19:45 Cheltenham

Friday 5 May 2023

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

Remembering Gabe Mahon Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 8m 51.57s

Shantou Flyer^b,t²⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss Olive Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: S Loxton| OR: 135| C

7/4

Veteran who added to his fine Cheltenham record when third of 23 in Foxhunters at last month's Festival before landing hunter chase at Exeter (24.2f, heavy) 24 days ago. Holds solid claims.

Form: 112U31-

Cheltenam De Vaige⁷⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss H Lewis| OR: 117

12/1

Fairly useful chaser who landed 3-runner handicap chase at Newton Abbot (25.8f) 8 months ago for Fergal O'Brien. Won a point 75 days ago and he's much respected now back with former yard.

Form: 358121-

Law Of Gold⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr D Peters⁽³⁾| T: D Kemp| OR: 132

11/8

Useful chaser who posted a good second of 9 in hunter chase at Stratford (27.5f) 11 months ago. Point winner in February so he's expected to be bang there.

Form: 12/2221-

Another Venture^p⁴⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr George Daly⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Miss E Mcgarty-jones| OR: 115

16/1

One-time useful chaser who shaped as if better for the run when third in 25f hunter at Wincanton for his new yard. Bagged a point days 40 ago and this veteran is no forlorn hope.

Form: 240/431-

Desire De Joie^b,t1²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr A Wright⁽⁷⁾| T: N R Wright| OR: 120

18/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser at this best. Third in a point 25 days ago so not ruled out with blinkers back on (tongue strap on for 1st time too).

Form: P12P3/3-

Just Your Type^t,v1³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr James King| T: M Comley| OR: 118

9/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser. Pulled up in handicap chase at Chepstow (30.6f, good to soft) 13 months ago on final run for Charlie Longsdon. Dual points scorer in 2023. Considered.

Form: 9P/3121-

Kilbrew Boy¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Charlie Case⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 88| BF

66/1

Wincanton chase winner last term but operating below his best over hurdles and fences in recent starts. A winner in points subsequently but this demands more.

Form: 252212-

Port Of Mars^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Myles Osborne⁽⁷⁾| T: M Osborne| OR: 104

40/1

Hereford maiden chase winner for Olly Murphy in January 2021 but struggled under Rules since and recent point exploits don't sugest he's likely to fare much better here.

Form: 5/65354-

Potters Approach^p,t1¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Amy Bennallick⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P Shaw| OR: 109

125/1

Fairly useful chaser for Dan Skelton but off for over 4 years. Tongue strap on 1st time. Only 7th in a point 13 days ago so needs a big step forward.

Form: P45/2P7-

Sugar Baron^p²⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: N R Wright| OR: 117

16/1

Unreliable but useful chaser on his day during his time with Nicky Henderson. Arrives in good nick from a spell pointing so he's not dismissed.

Form: 21F/422-

The Whistle Blower^p,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Barlow

18/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time when pulled up in hunter chase at Carlisle (24.5f, soft) 47 days ago. Landed a point 27 since though and one to consider.

Form: 1/PP1P1-

Urbanist¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Immy Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Holmes| OR: 89

125/1

Hasn't shown much in hunter chases for this yard, tried in a visor at Warwick 36 days ago. Runner-up in a point 12 days ago but others still appeal more.

Form: 3P6P52-

Non-Runners

Go Whatever²⁴

Weight: 12-4| Age: 9

T: A Ward-Thomas J: Mr Martin McIntyre

Broadclyst⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: Mrs L Glanville J: Non Runner

Step Back²²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 13

T: M Bradstock J: Miss L Bradstock

Forecasts

Law Of Gold (11/8), Shantou Flyer (7/4), Just Your Type (9/1), Cheltenam De Vaige (12/1), Step Back (12/1), Sugar Baron (16/1), Another Venture (16/1), Desire De Joie (18/1), The Whistle Blower (18/1), Go Whatever (25/1), Broadclyst (33/1), Port Of Mars (40/1), Kilbrew Boy (66/1), Urbanist (125/1), Potters Approach (125/1)

LAW OF GOLD holds the edge on form and comes here on the back of a point win so gets the nod in an open hunter chase. Shantou Flyer is feared most on the back of his recent Exeter victory ahead of Just Your Type, a dual point scorer this year.