16:10 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2023

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

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

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 7m 0.24s

Billaway^b1,t³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| CD

9/2

Long been one of the leading lights in hunter chases and was a game winner (beat Winged Leader) of this 12 months ago having finished runner-up the previous 2 years. However, signs of decline this season, despite last month's Naas success, so probably one to take on for the win in new headgear.

Form: 211-121

Black Op^t⁶¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: E Clark| OR: 127

100/1

Smart chaser at best, little impact in 2021/22. However, stretched unbeaten record in points to 4 since leaving Tom George (Jan 15, latest).

Form: 5641-11

Bob And Co^t³⁶⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Alice Stevens| T: Harry Derham| OR: 132| D

20/1

Enhanced good strike rate in this sphere in Champion Hunters at Punchestown in April 2021 but let down by jumping in last 2 renewals of this. Off 12 months. First run for yard after leaving Paul Nicholls.

Form: U11/22F-

Brain Power⁴⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D McGill| T: W Ewing| OR: 140| C

50/1

Smart hurdler/chaser for Nicky Henderson. Won 4 of last 5 completed starts in points, including latest (Jan 28) but stamina very much to prove.

Form: 121F11

Cat Tiger^t¹¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Charlie Sprake| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139| BF

28/1

Useful chaser who was let down by jumping in this last year but bounced back with a good second in Foxhunters' Chase at Aintree. Well held on comeback at Ascot in November, however.

Form: 52102-5

Chris's Dream⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Maxine O'Sullivan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 155

7/1

High-class chaser at one time and has won all 3 of his starts in points (latest Jan 15). Difficult to know how much ability he retains but must be respected.

Form: PU/U0-11

Dandy Dan¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: J Bourne| OR: 130| CD

28/1

Temperamental sort for Kim Bailey who made a winning start for new yard in hunter chase over C&D 11 months ago. Not seen to best effect when 10½ lengths third to Vaucelet in similar event at Stratford following month. Dual point winner, third last time (Feb 26). Up against it.

Form: U11-133

Dorking Cock^p,t⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B G Crawford| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 135

28/1

Useful hunter chaser who should have won when neck second of 8 to Vaucelet at Down Royal (24f, soft) 81 days ago, headed close home after idling markedly. Headgear back on now.

Form: 2/311-32

Famous Clermont²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Biddick| T: C R Barber| OR: 142

13/2

Multiple point winner and useful form in hunter chases, overcoming erratic round of jumping when winning at Wincanton (by 4 lengths from Shantou Flyer) last month. Followed up at Haydock without coming off the bridle so enters calculations.

Form: 1-P1111

Go Go Geronimo^p,t1⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Chatfeild-Roberts| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 115

28/1

Fairly useful form in pair of hunter chases for G. T. H. Bailey. Multiple point winner, by wide margin on both starts in January.

Form: 11-2211

I K Brunel²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mrs Izzie Hill| T: A Hill| OR: 130

80/1

Fairly useful chase winner (at 23f) for Olly Murphy last season and made a successful transition to hunters (winning pointer) at Taunton. This a tough ask, however.

Form: 3156-11

Its On The Line^p1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: E Mullins| OR: 126

28/1

Won last 2 of 6 starts in points (Feb 19, second one). Fairly useful form in hunter chases though didn't impress with head carriage when 12 lengths second of 6 to Ferns Lock at Fairyhouse (23.7f, heavy) 122 days ago. Headgear now applied.

Form: P22311

Le Malin¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan| T: S McParlan| OR: 128

40/1

Three-time hurdle winner (for Francois Nicolle) and successful on last of 4 starts in points (Feb 26). Fairly useful form in chases, ½-length second of 5 to Billaway in hunter at Naas in February.

Form: 1/34221

Mighty Stowaway^p,t⁷⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Ben Sutton| T: A Hill| OR: 126

150/1

Multiple point winner who ran a cracker when third in this last year for Gordon Elliott. However, well beaten for this yard here in April and in a point when last seen on New Year's Eve.

Form: 11P3-P4

Moratorium^p¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Martin McIntyre| T: M Osborne| OR: 123

200/1

Failed to take to chasing for Gordon Elliott but fairly useful form in hunters for this yard and has done well in points. This surely too demanding, however.

Form: 1-25321

Myth Buster^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss L Bradstock| T: S Bradstock| OR: 130| BF

150/1

One-time useful chaser (for Henry de Bromhead) and easy winner of a Musselburgh hunter 13 months ago. Well held in Foxhunters' at Aintree since but was wide-margin winner of a point last month.

Form: 0-2P2F1

Premier Magic^p1,t⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs| T: B Gibbs| OR: 122| D

66/1

Multiple point winner, including last time (Feb 5). Fairly useful form in hunter chases but produced a tame effort in this last year.

Form: 11P1-11

Rocky's Howya⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M C O'Donovan| T: D Queally| OR: 116

11/1

Just a fair maiden under Rules but easy winner all 5 starts in points (latest Feb 5). Capable of much better back under Rules and one to note.

Form: 9-11111

Secret Investor^p1,t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss N Parker| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144

18/1

Just useful nowadays but had little trouble landing the odds in 5-runner hunter chases at Bangor and Kelso last month. More needed in new headgear here but not taken lightly.

Form: 101/611

Shantou Flyer^b,t¹²

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Olive Nicholls| T: S Loxton| OR: 135| BF| C| D

50/1

Has run some excellent races at this meeting over the years, including when twice placed in this event. Still retains plenty of ability but had no answer to Famous Clermont in hunter at Wincanton (25.1f, good to soft) 43 days ago. Failed to complete in point more recently.

Form: 1-5112U

The Storyteller^p1³³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| C

17/2

Very smart hurdler/high-class chaser at best. Let down by jumping when 26¾ lengths seventh of 8 to Vaucelet in hunter at Down Royal in December. Won first 3 starts in points, runner-up last time (Feb 12).

Form: P-11172

Vaucelet⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| OR: 145

9/4

Won 3 of last 4 starts in points and pushed Billaway close in Champion Hunter at Punchestown in April. Enhanced excellent strike rate back under Rules in hunter chase at Down Royal (24f) 81 days ago, winning by neck from the idling Dorking Cock. Stiffer test here will suit and high on shortlist.

Form: 11-2111

Wotzizname^t¹⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Megan Bevan| T: Mrs D Ward| OR: 117| D

200/1

Useful hurdler/chaser at his peak but offered little on his return and last of 6 finishers in a point last time (Feb 26).

Form: 31-1256

Non-Runners

Not That Fuisse²⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: D Skelton J: Jack Andrews

Forecasts

Vaucelet (9/4), Billaway (9/2), Famous Clermont (13/2), Chris's Dream (7/1), The Storyteller (17/2), Rocky's Howya (11/1), Secret Investor (18/1), Bob And Co (20/1), Its On The Line (28/1), Cat Tiger (28/1), Dandy Dan (28/1), Dorking Cock (28/1), Go Go Geronimo (28/1), Not That Fuisse (33/1), Le Malin (40/1), Shantou Flyer (50/1), Brain Power (50/1), Premier Magic (66/1), I K Brunel (80/1), Black Op (100/1), Myth Buster (150/1), Mighty Stowaway (150/1), Moratorium (200/1), Wotzizname (200/1)

VAUCELET improved on his excellent strike rate back under Rules when beating the idling Dorking Cock at Down Royal on Boxing Day and is just about the form pick with this stiffer test sure to suit. Famous Clermont was most impressive at Haydock last month and rates the main threat ahead of last year's winner Billaway.