16:35 Cheltenham

Friday 3 May 2024

All16:3517:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:05

Congratulations Keith And Michelle Smith Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 4m 20.34s

Caryto Des Brosses^p1¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr D Peters⁽³⁾| T: D Kemp| OR: 123

5/2

Coped really well with drop to 2m when finding only the re-opposing Fier Jaguen too strong in this race a year ago. Warmed up for this with an easy point win and cheekpieces are on for the first time under Rules.

Form: 51/2221-

Fier Jaguen^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs| T: B Gibbs| OR: 124| CD

1/1

Unseated rider when prominent for the Foxhunters' at Aintree in April 2023 and overcame a tendency to jump markedly to his right when seeing off Caryto des Brosses and 8 other rivals in this race a year ago. Runner-up in a point last month and another bold bid looks assured.

Form: 1U/1112-

A Jet Of Our Own^p1,t1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr F Philipson-Stow⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs N Sheppard

9/2

Dam unraced half-sister to modest chaser (stayed 3m) Royal Ranger. Multiple point winner, including last time (Apr 20) so that should set him up nicely for a first crack under Rules.

Form: 213321-

Bigforyourboots^b1,t1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Sean P O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: L Morgan

100/1

Dam unraced sister to fair hurdler/fairly useful chaser (stayed 33f) Howdydoody. No impact in a Doncaster bumper for Sam Allwood in January and unplaced completed start in points.

Form: 06P-

Fine Investment¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Myles Osborne⁽⁷⁾| T: M Osborne| OR: 89

28/1

Little in the way of promise under Rules early in his career but fit from a point he stuck to his take when third in a maiden hunter in February (20f). Runner-up between the flags recently but may not have the pace for this.

Form: PP/4132-

Funky Sensation^t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Jake Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Helen Bament| OR: 97

33/1

Rules record is rather uninspiring, looking flattered by his fifth place-finish on this card a year ago (20.6f).

Form: 34P4P4-

Rewritetherules^t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr David O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: David O'Brien| OR: 91

100/1

Multiple point winner but rarely shows his form in hunters.

Form: P43PPP-

Missed Tee⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss Immy Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Collins| OR: 104| D

9/1

Fair hurdles for Dan Skelton and stepped up on her opening run in hunters when third at Ludlow in March. Does need to cut out these errors, particularly over these fences.

Form: 8/44PP3-

Non-Runners

Whatchagotder¹³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: L Morgan J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

Forecasts

Fier Jaguen (1/1), Caryto Des Brosses (5/2), A Jet Of Our Own (9/2), Missed Tee (9/1), Whatchagotder (20/1), Fine Investment (28/1), Funky Sensation (33/1), Rewritetherules (100/1), Bigforyourboots (100/1)

CARYTO DES BROSSES and Fier Jaguen dominated this race a year ago and a similar scenario may well be on the cards again, with the placings selected to be reversed in the hope David Kemp's inmate is ridden slighter closer to his rival this time.