15:25 Taunton

Wednesday 9 January 2019

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:2516:00

Geoffrey Bosley 'Tally Ho' Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 55.75s

Boher Call^t²⁵⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 12-6| J: Dr George Bingham⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs K Bandey| OR: 107

20/1

Four Irish wins earlier in career all came with cut in the ground including two heavy ground successes. Fourth of eight in recent Kempton Hunters Chase over 2m4½f suggested he will enjoy this step up in trip but others have stronger form.

Form: 91C354-

Newsworthy¹¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr George Henderson⁽⁷⁾| T: J H Henderson| OR: 125

6/1

Winner over 2m6f (good) and 2m3½f (heavy) in Ireland. Third highest rated so has each-way claims on stable debut but 32lb inferior to Shantou Flyer so magnitude of task can't be overstated.

Form: 575608

Bayley's Dream²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lt W Aprahamian⁽⁷⁾| T: John Aprahamian| OR: 94

3/1

Won last three and six of last seven point-to-points. Only once placed in six chases under rules and not seen since early 2017. Probably improved since then but rated 61lb inferior to Shantou Flyer.

Form: 112-111

Financial Climate^p²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Major Harry Wallace⁽⁷⁾| T: Major H Wallace| OR: 97

8/1

Won five times over fences although not since early 2015. Won a point-to-point last time out but was regressive over fences and looks to be facing an uphill battle here.

Form: 3P3/PP-1

Road To Rome²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 109

13/8

Maiden of 13 under rules although placed in six of them. Won three recent point-to-points including battling success last time out so arrives in good form but only place claims realistically.

Form: 43-2111

Sadler's Risk²¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: T M Frost| OR: 135

7/2

Grade Three win in 2016 the highlight of three career chase wins. Pulled up in all three starts of 2018 (two chases, one hurdle) but despite tumbling mark is still comfortably second best on ratings so should fare much better now.

Form: 380P-PP

Western Dream^p1,h¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr James Jeavons⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Hannah Taylor| OR: 69

100/1

Maiden of 12 rules races and 25 point-to-points and not comes here after a refusal and a pulled up. Impossible to fancy.

Form: 99P9RP

Non-Runners

Shantou Flyer²⁷⁰

Weight: 12-6| Age: 9

T: R Hobson J: Mr D Maxwell

Forecasts

Shantou Flyer (8/15), Road To Rome (13/8), Bayley's Dream (3/1), Sadler's Risk (7/2), Newsworthy (6/1), Financial Climate (8/1), Boher Call (20/1), Western Dream (100/1)

SHANTOU FLYER has the ability to take high rank as a hunter chaser given his 157 rating and despite this being his first start since pulling up in last year's Grand National anything but a win would be surprising given his vast superiority to these ratings wise. Sadler's Risk pulled up in all three 2018 starts but is still rated second best and has the same 157 of the selection in his prime so rates the logical alternative. In-form pointer Road To Rome should run well and is an each-way alternative.