16:40 Cheltenham

Friday 13 March 2026

All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20

Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 6m 53.33s

Barton Snow³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H Crow| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 142| C

9/2

Strong-travelling 9-y-o who made it 4-4 in hunters at Ludlow last month, again winning in a style that suggests he's well worth his place in this sort of company.

Form: 211-111

Carnfunnock^p⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Stephen Connor| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 126

50/1

Never looked a threat when sixth in 2025 renewal of this race and while a winner of previous 4 starts in points (latest in January), he looks held by the market principals on form.

Form: 16P-161

Chemical Energy^t,p¹¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| C

20/1

Runner-up in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at this meeting in 2023 and shaped much better than beaten distance when sixth in Cross Country last year. Confirmed himself in good heart with couple of point victories over the winter and could be suited by the switch to hunters.

Form: 465-011

Con's Roc^p1⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Darragh Allen| T: T O'Brien| OR: 132| BF

9/1

Successful pointer looked a good prospect when making it 2-2 in hunter chases at Fairyhouse in November and was coming back for more when third behind It's On The Line in a race not ideally run to suit at Downpatrick last time. Remains one to be positive about and should improve for cheekpieces.

Form: 11/12-13

Golden Son^t,p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss O Nicholls| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

16/1

Useful chaser who made it 2-2 in hunters with a taking success at Taunton last month, and while he faces a much sterner task is this company, he has the inherent ability to make his presence felt.

Form: 93P3-11

Gracchus De Balme¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P A King| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 133| BF

50/1

Right back to his useful best when landing the Foxhunters at Aintree last season. Backed that up with a decisive win at Stratford in May, though his tendency to hang left, coupled with a disappointing reappearance, makes him one to treat with a degree of caution.

Form: P1-21P2

Its On The Line⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Mullins| OR: 140

7/2

Runner-up in previous three renewals of this race, travelling with more zest than previously when narrowly denied last year. Went on to make it a hat-trick of successes in hunter chase at Punchestown festival subsequently and looks sure to go close again following win at Downpatrick on Boxing Day.

Form: 321-412

King Alex⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J Ahern| T: G Ahern| OR: 120

80/1

Veteran who was let down by his jumping when last seen under Rules at Cork in April and while clearly in fine heart in points since (3 lengths third to Wonderwall in November), this is a much stiffer test.

Form: 25-3212

Kings Jet³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T A Halford| T: C W J Farrell| OR: 120

80/1

Surprise winner on Rules debut at Down Royal in May but disappointing in hunter chases since, latest when well behind Con's Roc at Fairyhouse in November. Second in a point last month but faces another uphill task in this sphere.

Form: 1P2162

Lift Me Up^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Heidi Palin| T: Miss M Filby| OR: 122

150/1

Multiple point winner who has won twice in this sphere, though finished well held in this contest 12 months ago and looked out of sorts on reappearance last month.

Form: P101-4P

Linelee King⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: O Murphy| OR: 124| BF

40/1

Veteran who made a winning start in hunters at Southwell before shaping best when runner-up in a similar race at Cartmel when last seen under Rules in May. Enhanced his excellent record fresh when seeing off Music Drive in a point last month but wouldn't be a sure thing to confirm that form.

Form: 3P4/1-21

Music Drive^t,p⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Ellie Callwood| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 131| CD

33/1

Shaped with a fair amount of encouragement when fourth behind Wonderwall last March, prior to making the most of a good opportunity over C&D in May. Turned over by Linelee King in a point on reappearance but highly likely that was a stepping stone to another crack at this race.

Form: 9/114-12

Panda Boy³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J L Gleeson| T: M Brassil| OR: 142

4/1

Useful type who has relished the switch to hunter chases/more positive tactics, jumping well when making it 2-2 in this sphere in determined fashion at Naas last month and that's usually a race worth following (won by Billaway/It's On The Line previously). Leading claims.

Form: 3U-8311

Paul Marvel^p¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 120

80/1

Fairly useful performer for Willie Mullins in 2023/24 who chased home Golden Son at Warwick prior to landing pair of hunters at Leicester last month. Shapes as though a return to this trip will be in his favour but pitched into significantly deeper waters for hat-trick bid.

Form: 21P211

Pyleigh Court¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Ella Herbison| T: R Pudd| OR: 123

150/1

Landed second hunter chase victory in heavy ground at Wincanton in January and while this step back up in distance will likely suit, he has plenty to find at the weights.

Form: 3/31P-12

Shearer^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| BF| C

28/1

Lost an unbeaten record over fences when fifth in the 2025 renewal of this race and having failed to justify favouritism on reappearance at Haydock last time, he'll probably have to settle for minor honours again this year.

Form: 11/115-3

Solitary Man^v1²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss A B O'Connor| T: E Bolger| OR: 136

14/1

Proved he's still capable of useful form when well backed third in listed handicap chase at Killarney last summer and won twice in points prior to finishing fourth behind Panda Boy on hunter debut at Thurles in January. Could outrun forecast odds now fitted with more severe headgear.

Form: 312141

Stattler^t,p1²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 137| C

16/1

One-time high-class chaser for Willie Mullins who nearly defied a 22-month absence on hunter/yard debut, prior to making the most of a good opportunity at Fakenham last time. This is much more competitive but addition of cheekpieces/retention of Patrick Mullins can only be viewed as positives.

Form: 624P/21

Take All^h,t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Samuel Scott| T: Myles Osborne| OR: 126

66/1

Going better than most when falling 3 out in this race 12 months ago, though he can flatter to deceive, typically looking less than straightforward under pressure in pair of hunter chases this year.

Form: F1-4432

What A Glance^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Clara Brewitt| T: T Britten| OR: 137| C

150/1

Looked progressive before disappointing in last year's renewal and while recent second in a point has confirmed his well-being, he's probably up against it back under Rules.

Form: 220-5F2

Willewonga¹¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Thomas Easterby| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 127

100/1

Can be a clumsy jumper, as was the case when pulled up in last year's Foxhunter at Aintree. Odds on defeat in 3-runner point in November hardly inspires confidence, either.

Form: 22P2-32

Willitgoahead⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H C Swan| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| BF

18/1

Useful third in corresponding race last year (briefly threatened better) and cannot be judged harshly on his non completions either side of a respectable seasonal reappearance behind Its On The Line on Boxing Day. Likely to be in the mix again.

Form: 130P-2U

Wonderwall^t¹²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James| T: S Curling| OR: 140| CD

6/1

Made his third visit to the Festival a winning one when successful in corresponding race last year. This will have been the target since winning a point in November (goes well fresh) and he should make a bold bid to defend his crown.

Form: 32111-1

Non-Runners

Wrappedupinmay⁵⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: S Curling J: Mr D Doyle

Forecasts

Its On The Line (7/2), Panda Boy (4/1), Barton Snow (9/2), Wonderwall (6/1), Con's Roc (9/1), Wrappedupinmay (10/1), Solitary Man (14/1), Golden Son (16/1), Stattler (16/1), Willitgoahead (18/1), Chemical Energy (20/1), Shearer (28/1), Music Drive (33/1), Linelee King (40/1), Carnfunnock (50/1), Gracchus De Balme (50/1), Take All (66/1), Paul Marvel (80/1), Kings Jet (80/1), King Alex (80/1), Willewonga (100/1), Pyleigh Court (150/1), What A Glance (150/1), Lift Me Up (150/1)

PANDA BOY looks tailor-made for this and he's fancied to maintain his unbeaten record in hunter chases. Con's Roc is less exposed than most in this sphere and may prove the main danger, while Its On The Line has finished runner-up in the previous three renewals of this race and can fare best of last year's protagonists.