16:10 Warwick

Wednesday 3 February 2021

All12:5513:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:40

Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 6m 34.20s

Ange Des Malberaux^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Francesca Nimmo| OR: 120| C| D

40/1

Better than ever in 2018/19, winning 5 times (including 4 handicap chases) for Dan Skelton. Fit from points and in second when unseating rider on recent hunter debut at Ludlow.

Form: 18/3-F4U

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Latenightpass³⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Bridget Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 115| D

40/1

Has enjoyed plenty of success in points and made a successful Rules debut in a 26f hunter at Cheltenham in May 2019. Open to improvement but does lack a recent run.

Form: 1/14112-

Marcle Ridge^t1⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: J Kington| T: Mrs Lucy Smith| OR: 125| D

11/2

Justified heavy support on Rules debut at Cheltenham in May 2019 and excellent sixth in the Foxhunter Chase the following month (for Sam Jukes). Added to point tally in December.

Form: 2/1226-1

Monbeg Gold^p³⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Mrs J O'Neill| OR: 127| BF| D

20/1

Back-to-back handicap chase winner in 2018/19 and made a promising start in hunters when second at Ludlow in February 2020. Unseated rider later that month and off since.

Form: 411/U2U-

Optimised³⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 128| D

50/1

Won 3m Bangor hunter in March 2019 and ran well when pushing Southfield Theatre close in a big-field contest at Cheltenham (4m) 2 months later. This is a tough assignment on return.

Form: 11/2423-

Back Bar⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A Hill| OR: 114| D

14/1

Fair handicap hurdler for Gordon Elliott and has flourished up in trip in hunters for Alan Hill, winning 5 times in all. This is harder but shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 1/1121-1

Clondaw Bunny^p1⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: M Comley| D

250/1

Well held in a bumper back in 2018 and level achieved in points confirm he's booked for a struggle here.

Form: 2/34U4-4

Crest^p,t³⁸¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: R A Owen| OR: 113| D

100/1

Work to do with a few of these on the level he achieved for Micky Hammond but did at least make a winning point debut last year.

Form: PP462/1-

Dr Des⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: G J Barber| OR: 123

40/1

Useful hurdler in 2017/18 but has failed to win over the larger obstacles, third on hunter debut in December.

Form: 40173-3

Emerald Chieftan⁵³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Robinson| OR: 106| D

250/1

Fair performer over both sets of obstacles for Rebecca Menzies was a well-held third in a point in December and this is a tall order.

Form: 6/1578-3

Mister Serious⁶¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: A Burks| OR: 99| D

300/1

Had some success in points early in his career but off the track since finishing last of 3 finishers in May 2019.

Form: P3P/1P3-

Sonneofpresenting³⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: Miss S Rippon| OR: 126| D

66/1

Good strike rate over fences for Kim Bailey. Rather hit or miss in points, unseating rider when last seen a year ago.

Form: 71R3/2U-

Sounds Of Italy^p,t⁵⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: Finbar Mulrine| OR: 86| CD

200/1

Chase wins for Dan Skelton came in modest company and he's essentially not up to this level.

Form: 315/P2-P

The Worlds End⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 149| D

5/4

Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle winner in December 2019. Could manage only sixth in repeat bid but he's a very classy recruit to this sphere (took pretty well to chasing in 2018/19).

Form: 131P-P6

Three Faces West^p⁵⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Miss B Childs| OR: 128| D

150/1

Failed to complete on his final 3 outings for Philip Hobbs and pulled up on hunter debut in February 2019. Pretty consistent in points since but this is asking a lot aged 13.

Form: P/3124-4

Vinnie Lewis⁵²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: C C Bealby| OR: 122| D

11/1

Useful at his peak, though ended time for Harry Whittington in slightly disappointing fashion last year. December's wide-margin point win confirms he retains plenty of enthusiasm.

Form: 6V5PP-1

Highway Jewel^t1⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: B Gibbs| D

2/1

The up-and-comer in the line-up, winning last 5 starts in points, including a comprehensive success over a below-par Hazel Hill. Demands respect on Rules debut.

Form: 5111/1-1

Non-Runners

Asangy³⁵⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: R Edwards J: K Brogan

Forecasts

The Worlds End (5/4), Highway Jewel (2/1), Marcle Ridge (11/2), Vinnie Lewis (11/1), Back Bar (14/1), Monbeg Gold (20/1), Latenightpass (40/1), Dr Des (40/1), Ange Des Malberaux (40/1), Asangy (50/1), Optimised (50/1), Sonneofpresenting (66/1), Crest (100/1), Three Faces West (150/1), Sounds Of Italy (200/1), Emerald Chieftan (250/1), Clondaw Bunny (250/1), Mister Serious (300/1)

Likely to be an informative contest with smart hurdler THE WORLDS END of particular interest. A Grade 1 winner as recently as December 2019, he's a very classy hunter recruit and given he took pretty well to fences as a novice in 2018/19, he's the one to beat. Highway Jewel receives weight all round and her point form suggests she's useful, while Vinnie Lewis will be suited by a slog.