17:45 Cheltenham

Friday 3 May 2024

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

Junior Jumpers Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 6m 59.54s

Earl Of Desmond^p⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Robert Hawker| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 105

40/1

Fair hurdler who filled runners-up spot in pair of maiden hunters in spring 2022. However, pulled up on back of a lengthy absence for new stable at Exeter 45 days ago and he'll need to leave that well behind to figure.

Form: 11122/P-

Fil D'ariane^t⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Capt Douglas White⁽⁷⁾| T: Douglas White| OR: 115| BF

14/1

Fair performer for Tom Symonds who was in process of running very well when falling 2 out in Royal Artillery Gold Cup in February. Possibly did too much in front when fourth in Stratford Hunter (21f) a month later and no surprise to see him give a good account.

Form: 21/33F4-

Haven't Time³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Lucy Turner| T: Miss S McQueen| OR: 118

13/2

Winning pointer who showed benefit of his reappearance when winning 7-runner Hunter at Southwell (24.2f, heavy) in March. Seemed to find stamina running dry faced with stiffer test when third at Exeter (24.2f, heavy) since and faces an even longer trip here.

Form: 878/513-

Jetaway Joey⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Andrews| T: Mrs G Ellis| OR: 119

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler for Olly Murphy during 2021/22 campaign who has won 3 of his 4 starts in points following his stable switch, latterly a match in March. Connections enjoy plenty of success in this sphere and he's well worthy of respect here.

Form: 52211/1-

Jeux D'eau¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Huw Edwards⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Laura Richardson

7/2

Jeu St Eloi gelding. Half-brother to 1¾m bumper winner in France Gyrseau. Multiple point winner, including last 3 starts (latest Apr 20). Remains pretty low-mileage as a 6-y-o and interesting what the market makes of him on debut in this sphere.

Form: 133111-

Polish^p⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Broughton| T: F O'Brien| OR: 114

7/2

Versatile performer who ran much better than on his debut in this sphere when 1¾ lengths second of 7 to Haven't Time in hunter chase at Southwell (24.3f, heavy) 60 days ago. No surprise to see him give another good account over this slightly longer trip.

Form: 2273P2-

Terrierman^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Nicholas Romain⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs R A Romain| OR: 100

150/1

Fair handicap hurdler for Tom Lacey and has won a couple of points since. Well beaten on Hunter chase debut at Stratford in March though and similar story when finishing distant third between the Flags on latest outing in April. Others preferred.

Form: 21/69P3-

What A Glance^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁷⁾| T: T Britten| OR: 114

11/1

Holding form well in points and ran best race under Rules when again chasing home Deise Aba at Stratford (22.6f) 12 days ago. Not out of things for each-way purposes provided he stays this longer trip.

Form: 2/U1222-

Yippee Ki Yay^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Milo Herbert⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs N Sheppard| OR: 121| BF

4/1

Four-time point winner who made a successful start to his hunter career at Exeter (24.2f) and di well to finish back there having lost plenty of ground following a mid-race error. Remains one to be interested in provided that hasn't dented his confidence.

Form: 1/31412-

Non-Runners

Cooler Than Me³⁸⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: M Osborne J: Mr Martin McIntyre

Forecasts

Jeux D'eau (7/2), Polish (7/2), Yippee Ki Yay (4/1), Jetaway Joey (4/1), Haven't Time (13/2), What A Glance (11/1), Fil D'ariane (14/1), Cooler Than Me (20/1), Earl Of Desmond (40/1), Terrierman (150/1)

A good winner on his debut in this sphere at Exeter in March, YIPPEE KI KAY did well to finish second having made a serious mid-race error back at that venue 39 days ago and, youthful by hunter standards, with the prospect of more to come, he's of interest again. Jetaway Joey is another to note having landed 3 of his 4 starts between the Flag for his connections, with Polish and Haven't Time completing the shortlist.