16:45 Newbury

Friday 23 March 2018

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:45

BJP Insurance Brokers Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 10.70s

Jimmy The Jetplane^b¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr J Jackson-Stops⁽⁷⁾| T: Francesca Nimmo| OR: 131

5/2

Useful handicap chaser when with Kim Bailey and has been placed in point-to-points. Resumed winning ways under a good front-running ride from his owner when winning at Carlisle; retains ability but might not find conditions as favourable.

Form: 953-321

Vivaldi Collonges^p1,t⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

9/2

Looks to have lost his way totally now adding another pulled-up to his form figures last time out switched to this sphere. Folded up very tamely last time at Kelso and hard to have any confidence in here given that performance.

Form: 1/3PPP-P

Alfstar⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Jonathan Bailey⁽³⁾| T: Miss Joanne Priest

8/1

Three-time winner in point-to-points he looked to have benefitted from wind surgery when running his best race under Rules last time out in this sphere at Bangor. That was a rather remote third place though and he'll need to improve here.

Form: 311P-P3

Bambi Du Noyer¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 108

25/1

Multiple winner in France back in the day but only won once in GB over hurdles when with David Pipe. Made a good start to his career in this discipline at Ffos Las before disappointing last time (ran free) adding to his rather patchy record.

Form: 147534

Billy Merriott³⁵⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs C Fry| OR: 121

5/2

Lightly raced under Rules since winning two hurdles in 2012 for two different yards; has proved rather luckless since then in limited outings. Looks to have been nursed back winning small field Mens Open by 30L last year; interesting if ready.

Form: 17UBU/1-

Monetaire^p³³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: W Wanless| OR: 123| C

12/1

Second to Darna in the 2015 Plate at the Festival off a mark of 138 he's no longer capable of that sort of form and comes here making his Hunter Chase debut. He's yet to score in point-to-points though (third last time) and others appeal more.

Form: 35-7P43

Uncle Jimmy⁶²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr N Lawton⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss B Childs| OR: 125| D

7/1

Formerly useful over hurdles and won a handicap off a mark of 138 back in 2014 but not seen under Rules since 2016 (pulled-up). Two recent outings in point-to-points have been modest though and work to do to take a hand in this.

Form: 3/93P-25

Vincitore^t⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss S Rippon⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S Rippon| OR: 98| D

33/1

Far from the force of old he'll find this easier than when unseating his rider in the Foxhunters at the Festival. Overall though not one to be interested in though even in this grade and best watched.

Form: 0-4062U

Forecasts

Billy Merriott (5/2), Jimmy The Jetplane (5/2), Vivaldi Collonges (9/2), Uncle Jimmy (7/1), Alfstar (8/1), Monetaire (12/1), Bambi Du Noyer (25/1), Vincitore (33/1)

Not a particularly strong Hunter Chase and Bambi Du Noyer will have to settle far better than he did at Carlisle to reverse the form with Jimmy The Jetplane who will be very dangerous if allowed to gain a soft lead again. With Vivaldi Collonges looking to have lost his way a chance is taken here with the luckless BILLY MERRIOTT who showed plenty of ability under Rules. When last seen he was a 30L winner in a point-to-point that was a year ago but if he’s fit and ready here he could be an interesting proposition and a market watch is advised. Most of the others look set to find this too tough although Alfstar might be able to show a little more on his second run back from wind surgery.