15:30 Aintree

Thursday 9 April 2026

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 5m 31.84s

A Jet Of Our Own^t,p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: Mrs N Sheppard| OR: 118

80/1

Fairly useful performer at best but below par this winter and up against it in this company even if recapturing his peak form.

Form: 5-31P33

A Moments Madness³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Albi Tufnell| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112| BF

28/1

Fair chaser but looked a hard ride switched to a hunter for new connections when third on 21f Carlisle reappearance last month. Has plenty to find on form.

Form: 34421-3

Barton Snow²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H Crow| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 145| D

7/4

Strong-travelling 9-y-o who made it 5-5 in hunters with an impressive display in the Cheltenham Foxhunter (3¼m, good to soft) last month, idling on the run-in but always holding the reopposing Its On The Line. Will continue to be hard to beat.

Form: 1-11111

Densworth^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Natasha Cookson| T: J Cookson| OR: 127

125/1

Useful effort to win a 19f Wetherby handicap chase for Ben Pauling last winter but hasn't reproduced that form since, beaten 7 lengths when second of 3 finishers to Snipe in 2m Leicester hunter for new connections 24 days ago.

Form: 1P08-82

Enqarde^t²³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Molly Armytage| T: Mrs D Plunkett| OR: 118| D

100/1

Caused a 50/1 surprise on hunter debut at Leicester (23f, soft) in February but pulled up at Exeter since. Hard to fancy.

Form: 4322-1P

Fairly Famous^t,p³³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: Mrs G Andrews| OR: 125

50/1

Useful dual hunter winner at his peak. Operated a little below his best in good company last year but 3 recent point wins suggest this 9-y-o could be back on top of his game.

Form: 2-32111

Famous Clermont^t,p²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Milo Herbert| T: C R Barber| OR: 135| CD

33/1

Took this in 2023 but down the field last year. Ended last season with a small-field win at Stratford and arrives fit from points (won last month).

Form: 114U21

Fan De Blues^t⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Daniel Williams| T: Miss Henton| OR: 127

100/1

Smart handicap chaser for Willie Mullins in 2022/23. Has shown he still retains a fair level of ability for his new yard but he was below par when a well-held fourth at Wincanton in February.

Form: P6/34-24

Gaboriot^v1,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Huw Edwards| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 123| BF

40/1

Going well when unseating at Canal Turn in this in 2024 and 2 subsequent outings over C&D have resulted in placed efforts in the Grand Sefton, finishing 2 lengths second in the latest renewal in November. Below par on completed start since but could stage a revival back here in change of headgear.

Form: 3P-2PF3

Golden Son^t,p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss O Nicholls| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| D

17/2

Useful chaser who made it 2-2 in hunters with a taking success at Taunton in February but Barton Snow, Its On The Line and Music Drive were too strong for him at Cheltenham last month. More a place than win contender.

Form: 3P3-114

Gracchus De Balme²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P A King| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 132| CD

18/1

Right back to his useful best when landing this race last season. Added the Champion Hunter at Stratford in May but has dropped away tamely when pulled up on both Rules starts this term, latterly in the Cheltenham Foxhunter.

Form: 1-21P2P

Great Notions^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Nick Orpwood| T: Fiona Needham| OR: 110

100/1

Dual point winner and took a maiden hunter at Hexham (3m) last May. Some fair efforts in defeats in handicap chases this winter but his form is a fair way below the required standard here.

Form: 3235P2

Its On The Line²⁷

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

10/3

Most likeable and dependable hunter chase who was runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival for the fourth year running when edged out by Barton Snow 4 weeks ago. Has tasted success in hunters at the other big spring festivals, though, including this in 2024. Looks sure to go well again.

Form: 21-4122

Java Point^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Paddy Barlow| T: Lemos Souza| OR: 125| BF| D

66/1

Made a winning start in hunters at Ludlow (3m, soft) in January. Runner-up at Southwell and Newbury since but biting off a bit more than he can chew in this company.

Form: 24-5122

Joker De Mai^t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 122| BF

18/1

Successful twice for Harry Derham and posted a couple of creditable efforts in 2½m handicaps for this yard in February. Fell at the Chair in this last year.

Form: F-P6433

Lets Go Champ³³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms Sophie Carter| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 137

11/1

Useful chaser for Henry de Bromhead who won in points before making a successful return to Rules in a 25f Gowran hunter (25f, heavy) last month. Won a good handicap over 2½m at the 2024 Punchestown festival so the drop back in trip shouldn't faze him.

Form: 638P-11

Music Drive^t,p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Ellie Callwood| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 133

22/1

Has reached the frame in the last 2 runnings of the Cheltenham Foxhunter, finishing just over 7 lengths behind reopposing pair Barton Snow and It's On The Line when third this year. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 114-123

Snipe^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Sean P O'Connor| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| C| D

50/1

Became disappointing in handicaps but has found the switch to hunters liberating this year, winning twice in small fields. Suspicion he might be vulnerable now back in a much more competitive scenario, though.

Form: 487141

Take All^t,p²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Samuel Scott| T: Myles Osborne| OR: 125

50/1

Fairly useful but faded into eighth at Cheltenham last month and likely vulnerable to classier sorts again. Cheekpieces are refitted.

Form: 1-44328

Thunder Rock¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: O Murphy| OR: 132| D

16/1

Very smart chaser at his peak. Seemingly not the same force these days but it hasn't prevented him from landing a pair of small-field hunters around 2½m in recent months. More will be needed in this much stronger affair, though.

Form: 47-P211

Unexpected Party^t⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Heidi Palin| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| D

5/1

Winner of the 2024 Grand Annual at Cheltenham and runner-up in the same race in 2025. 2-2 switched to hunters this year, impressing when making all over 2¾m at Haydock latterly. Appeals as one who could take well to these fences. Big player.

Form: 5-52P11

Whats The Solution¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J Teal| T: J Teal

125/1

Multiple point winner (including last month) but only a modest third in his previous hunter last spring. Up against it.

Form: 136R12

Willewonga²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Alan O'Sullivan| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 125| D

25/1

Can be a clumsy jumper, as was the case when pulled up in this race last year. Suffered the same fate in the Cheltenham Foxhunter last month and looks very much the stable third string.

Form: 2P2-32P

Hollywood Harmon³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Pippa Brown| T: A C Wilson| OR: 112| D

125/1

Multiple point winner who broke her duck under Rules in 9-runner maiden hunter at Cartmel (21f, soft) under Pippa Brown last spring. Bettered that form when second over 3m at Fakenham in February but below par at Carlisle since. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 11-3125

Non-Runners

Empire De Maulde²⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 12

T: R Varnham J: Harry Brown

Forecasts

Barton Snow (7/4), Its On The Line (10/3), Unexpected Party (5/1), Golden Son (17/2), Lets Go Champ (11/1), Thunder Rock (16/1), Gracchus De Balme (18/1), Joker De Mai (18/1), Music Drive (22/1), Willewonga (25/1), A Moments Madness (28/1), Famous Clermont (33/1), Gaboriot (40/1), Take All (50/1), Snipe (50/1), Fairly Famous (50/1), Java Point (66/1), A Jet Of Our Own (80/1), Fan De Blues (100/1), Great Notions (100/1), Enqarde (100/1), Empire De Maulde (100/1), Whats The Solution (125/1), Hollywood Harmon (125/1), Densworth (125/1)

BARTON SNOW was really good at Cheltenham and should continue to prove very hard to beat in this sphere. Its On The Line chased home the selection at the Festival and this ultra-consistent sort, who won this in 2024, looks sure to give his usual good account but it could be that the chief threat comes from Dan Skelton's Unexpected Party, who impressed at Haydock last time.