16:05 Aintree

Thursday 13 April 2023

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase (National Course)

Off time: 16:09 | Winning time: 5m 34.68s

Ami Desbois^t³⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Broughton| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

100/1

Veteran who showed fairly useful form in this sphere last season but needs to put a poor run at Southwell behind him if he's to have any sort of chance.

Form: 651-2P4

Bennys King^p²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dawson| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

16/1

Very smart handicap chaser and has mounted a minor revival in hunters lately, completing a double in convincing style at Fakenham last time. Can't be ruled out.

Form: P-PP1U1

Coastal Tiep^p,t⁸¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B G Crawford| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 125| D

66/1

Unreliable type who was below his best when only third at Thurles last time. Has had a break since and cheekpieces now applied.

Form: 312/233

Cousin Pascal⁴⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Huw Edwards| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 116| BF| CD

33/1

Won this in 2021 and, while he's probably not quite as good these days, he wasn't totally disgraced when second at Leicester 44 days ago.

Form: P14P12

Dalahast^b,t⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Martin McIntyre| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 101

200/1

Multiple chase winner in France but obviously not the force of old and is easily passed over despite first-time blinkers.

Form: 67-P533

Dento Des Obeaux³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D G Lavery| T: Patrick Turley| OR: 125

20/1

10-y-o who looked back to his fair best when landing a hunter at Thurles in facile style a month ago. Will probably be found out in this much better race, though.

Form: 22-2111

Dieu Vivant^p,t³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss A B O'Connor| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 124

66/1

Doesn't win much but has run well the last twice and the nature of this race should play to his strengths. Cheekpieces back on and might get involved if they go off hard.

Form: 3-74722

Dorking Cock^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Stephen Connor| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 132| D

33/1

Useful hunter chaser who should have won when neck second of 8 to Vaucelet at Down Royal in December. Tame display at the Festival last time and others make more appeal.

Form: 311-32P

Drop Flight^h,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Sutton| T: S Loxton| OR: 121

66/1

Fair winning chaser in France. Has returned with a trio of placed efforts in hunters for this yard but more needed in this company.

Form: P98-322

Envoye Special^h,t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 119| D

40/1

Fairly useful chaser who completed a four-timer at Ffos Las in February and was far from discredited at Wincanton next time. Can't be completely dismissed.

Form: 41-1113

Famous Clermont^t1²⁷

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

9/2

Multiple point winner and useful form in hunter chases. Travelled well for a long way when sixth in Festival Challenge Cup at Cheltenham, so this drop back in trip (also tongue tied) could be in his favour.

Form: P11116

Fier Jaguen^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs| T: B Gibbs

11/2

Multiple point winner who made a pleasing start in hunters when runner-up at Chepstow in April last year, travelling best. Easy winner between the flags last time and worthy of respect back under Rules.

Form: 312-111

I K Brunel²⁷

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

28/1

Fairly useful chase winner (at 23f) for Olly Murphy last season and made a successful transition to hunters (winning pointer) at Taunton. Unseated rider at Cheltenham and this is another tough ask.

Form: 156-11U

Its On The Line^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: E Mullins| OR: 136

8/1

Isn't the most straightforward but put up his best effort under Rules when second in the Festival Challenge Cup at Cheltenham last time, finishing to good effect. Drop back in trip isn't ideal and he's not sure to be in the same form.

Form: 223112

Latenightpass³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 140| CD

9/2

Capped an excellent campaign last season by landing this event in gutsy style. Has looked as good as ever in points lately, so should go well in his bid to defend his crown.

Form: F11-211

Lough Derg Spirit^p,t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J W Hendrick| T: D P Murphy| OR: 131

40/1

Useful hurdler/chaser for Nicky Henderson in the past. Back from a spell in points with an encouraging (travelled well) second at Gowran a month ago. Outside chance if he builds on that.

Form: 252212

Magic Saint^p,t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Olive Nicholls| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137

10/1

Just useful nowadays but completed a rather straightforward task in ready fashion at Wincanton last time and has previously run well in big fields, so no forlorn hope.

Form: 546-421

Matts Commission^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Christopher Furness| T: J Teal| OR: 100

100/1

Very lightly raced under Rules and, while he is prolific in points, there's too much improvement for him to find.

Form: 1-22331

Not That Fuisse⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| BF| C

20/1

Useful chaser who scored at Wetherby on return and backed it up with a respectable second to I k Brunel at Taunton. Could get involved if they go too quick.

Form: 111-412

Reikers Island^p,t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Daniel Cherriman| T: A Hill| OR: 123

150/1

Useful chaser who scored twice in this sphere last season. Underperformed in last year's renewal, though, and was tailed off in a point last time.

Form: 47-1214

Rewritetherules^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr David O'Brien| T: David O'Brien| OR: 104

200/1

Multiple point winner little encouragement under Rules of late.

Form: 2-3PP4P

Sixteen Letters^t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Joshua Newman| T: J Newman| OR: 113

80/1

Fair chaser who landed a novice hunter at Wincanton with any amount in hand on his latest Rules outing 12 months ago. Has tasted further success in points since but he has a lot to find.

Form: 112321

Step Back^b²⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss L Bradstock| T: M Bradstock| OR: 115

100/1

Former Bet365 Gold Cup winner who stepped up on hunter debut when second at Carlisle recently. Probably not up to this level anymore and faces competition for the lead.

Form: 4-25P42

Time Leader²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 114| BF| D

80/1

Winning pointer for this yard and he continued the good work when a smooth winner on hunter debut at Leicester (22.5f). Easily followed up at Stratford and latest run at Carlisle is best excused (broke blood vessel). Faces a stiff task in this company.

Form: 31511P

Wagner^t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Andrews| T: M Comley| OR: 116| BF| D

200/1

Fairly useful chaser at best but he's short of the standard required to compete in this and was unplaced between the flags last time.

Form: 3-93214

Winged Leader¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| OR: 139

10/3

Highly likeable sort who was cruelly denied in the 2022 Festival Challenge Cup at Cheltenham when last seen under Rules. Fit from a hat-trick between the flags and looks set for a bold showing.

Form: 112-111

Write It Down^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Immy Robinson| T: R A Owen| OR: 108

200/1

Unreliable chaser who was second in a point last time but looks out of his depth in this.

Form: 16FR42

Non-Runners

Sir Jack Yeats²⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 12

T: F O'Brien J: Fern O'Brien

Forecasts

Winged Leader (10/3), Famous Clermont (9/2), Latenightpass (9/2), Fier Jaguen (11/2), Its On The Line (8/1), Magic Saint (10/1), Bennys King (16/1), Dento Des Obeaux (20/1), Not That Fuisse (20/1), Sir Jack Yeats (25/1), I K Brunel (28/1), Cousin Pascal (33/1), Dorking Cock (33/1), Lough Derg Spirit (40/1), Envoye Special (40/1), Dieu Vivant (66/1), Coastal Tiep (66/1), Drop Flight (66/1), Time Leader (80/1), Sixteen Letters (80/1), Matts Commission (100/1), Step Back (100/1), Ami Desbois (100/1), Reikers Island (150/1), Wagner (200/1), Rewritetherules (200/1), Dalahast (200/1), Write It Down (200/1)

WINGED LEADER is a straightforward, bold jumper, who tends to go forward, all attributes that lend themselves to this sort of test, and he's looked as good as ever in points recently, so he's a solid option. Last year's winner Latenightpass is set for another bold showing and Magic Saint has enough class to make his presence felt.