15:40 Cheltenham

Friday 19 March 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

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

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 55.68s

Billaway⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

2/1

Classy hunter chaser who ended up with too much to do when second in this last term and confirmed he's as good, if not better than ever, when scoring at Naas last time. Big player.

Form: 212-211

Bob And Co^h,t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| D

9/2

Useful chaser in France who completed hat-trick in this sphere when bolting up at Haydock on reappearance from Wishing And Hoping. Jumping will need to be sharper now, but very much one to consider.

Form: P3/P11-1

Chameron^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: S Loxton| OR: 130

14/1

Useful before going the wrong way for Paul Nicholls but back on track when easily landing a couple of points early last year and completed the hat-trick readily in a hunter at Leicester in February.

Form: 70/511-1

Hazel Hill⁵⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 143| CD

25/1

2019 winner who wasn't at the top of his game last season but took advantage of a good opening when scoring at Ludlow on Rules return a couple of months ago. Needs a return to his very best.

Form: 1/112-21

It Came To Pass²²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 144| CD

10/1

Took this last year but was below par on reappearance then unseated at Thurles recently, so he's hardly had the ideal prep. Hard to discount nonetheless.

Form: 17P1-4U

Latenightpass⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 137| CD

12/1

Has enjoyed plenty of success in points and made it 2 from 2 in hunters when landing a 17-runner event at Warwick on Rules return. Could get competitive.

Form: 14112-1

Law Of Gold²³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: D Kemp| OR: 123

125/1

Multiple winning pointer who should strip fitter for his third at Doncaster recently but found this event a bit too competitive last year.

Form: 11117-3

Mighty Stowaway^b,t¹²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 129

33/1

Winning pointer who returned to Rules with a respectable third to Stand Up And Fight (Billaway second) at Fairyhouse 129 days ago. Hard to see him turning the tables.

Form: 115-013

Monbeg Gold^p²³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Mrs J O'Neill| OR: 130

80/1

Fairly useful chaser who was back to form when second in a hunter at Doncaster last time but has a bit to find in this company. Cheekpieces go back on.

Form: 1/U2U-P2

Mr Mantilla⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys

40/1

Won 5 of 6 starts in Irish points, latest Dec 13. Not completely discounted for a shrewd stable, particularly if the money comes for him.

Form: 112-111

Porlock Bay⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: W Biddick| OR: 135

16/1

Useful ex-French hurdler/chaser in 2018/19 for Francois Nicolle. Wide-margin point winner in November and only narrowly denied by Sametegal in hunter at Wincanton last month. Not ruled out.

Form: 22/21-12

Ravished²⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Garner| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 120

150/1

Fair chaser who returned to this sphere with an excellent second to Hazel Hill at Ludlow but was pulled up at Haydock subsequently. Hard to fancy.

Form: 213-12P

Red Indian⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: David Noonan| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 139WS

12/1

Useful winning chaser at his best and, given he's landed both starts in points since last seen under Rules, there's every reason to think he retains a good chunk of ability. Interesting runner.

Form: 00/56-11

Salvatore⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 134

40/1

Prolific pointer who made second hunter outing a winning one at Musselburgh 41 days ago. This is much tougher but there could be more to come.

Form: 1311-11

Sonneofpresenting¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: Miss S Rippon| OR: 120

250/1

Formerly useful chaser, efforts in hunters have been uninspiring this term. Firmly up against it.

Form: R3/2U-P3

Staker Wallace⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 134

9/1

Didn't need to be at best when winning 10-runner hunter at Limerick, then was far from disgraced when runner-up to Billaway at Naas subsequently. Likely to give a good account.

Form: 14-2212

Stand Up And Fight^b²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Bolger| OR: 137

11/1

Beat Billaway in November and, while unable to quite reproduce that, he powered home from an unlikely position when second at Thurles last time. This test will suit, and he's a big player.

Form: P1-P142

Wishing And Hoping²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 137| D

50/1

Useful chaser who was 2 from 3 in this sphere last year but firmly put in his place by Bob And Co at Haydock last time. Needs to do more.

Form: 121-122

Forecasts

Billaway (2/1), Bob And Co (9/2), Staker Wallace (9/1), It Came To Pass (10/1), Stand Up And Fight (11/1), Latenightpass (12/1), Red Indian (12/1), Chameron (14/1), Porlock Bay (16/1), Hazel Hill (25/1), Mighty Stowaway (33/1), Mr Mantilla (40/1), Salvatore (40/1), Wishing And Hoping (50/1), Monbeg Gold (80/1), Law Of Gold (125/1), Ravished (150/1), Sonneofpresenting (250/1)

A chance is taken on RED INDIAN, who arrives on the back of a couple of impressive wins in points and has some useful form under Rules. Last year's runner-up, Billaway, should be thereabouts again and a big run is expected from Bob And Co if he can iron out some of the mistakes he made when scoring easily at Haydock from Wishing And Hoping.