It Pays To Buy Irish Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:03 | Winning time: 6m 59.25s

Thunder Rock⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr James King| T: O Murphy| OR: 137

4/1

Very smart chaser at his peak. Below that level over hurdles in more recent times but still a potential class act in his first hunter.

Form: P4447-P

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Illico De Cotte^t1⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr F Philipson-Stow⁽⁷⁾| T: W Biddick| OR: 122| BF

6/4

Fairly useful hurdle/chase winner for Dan Skelton. Runner-up in 2 points for new connections and likely to go well on hunter debut.

Form: 326P-22

Mr Glass^t³⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Lucas Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122| CD

11/4

Under the care of Will Biddick when seeing off Go Sacre Go to win this 12 months ago. Might have found the run coming too soon when pulled up at Leicester a fortnight later. Has rejoined Paul Nicholls ahead of his return to action. Could make a bold bid in this race again.

Form: 2211/1P-

Pyleigh Court³⁰¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms E L Herbison⁽⁷⁾| T: R Pudd| OR: 117

11/2

Multiple point winner who landed 4-runner hunter chase in the mud at Leicester last February. Pulled up in the Aintree Foxhunter 5 weeks later and not seen since. Chance he'll need this first run back.

Form: 213/31P-

Go Sacre Go⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 113

12/1

Chased home Mr Glass in this race 12 months ago. Pulled up at Stratford only subsequent start last season but returns to Rules on the back of a point win 11 weeks ago (final start for Sally Alner). Now trained by Robert Walford.

Form: 3P1/2P-1

Minella Jab¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Jake Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss M Lawrence| OR: 105

25/1

Multiple point winner who reached the frame in 2 hunters in spring 2024. Fit from a recent point win but will need to advance his form to go close here.

Form: 53/4P-F1

Forecasts

Illico De Cotte (6/4), Mr Glass (11/4), Thunder Rock (4/1), Pyleigh Court (11/2), Go Sacre Go (12/1), Minella Jab (25/1)

While it's almost certain THUNDER ROCK's best days are behind him he could still be a cut above in a hunter. Illico de Cotte has finished runner-up in a couple of points since joining Will Biddick and may provide the main threat ahead of last year's winner Mr Glass.