16:10 Cheltenham

Friday 15 March 2019

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

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

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 6m 52.13s

Ardkilly Witness²⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr W Thirlby| T: K L Smith| OR: 115

100/1

Useful chaser a few years ago but beaten three times in point-to-point company this season including when a short-head second on good ground at Horseheath last time out. Others hold stronger claims in this event.

Form: 321-422

Asockastar^p²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D Bourne| OR: 113

66/1

Placed in a couple of hunter chases last season including when beaten 7L over an extended 3m3f at Stratford (good) in June. Novices' hunter chase scorer at Leicester (good) on sole start this campaign and top amateur booked to ride.

Form: 142-221

Balnaslow³³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: G J McKeever| OR: 131

50/1

Winner of the Aintree Foxhunters' over 2m5f on soft ground in April last year but not reproduced that form in three subsequent starts most recently when beaten 28L in a point-to-point last month. Probably best watched at present.

Form: P71P-47

Caid Du Berlais^t¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Biddick| T: Mrs R Loxton| OR: 134| C

7/1

Finished a good fifth in this race 12 months ago and has won both subsequent outings most recently a point-to-point at Bishops Court (3m, soft) by 25L earlier this month. Top jockey in the saddle and likely to be involved in the finish once more.

Form: 11151-1

Chosen Dream^t⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J O'Hare| T: G J McKeever| OR: 123

66/1

Shock winner of a prestigious hunter chase over an extended 3m3f at Stratford (good) last June. Fair form in two subsequent outings and returning from a break having finished fourth behind Ucello Conti at Thurles (good) in January.

Form: 52-3124

Coastal Tiep^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B G Crawford| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 134

66/1

Dual point-to-point winner in November and best effort in two hunter chase starts came when finishing runner-up to Ucello Conti at Navan (3m, yielding) last month. More needed if he is to take this event however.

Form: P2-1152

Cousin Pete^t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N Phillips| T: Mrs Brown| OR: 134| C

22/1

Dead-heated for third in this race 12 months ago and put a couple of below par efforts behind him when winning by 10L in a point-to-point at Garthorpe (good) last month. Interesting to see how he fares this time around.

Form: 213-271

Dont Do Mondays¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Oswald Wedmore| T: Mrs L Lawson| OR: 114

100/1

Placed in a hunter chase over an extended 2m5f at Fontwell (good) in May but pulled up on seasonal debut at Godstone (3m, good-to-soft) earlier this month. Likely to have improved for that outing.

Form: P11-12P

Double Whammy^b²⁹²

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Hamilton| T: I Jardine| OR: 127| BF| D

66/1

Handicap chase winner over 3m2f at Kelso (good) in May 2017 and placed second in a couple of hunter chases last spring including when second at Kelso (3m2f, good) in May. Looks outclassed on his return from an absence.

Form: 657/1-22

Haymount^p1,t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 142

20/1

Winner of both starts since joining this stable most recently by a neck in a point-to-point at Chaddesley Corbett (3m, good) last month. Cheekpieces and tongue tie worn for the first time on his return to regulation fences.

Form: P-P3011

Hazel Hill⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 139

7/2

Successful twice this campaign including by 11L in a 3m hunter chase at Warwick (good-to-soft) in January. Would appreciate any overnight rain and holds strong claims of registering a 15th victory in his last 16 outings.

Form: 1112-11

Just Cause²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Andrews| T: J P Owen| OR: 104| BF

100/1

Victorious in a 3m point-to-point at Cottenham (good) in December but finished second when odds-on for a small field hunter chase at Leicester (good) subsequently. More needed if he is to register a first hunter chase success.

Form: S-21212

One Conemara^p¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: Mrs C Coward| OR: 100| BF

100/1

Put a fall on seasonal debut behind him when winning a point-to-point on good ground at Sheriff Hutton in January. Suffered a surprise defeat over 3m5f at Corbridge (good) subsequently and stable took this race back in 2008.

Form: 11-2F12

Pacha Du Polder²⁷

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

16/1

Winner of the last two renewals of this contest scoring by a neck under this rider 12 months ago. Finished well beaten behind Road To Rome at Haydock (2m6f, good) on seasonal debut last time out and likely to have improved for the run.

Form: 114/31-5

Road To Rome²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 139

7/1

Unbeaten in seven starts since joining this stable and came home 34L clear of his rivals in a 2m6f hunter chase at Haydock (good) last month. Gold Cup-winning jockey retains the ride and is a leading contender in this contest.

Form: 111111

Samanntom^p,t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss S Doyle| T: P M J Doyle| OR: 126

100/1

Point-to-point winner on good ground in November and placed four times in that sphere subsequently. Also placed second in a hunter chase at Thurles (good) in January but looks up against it on this occasion.

Form: 123242

Shantou Flyer^b1,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: R Hobson| OR: 145| C| D

7/1

Winner of both starts since disappointing at Warwick on seasonal debut in January. Came home 35L clear of his rivals at Fontwell (3m2f, good-to-soft) last time out and blinkers (first time) replace the visor worn of late.

Form: 22P-511

Some Are Lucky²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G A Spain| T: S Curling| OR: 122

66/1

Victorious in four of his five point-to-point starts this season including by 4L on good ground at Punchestown last time out. More needed if he is to register a victory on this occasion.

Form: 5-11311

Southfield Theatre^b⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss L Bradstock| T: S Bradstock| OR: 134| C

40/1

Successful twice in point-to-points this season most recently in a 3m4f contest at Cocklebarrow (good) in January. Regular pilot on board here and has run well over fences here in the past.

Form: P3-P121

Stand Up And Fight⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: E Bolger| OR: 139

13/2

Followed up a point-to-point victory in November with a 2m6f hunter chase success at Down Royal (yielding) the following month. Odds-on when beaten last time and a leading contender for a stable who have won this race three times in the past.

Form: P4P-112

Sybarite²⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Lily Pinchin| T: Miss V Collins| OR: 105| C| D

100/1

Veteran campaigner finished a well beaten 34L second in a 2m6f hunter chase on seasonal debut at Haydock (good) last month. Often held up and and others hold more obvious claims.

Form: 25P04-2

Timewaitsfornoone³²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan| T: A Fleming| OR: 113

40/1

Maiden hunter chase winner over an extended 2m7f at Downpatrick (soft) in March last year. Beaten 21L by Caid Du Berlais on his only subsequent start and needs to improve to figure on seasonal debut.

Form: 21/1312-

Top Wood^t,v³²²

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 137

33/1

Dual point-to-point winner last season and finished a neck second in a first time visor (retained since) in this race 12 months ago. Pulled up on only subsequent start and may surprise a few better fancied rivals on seasonal debut.

Form: 42/112P-

Ucello Conti^t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 147

4/1

Winner of a point-to-point and two hunter chases for this stable in 2019. Came home 3½L clear of Coastal Tiep in a hunter chase at Navan (3m, yielding) last time out and is an interesting contender with Jamie Codd flying this week.

Form: 2PU-111

Forecasts

Hazel Hill (7/2), Ucello Conti (4/1), Stand Up And Fight (13/2), Shantou Flyer (7/1), Road To Rome (7/1), Caid Du Berlais (7/1), Pacha Du Polder (16/1), Haymount (20/1), Cousin Pete (22/1), Top Wood (33/1), Southfield Theatre (40/1), Timewaitsfornoone (40/1), Balnaslow (50/1), Asockastar (66/1), Double Whammy (66/1), Chosen Dream (66/1), Coastal Tiep (66/1), Some Are Lucky (66/1), Dont Do Mondays (100/1), Just Cause (100/1), One Conemara (100/1), Samanntom (100/1), Sybarite (100/1), Ardkilly Witness (100/1)

CAID DU BERLAIS ran well in this race last year and following an impressive seasonal debut recently he is taken to register a victory in this prestigious amateur riders contest. The selection has won at this venue before and can get the better of Road To Rome who is unbeaten since joining his current stable. Stand Up And Fight hails from a yard who know what it takes to win this event and he can see off dual previous winner Pacha Du Polder in the battle for third.