13:20 Newbury

Friday 1 April 2022

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

Irwin Mitchell Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 6m 4.61s

Coup De Pinceau^p,t1¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 117

33/1

Not the force of old and now on his fifth stable of the current campaign. Latest effort didn't hint at a revival, so others make more appeal.

Form: 038655

Al Shahir^t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 117

4/1

Patchy record over fences for Dan Skelton but has proved more consistent between the flags (successful on 3 of last 4 outings), so not one to write off trying hunters for the first time.

Form: 12-1131

Ami Desbois^t⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| D

10/3

Veteran on a long losing run but retains some ability and should find this a bit easier than the handicaps he's been contesting. Could go well from the front.

Form: P/22B-65

Dalahast^p1,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Lucy Turner| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 110

125/1

Multiple chase winner in France but obviously not the force of old, and hasn't looked threatening in a trio of hunter outings for current stable. Cheekpieces go back on.

Form: 6-77556

Diplomate Sivola^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: A Hill| OR: 120| D

11/1

Formerly useful chaser who has won multiple points (including latest outing in March) for current stable. Last of 4 in a hunter at Sandown on latest Rules outing in February, however.

Form: 123241

Dragon D'Estruval^p,t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Bromley⁽³⁾| T: P Rowley| OR: 137

4/1

One-time useful chaser who has landed a couple of points since last seen for Willie Mullins, so looks a notable hunter debutant.

Form: 0P7-121

Give Me A Copper^t²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr William Biddick| T: C R Barber| OR: 127| BF| D

10/1

Lightly-raced but smart staying chaser for Paul Nicholls. Not quite at that level in two hunters, looking ungainly at times, so may prove vulnerable.

Form: 7/2PP-32

Maitree Express³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen| T: R Waley-Cohen

4/1

Five-time point winner who might well have made a winning return to Rules had he not blundered late at Wincanton a month ago. Can build on that, so looks a big player.

Form: 131112

Solomon Grey^t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Collins| OR: 130

7/1

Useful chaser for Dan Skelton and has shown some ability remains in a couple of hunters for new stable recently, runner-up at Ludlow 9 days ago. Likely to be thereabouts again.

Form: 3-2U852

Forecasts

Ami Desbois (10/3), Maitree Express (4/1), Dragon D'Estruval (4/1), Al Shahir (4/1), Solomon Grey (7/1), Give Me A Copper (10/1), Diplomate Sivola (11/1), Coup De Pinceau (33/1), Dalahast (125/1)

MAITREE EXPRESS has enjoyed plenty of success between the flags and was arguably unlucky not to make a successful hunter debut at Wincanton, so he gets the nod ahead of Dragon d'Estruval, with Solomon Grey an obvious threat if he can find some of his old spark.