19:45 Cheltenham

Friday 30 April 2021

All17:0017:3518:1018:4519:1519:4520:15

Lorna Brooke Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:49 | Winning time: 8m 39.33s

Ennistown^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr James King| T: Gareth Moore| OR: 123

11/2

Useful chaser for Anthony Honeyball. Off the mark for this yard in a Fakenham hunter chase last month and runner-up on subsequent debut between the flags. Place possibilities.

Form: 564P12-

Keltus^t¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Maj Charlie O'Shea⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 112

14/1

Useful staying chaser at his peak and back to form when landing a 3-runner Wincanton hunter recently. Most fortunate on that occasion (left well clear at the last), though, and this is tougher.

Form: 824F/31-

Kilkishen⁷⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D Peters⁽⁵⁾| T: D Peters| OR: 126

9/4

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser for John Joseph Hanlon. Made a winning hunter debut for new yard at Kelso in February and, with stamina unlikely to be an issue, he's one to consider.

Form: P65561-

Ange Des Malberaux^p,t⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mrs A Cox⁽⁷⁾| T: Francesca Nimmo| OR: 117

66/1

Better than ever in 2018/19, winning 5 times (including 4 handicap chases) for Dan Skelton. No great impact between the flags in recent months, though, others preferred.

Form: 4U6375-

Bob Ford¹³

Age: 14| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Henry Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Laura Richardson| OR: 114

125/1

Enhanced good record fresh when landing a small-field veterans' event at Uttoxeter on reappearance last term. However, well held both starts in points since returning from a year off last month.

Form: 24P5/U7-

Captain Cattistock^p,t⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Albi Tufnell⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| BF

4/1

Useful at best for Paul Nicholls and didn't shape badly in Wincanton hunter on return/debut for new yard in February. Below par next time, but he's the one to beat here nonetheless.

Form: 234U/34-

Dr Des^p⁵⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Edwards| T: G J Barber| OR: 118

40/1

Useful hurdler in 2017/18, but winless over the larger obstacles and has failed to land much of a blow switched to hunter chases the last twice.

Form: 173/354-

Excitable Island^p1²⁵

Age: 14| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: N Padfield| OR: 104| C

25/1

Reliable performer, both in points and hunters. Should be all the better for recent run between the flags (first appearance for over 2 years) and record at this course reads 321. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 14411/3-

Itstimeforapint^t¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Leanne Williamson| OR: 102| D

100/1

Fairly useful staying chaser at his best for Lucinda Russell. However, it's been a while since he last hit the target and recent efforts in points do not inspire confidence.

Form: 143/PU4-

Know The Score¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽³⁾| T: L Jefford| OR: 124| D

9/2

Hurdles/chase winner for David Pipe, and made it 2-2 in points starting out for this yard recently on first appearance for 14 months. Worth a second look.

Form: 31P5P/1-

Navanman¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: J Heard| OR: 115| D

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler for David Pipe back in 2016. Winner of 11 of his 26 starts between the flags, but well held on hunter debut at Newbury last month.

Form: 31/2424-

Optimised²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: P Rowley| OR: 125WS

18/1

Third in 2019 renewal of this race and, having undergone a wind op, he was second in a 4-runner point 27 days ago. Could have a part to play.

Form: 2423/P2-

Rock On Carlos¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Dylan Kitts⁽⁷⁾| T: Wyn Morris

150/1

Record between the flags is hardly compelling and he's best watched on debut in this sphere.

Form: PP45/68-

Sam Red^p,t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽³⁾| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 100| C

100/1

Doesn't appear to retain a great deal of ability judged on efforts in hunters this season.

Form: P4/PP33-

Talk Of The South⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Isaac Buncle⁽⁷⁾| T: G Chambers| OR: 104

100/1

Hurdles/dual chase winner who has finished runner-up in a couple of points this month. However, he's likely to come up short on hunter debut.

Form: PP42/22-

Tanit River^t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 122

6/1

Useful at best for Tim Vaughan and solid effort when runner-up on first completed start in hunter chases at Ascot last month. Good each-way chance if his stamina passes the test.

Form: P74P/U2-

Forecasts

Kilkishen (9/4), Captain Cattistock (4/1), Know The Score (9/2), Ennistown (11/2), Tanit River (6/1), Keltus (14/1), Optimised (18/1), Excitable Island (25/1), Navanman (33/1), Dr Des (40/1), Ange Des Malberaux (66/1), Sam Red (100/1), Talk Of The South (100/1), Itstimeforapint (100/1), Bob Ford (125/1), Rock On Carlos (150/1)

For all that he failed to put his best foot forward at Doncaster last time, CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK looks the way to go. He is taking a step into the unknown trip-wise, but the same is true for many of these and his near miss over 27.7f at Fontwell last season suggests that stamina won't be an issue. Kilkishen has form over marathon trips (fourth in the 2019 Eider) and is next best ahead of Ennistown.

Lorna Brooke Open Hunters' Chase

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