159 at his best in 2015 but not the force of old and beaten by Premier Portrait at Taunton in January. Impressive winner at Wincanton and Fontwell since and underfoot conditions will suit.

Form: 009-211

Vincitore^t⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss S Rippon| T: Miss S Rippon| OR: 98| D

100/1

Four time chase winner but generally well held when tackling hunter chases and finished 68L behind Unioniste at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy) last time out. Looks likely to struggle.

Form: 40-4062

Virak²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139

12/1

Classy chaser on his day and winner of both starts since switching to hunter chases this season. Most recent of those came when defeating Shotavodka over 2m6f at Haydock (heavy) a month ago. Represents last years winning stable.

Form: 6456-11

Volnay De Thaix^p1²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Andrews| T: Stuart Morris| OR: 147

16/1

Grade 2-placed over hurdles in April last year and the impressive winner of both point-to-point starts this season. Came home 20L clear of his rivals last time out but hasn't always convinced over fences in the past.

Form: 3-93311

Warden Hill^p²³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Chatfeild-Roberts| T: Mrs H Connors| OR: 119| D

33/1

Ampton point-to-point winner in January but beaten by Sir Jack Yeats at Market Rasen subsequently. Well supported when winning at Doncaster (3m2f, good-to-soft) last time but others make more appeal in this contest.

Form: 212-131

Wells De Lune^h,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Peter Bryan| T: M Bowen| OR: 131

25/1

Winning for the third time over fences when victorious over 2m5f at Ffos Las (heavy) last month. Had finished runner-up at Bangor prior to that but has to prove his stamina on his first attempt at this trip.

Form: 3165-21

Wonderful Charm^p,t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138

11/2

Beaten a neck in this race last year and was winning his third hunter chase when successful at Musselburgh (soft) over an extended 3m2f last time out. Likely to be playing a leading role once more.

Form: 1120-31

Young Hurricane³³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Guy Brewer| OR: 125| BF| D

33/1

Winner of a prestigious contest over an extended 3m3f at Stratford (good) in June. Suffered a shock defeat on his seasonal debut and best efforts have come on ground significantly quicker than is forecast here.

Form: 112-112

Forecasts

Burning Ambition (3/1), Wonderful Charm (11/2), Foxrock (7/1), Caid Du Berlais (10/1), Virak (12/1), Pacha Du Polder (14/1), Balnaslow (14/1), On The Fringe (14/1), Sir Jack Yeats (14/1), Grand Vision (16/1), Volnay De Thaix (16/1), Top Wood (20/1), Barel Of Laughs (20/1), Unioniste (20/1), Cousin Pete (25/1), Minella For Value (25/1), Wells De Lune (25/1), Shotavodka (33/1), Warden Hill (33/1), Young Hurricane (33/1), Premier Portrait (50/1), Shantou Magic (66/1), Saddlers Encore (66/1), Vincitore (100/1)

CAID DU BERLAIS is already a winner here having taken a Grade 3 contest a few years ago and he has impressed in winning three point-to-points since joining his current trainer. The selection has won on both soft and heavy ground in the past and is taken to get the better of former stablemate Wonderful Charm . He ran well to finish runner-up in this race last year and was the impressive winner of his sole start this time around. Of the remainder Foxrock has won at the highest level in the past and should appreciate the soft ground that's forecast.