16:50 Cheltenham

Friday 5 May 2023

All16:5017:2518:0018:3519:1019:4520:17

John Wyke Aka Mr Guinness Memorial Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 4m 10.44s

Envious Editor⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss H Brookshaw| OR: 123

5/1

Second in this 12 months ago went on to win hunters at Cartmel in May and Taunton in January. Not at very best since (including when third on Ludlow yard debut in March) but still rates one of the more likely types in this.

Form: 111423-

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Caryto Des Brosses¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr D Peters⁽³⁾| T: D Kemp| OR: 127

16/5

Made a successful return to Rules at Southwell (3m) in March. Finished outside of the first 2 under for the first time under Rules when fifth at Newbury (3m) later that month but back on track with a recent 3m point win. Leading form claims but much shorter trip asks a different question.

Form: 11/2151-

Santon^t,v1⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Miss M Micklewright⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 107

18/1

Made it second time lucky in hunters at Leicester (2½m) in February but the form is nothing special and he was held when falling in a point since. First-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

Form: 1/3521F-

Takethepunishment⁴¹

Age: 13| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Nick Orpwood⁽³⁾| T: Mrs I Mckie| OR: 107

40/1

Multiple point winner who won readily on his 3m Kelso hunter debut last April and bettered that form when third at Perth the following month. Warmed up for this with a couple of 3m point wins this spring but he's another who needs to show he's as effective over much shorter.

Form: 121/311-

Famoso^p,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr George Hiscock⁽⁷⁾| T: G Hiscock| OR: 90

125/1

Remote fifth in this a year ago and recent point exploits don't suggest he's likely to fare any better this time round.

Form: 3F352P-

Fier Jaguen^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs⁽³⁾| T: B Gibbs

5/6

Impressive winner of 3 points this winter. That led to him going off at 11/2 for Aintree Foxhunter last month but he jumped repeatedly to his right and unseated at seventh. Also jumped to right when second at Chepstow last spring and that tendency has to be a worry on another left-handed course.

Form: 12/111U-

Fils Spirituel¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Ms E L Herbison⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Mansell| OR: 115| D

66/1

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland in 2019/20. 0-6 in the pointing field since and can only be watched on this hunter debut.

Form: 3/FPP54-

Josh The Plod^p1¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Charles Buckle⁽⁷⁾| T: Rob Cundy

100/1

A 3-20 point record deosn't mark this 9-y-o down as a likely type to make a successful hunter chase debut in this company.

Form: 1/31265-

Precious Bounty¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Ellie Callwood⁽⁷⁾| T: T Ellis| OR: 102

10/1

Winner of several points since joining this stable and made a sound return to hunters when 12 lengths third of 5 at Stratford (22.5f, soft) 12 days ago. A bit more will be needed here, though.

Form: 112223-

Rewritetherules^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr David O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: David O'Brien| OR: 104

22/1

Multiple point winner who was 12 lengths behind Envious Editor when third in this last year. Subsequent Rules efforts disppointing but he was second in a point recently.

Form: PP4PU2-

Forecasts

Fier Jaguen (5/6), Caryto Des Brosses (16/5), Envious Editor (5/1), Precious Bounty (10/1), Santon (18/1), Rewritetherules (22/1), Takethepunishment (40/1), Fils Spirituel (66/1), Josh The Plod (100/1), Famoso (125/1)

A chance is taken on last year's runner-up ENVIOUS EDITOR bouncing back to form. Fier Jaguen is a possible big threat but his tendency to jump to his right is a concern. Caryto des Brosses also has leading form claims but mainly at 3m+ so it remains to be seen whether he's fully effective over this much shorter distance.