19:35 Cheltenham

Friday 29 April 2022

All16:4017:1517:5018:2519:0019:3520:10

Dominic Chapman Memorial Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:36 | Winning time: 8m 39.72s

Captain Drake^p,t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs⁽³⁾| T: B Gibbs| OR: 134

5/2

Useful chaser. Pulled up in Midlands National at Uttoxeter (34f) 41 days ago on his final run for Harry Fry. Needs to bounce back on yard debut.

Form: 94P61P-

Coup De Pinceau^b²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr George Hiscock⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 115

100/1

Fair hurdler/chaser. Tongue strap on for first run since leaving Colin Tizzard when respectable fifth of 9 in hunter chase at Newbury (23.4f) 28 days ago. Significantly up in trip with work to do.

Form: 386555-

Dawson City⁴⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss Chloe Emsley⁽⁷⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 122

7/1

Fairly useful chaser. Arries in decent nick, needing stronger gallop when fourth of 5 in handicap chase at Taunton (28.4f) 46 days ago, Not ruled out with this longer trip a plus.

Form: 184534-

Gran Paradiso^p,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽³⁾| T: Miss B Coward| OR: 112

33/1

Fairly useful chaser who posted a career best when winning 26f handicap chase (6/5) at Sedgefield 13 months ago for Tristan Davidson. Since scored twice in points for new yard, so he can't be dismissed.

Form: 1/1P312-

Law Of Gold^p1¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D Peters⁽³⁾| T: D Kemp| OR: 130| BF

4/1

Useful chaser who landed Ascot hunter chase last month. 11/10, respectable second of 5 in hunter chase at Fakenham (24.2f) 11 days ago, so not discounted up in trip with cheekpieces on.

Form: 1/11P12-

Shantou Flyer^b,t⁶¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| C

5/2

Useful chaser who defied a 10-month absence to land 4-runner hunter chase at Fontwell (26f) 61 days ago. Course winner should prove effective over this longer distance. The one to beat at these weights.

Form: 423U/21-

Give Me A Copper^p1,t²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr William Biddick| T: C R Barber| OR: 127

7/1

Useful hurdler/chaser. Placed for third time is as many starts when second of 9 in hunter chase at Newbury (23.4f) 28 days ago. Cheekpieces on over this longer trip and considered.

Form: 2PP/322-

Mr Snuffles¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Huw Edwards⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Laura Richardson

50/1

Mr Dinos gelding. Half-brother to point winner Timephase. Dam unraced. Arrives on the back of three placed efforts in points. Not entirely dismissed on his debut in this sphere.

Form: 2/PP232-

Popelys Gull⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Daniel Cherriman⁽⁷⁾| T: L Humphrey| OR: 97

125/1

Fair hurdler/chaser. Good second in hunter chase at Fakenham (24.2f) 13 months ago. Comes here on back of recent third in points, but has plenty to find on form.

Form: 2P3/5P3-

Roc D'Apsis^p¹³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: Mrs Vicki Sollitt⁽⁷⁾| T: W Worthington| OR: 105

125/1

Fair chaser. 100/1, first run since leaving Tom George when poor third of 5 in minor event chase at Sandown (24.2f) 52 days ago. Won in points since, but he has a lot to find on form.

Form: 343313-

Sam Red^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 102| C

33/1

Fair chaser. Course winner. Sixteen runs since last win in 2018. 12/1, tailed-off third of 4 to Shantou Flyer in hunter chase at Fontwell (26f) 61 days ago. Since runner-up in points but more is still needed.

Form: 264732-

Smoke Man^p1⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr T Chatfeild-Roberts⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Kelly Morgan

12/1

€30,000 3-y-o, £16,000 4-y-o, Gold Well gelding. Wears cheekpieces. Multiple point winner who completed a hat-trick last month. No forlorn hope on first go in this sphere.

Form: 28P111-

Non-Runners

Optimised¹¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 10

T: P Rowley J: Mr Billy Chatterton

Forecasts

Shantou Flyer (5/2), Captain Drake (5/2), Law Of Gold (4/1), Dawson City (7/1), Give Me A Copper (7/1), Smoke Man (12/1), Optimised (16/1), Gran Paradiso (33/1), Sam Red (33/1), Mr Snuffles (50/1), Coup De Pinceau (100/1), Roc D'Apsis (125/1), Popelys Gull (125/1)

SHANTOU FLYER has the clear edge on form and can boast a course win too so looks the way to go here with this longer distance expected to prove within his compass. Give Me A Copper arrives in good nick and is next on the list ahead of Law of Gold and Dawson City who can fight it out for minor honours.