20:10 Cheltenham

Friday 29 April 2022

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

Gloucestershire Royal Hussars Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 20:14 | Winning time: 5m 15.80s

Across The Line^p,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr George Hiscock⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 118

66/1

Dual hurdles winner who got off the mark over fences at Southwell (2m) in November. Mostly creditable efforts in defeat since. First run for yard after leaving Dan Skelton. Stamina not assured.

Form: 142224-

Cousin Pascal²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr James King| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 128| D

11/2

Won Aintree Foxhunters last year. Couldn't repeat the feat last month but he did run respectably in fifth. One of the more likely types.

Form: 1221P5-

Peacocks Secret^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D Peters⁽³⁾| T: D Peters| OR: 122

12/1

Landed a second hunter win at Stratford 19 days ago and also won a point 6 days later. Each-way shout if coping with a third run in quick succession.

Form: 433211-

Stratagem^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| BF| D

9/4

From a stable in flying form and this 6-y-o arrives on the back of a win and second over this trip last month. Leading claims.

Form: 1P3/P12-

Wagner^p,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Matthew Hampton⁽⁵⁾| T: M Hampton| OR: 125| BF| D

12/1

Winner of hunters at Hereford and Wincanton on first 2 outings for this yard. Not suited by way race developed when third of 5 at Ludlow latest and treated as if still in good form.

Form: 32P113-

Ami Desbois^t²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-13| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132| D

7/2

Veteran who snapped a long losing run when making a successful hunter debut at Newbury (23f) 4 weeks ago. Shorter trip to cope with now but he has the form to figure.

Form: 22B/651-

Solomon Grey^t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Collins| OR: 127

9/2

Useful chaser for Dan Skelton and has shown plenty of ability remains in hunters for this stable, winning in a small field at Ludlow (3m) 9 days ago. This is tougher.

Form: U85231-

Clondaw Westie^p,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: A Hill| OR: 125| D

12/1

Fairly useful chaser who was runner-up between the flags in February. Unseated in Aintree Foxhunter 3 weeks ago but he's capable of getting involved if his jumping holds up.

Form: UP2F2U-

Eeze A Saint^h1,t1²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Huw Edwards⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Laura Richardson| OR: 105

25/1

Fair chase winner in France for David Cottin and made a successful start for this yard in a point at the beginning of this month. More on his plate here, though.

Form: U1P2F/1-

Midnight Cowboy^p¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr R Stearn⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Owen| OR: 115| D

33/1

Useful chaser at his peak. Fit from a point win and showed he still retains a fair bit of his ability when third in Fakenham hunter 11 days ago. This demands more again, though.

Form: U21213-

Pointed And Sharp^h¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Peter Summers⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hoskins| OR: 96

300/1

Triple chase winner in 2019 but drawn a blank since and pulled up in a Kempton hunter for this yard 16 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 44FP5P-

Forecasts

Stratagem (9/4), Ami Desbois (7/2), Solomon Grey (9/2), Cousin Pascal (11/2), Clondaw Westie (12/1), Peacocks Secret (12/1), Wagner (12/1), Eeze A Saint (25/1), Midnight Cowboy (33/1), Across The Line (66/1), Pointed And Sharp (300/1)

Paul Nicholls ended the jumps season in cracking form and the useful STRATAGEM can provide the yard with another winner here. Ami Desbois had been banging his head against the wall in some good handicap chases in recent years but showed he can be a force in hunters when scoring at Newbury this month and can give the selection most to do ahead of Cousin Pascal.