Walrus Open Hunters' Chase

5YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 6f 54y | 7 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

Winner of 4 of his 5 starts over fences, including his first 2 hunters at Ffos Las and Taunton last February. Emerged with plenty of credit when fifth of 24 in the Cheltenham Festival hunter on latest start 11 months ago and yard has won this race 4 times since 2017. Solid chance.

Form: 811/115-

Unexpected Party^t³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| D

5/4

Smart chaser who landed the 2024 Grand Annual at Cheltenham and found just one too good in last season's renewal of that major Festival handicap. Did the job well when making a winning hunter debut at Taunton last month and will take plenty of stopping here.

Form: 25-52P1

Lift Me Up^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽³⁾| T: Miss M Filby| OR: 127

9/1

Multiple point winner who has won twice in this sphere, the latest at Warwick last January. However, he was well held in the Cheltenham Festival hunter when last seen under Rules 11 months ago and failed to land a meaningful blow in an open point back from a break last month.

Form: 2P101-4

Take All^t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr Samuel Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: Myles Osborne| OR: 126

15/2

Ended losing run in a 2½m Ludlow hunter chase last spring and has performed with credit on each of his 3 starts since, including when third in a 9-runner contest back at Ludlow 30 days ago. Each-way shout.

Form: 5F1-443

Darraby⁹⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Huw Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Miss Laura Richardson| OR: 113

33/1

Fairly useful winner on the Flat and showed ability in 3 runs over hurdles in Ireland for Brendan Duke back in 2023. However, he's probably best watched now tackling the larger obstacles for the first time on debut for new yard following around 2½ years off.

Form: 743/

Good Boy Bobby^p³⁵⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126

6/1

Back-to-back winner in veterans' handicaps towards the end of 2023 and made the frame in 5 of his 6 starts last term, including when creditable third of 8 in handicap chase at Newbury on latest start last March. Strong each-way claims on hunter debut.

Form: 3323P3-

Settle Down Jill⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Paddy Barlow⁽³⁾| T: N Sanderson| OR: 108

33/1

Successful sole start between the flags in February 2024 and landed a mares' novice over hurdles at Chepstow during the autumn. Pulled up at Fakenham in December on final start for Dan Skelton and she's opposable on hunter debut.

Form: 12532P

Forecasts

Unexpected Party (5/4), Shearer (15/8), Good Boy Bobby (7/1), Take All (8/1), Lift Me Up (10/1), Settle Down Jill (50/1), Darraby (50/1)

UNEXPECTED PARTY made a smooth transition to this scene when scoring at Taunton last month and he is taken to book his ticket for the big hunter at next month's Cheltenham Festival by following up here. The pick for forecast purposes is Shearer, who is 2-3 in hunters and his yard's record in this race commands respect. Good Boy Bobby is best of the rest.