15:15 Leicester

Thursday 18 February 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:47

Dick Saunders Novices' Hunters' Chase (Div 1)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 30.20s

Bastien⁶⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Mason| OR: 119

16/1

Useful hurdler at best but didn't look as effective when tried over fences and he's been disappointing in points since last seen under Rules.

Form: 434/0-FP

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Blackjacktennessee^h⁵⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: G Slade-Jones| OR: 71WS

250/1

Poor maiden hurdler/chaser for Steve Flook. Makes no appeal starting for new handler after 16 months off/wind op.

Form: 34F7/6P-

Chameron^t³⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: S Loxton| OR: 130WS

10/11

Useful before going the wrong way for Paul Nicholls but back on track when easily landing a couple of points early last year. Makes plenty of appeal starting out in hunters.

Form: U70/511-

Cousin Pascal⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 100

11/1

Modest chaser who hasn't done enough in points subsequently to make him of serious interest in this contest.

Form: 464P13

Envoye Special^h,t⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard| T: C R Barber| OR: 126

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser. Only seventh of 8 in novice chase at Market Rasen 7 months ago on final run for Paul Nicholls and unplaced on point debut since joining current yard. Not dismissed.

Form: 2/6P3-75

Master Sam Bellamy³⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: M D Grant| T: Miss C Boxall| OR: 105

50/1

Fair form at best over hurdles but disappointing on final outing for Roger Teal 11 months ago and has been off since.

Form: 94/5846-

Matts Commission^t1³⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: J Teal

5/1

Showed ability in a bumper at Aintree in 2018 and multiple point winner since, including last 3 starts in points (latest March 2020). Warrants plenty of respect on hunter debut.

Form: 22/F111-

Rivercourt Guy³⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D Peters

125/1

Out of a winning hurdler and off mark in points at sixth attempt a year ago. Fitness not assured and likely to be outclassed, anyway.

Form: PP/21P2-

Schiap Hill^p1⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: H Marshall

14/1

Schiaparelli gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler L'Chamise and temperamental but fair chaser Summit Like Herbie. Winning pointer, runner-up last 3 starts (Dec 6, latest). Wears cheekpieces.

Form: 3/142-22

Seniergues^p⁶²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: J W Tudor| OR: 103

100/1

Fair hurdler at best who has won a point and was runner-up in June 2019. Not seen since, though, so hard to imagine he'll be fully tuned up.

Form: UPP/312-

Stevan Steel^t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Ackner

200/1

Winning pointer who was pulled up at Wincanton on hunter debut a fortnight ago. Hard to make a case for on the back of that.

Form: 421-46P

Summer Sounds^p¹⁰⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Francesca Nimmo| OR: 86

100/1

Modest hurdler/chaser who hasn't been seen under Rules for over 2 years and was well held in his last two points. Easy to oppose.

Form: 1UP13-7

Wayupinthebox^p,t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Callum Bewley| T: L Bevin

150/1

Dual winning pointer but 200/1 and no impact in a hunter at Ludlow 28 days ago. Likely to struggle again.

Form: 13/UP3-8

Cheltenham Mati^p1,t1⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: T D B Underwood

40/1

Multiple point winner, third last time (Dec 13). Might lack the quality to lay down a serious challenge on hunter debut, however.

Form: 1F113-3

Shometheway³⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: J Kington| T: Mrs Lucy Smith

20/1

Multiple point winner, including last 2 starts (latest Jan 2020). Improvement to find and not certain to be fully tuned up.

Form: 321P/11-

Forecasts

Chameron (10/11), Envoye Special (4/1), Matts Commission (5/1), Cousin Pascal (11/1), Schiap Hill (14/1), Bastien (16/1), Shometheway (20/1), Cheltenham Mati (40/1), Master Sam Bellamy (50/1), Summer Sounds (100/1), Seniergues (100/1), Rivercourt Guy (125/1), Wayupinthebox (150/1), Stevan Steel (200/1), Blackjacktennessee (250/1)

CHAMERON showed some class for Paul Nicholls earlier in his career and looked revitalised between the flags last year, so he's well fancied to make a comfortable winning debut in hunters before having his sights raised. Envoye Special could trouble the selection if able to find some of his old spark, while Matts Commission deserves a mention based on his pointing exploits.