William Bulwer Long Memorial Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 6m 26.16s

Bardenstown Lad^p¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr E Mahon⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Loughnane| OR: 130| D

8/1

Winner of a handicap hurdle and maiden chase for Gavin Cromwell at Kilbeggan in 2024. Arrives here on the back of a recent point success but safely held on hunter debut/first run under Rules for this yard at Warwick last month and he looks vulnerable.

Form: 1P3251

Frere d'Armes^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| C| D

9/4

Disappointed on hunter debut at Taunton last month but successful either side of that, landing a 21f handicap here just before Christmas and a 3m hunter at Ludlow (soft) last week. Obvious claims.

Form: 2571P1

Go On Chez¹⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Tom Hutsby⁽⁷⁾| T: F Hutsby| OR: 129| D

5/2

Back-to-back hunter winner last spring and, though below par in a Worcester handicap when last seen in August, this 9-y-o is interesting returned to hunter company with the drying ground in his favour.

Form: 21-1464

Presentandcounting⁸⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| D

6/4

Twice a winner in small-field contests in 2023 and snapped a losing run when landing a 3-runer Catterick handicap (25.2f, good to firm) with minimum fuss in November. That wasn't much of a race but he's clearly in good nick and merits respect with Gina Andrews booked for this hunter debut.

Form: 4544P1

Sopran Thor^p1⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Archie Loweth⁽⁷⁾| T: J Whyte| OR: 112| C

200/1

Hasn't shown much in this sphere nor between the flags since coming home alone in a 21f selling handicap here back in April 2023. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: PP-44PR

Forecasts

Presentandcounting (6/4), Frere d'Armes (9/4), Go On Chez (5/2), Bardenstown Lad (8/1), Sopran Thor (200/1)

PRESENTANDCOUNTING is an appealing alternative to likely favourite Frere d'Armes. The 11-y-o looked on good terms with himself when running away with a small-field handicap chase at Catterick and he could take some catching with Gina Andrews aboard. Frere d'Armes is the clear main danger ahead of Go On Chez.