Carr & Day & Martin Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 20:02 | Winning time: 5m 4.35s

Unexpected Party^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss Heidi Palin| T: D Skelton| OR: 145

4/9

Winner of the 2024 Grand Annual at Cheltenham and runner-up in the same race in 2025. Has done well since switched to hunters, scoring at Taunton and Haydock prior to finishing fourth in the 24-runner Foxhunters' at Aintree where he reportedly bled. Hard to oppose on these terms.

Form: 52P114-

Arthur's Sixpence^t²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Harry Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: G Nicholls| OR: 115| BF| D

6/1

Won twice between the flags for Georgina Nicholls last year and performed well above market expectations when third in the 8-runner Newbury hunter won by Jeffery's Cross in March. Minor place money is a distinct possibility here.

Form: P1/1P3F-

Empire De Maulde^t⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Sean P O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: R Varnham| OR: 117| D

9/2

Multiple point winner but yet to win a hunter and others make more appeal.

Form: 141P71-

Hystery Bere¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Joe Neal⁽⁷⁾| T: J Neal| OR: 114| BF| C

11/1

Fairly useful hurdle/chase winner at his best and he was a creditable third of 10 in an Exeter handicap chase on final run for Tom Symonds. Winner of one of his 2 starts between the flags since but he's opposable now pitched into a hunter.

Form: 2P/4312-

Non-Runners

Fan De Blues²²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: Miss Henton J: Mr Daniel Williams

Forecasts

Unexpected Party (4/9), Empire De Maulde (9/2), Arthur's Sixpence (6/1), Fan De Blues (13/2), Hystery Bere (11/1)

Barring accidents UNEXPECTED PARTY should prove too strong for these. He didn't jump/travel with his usual verve at Aintree last time but is now in much calmer waters. Fan de Blues is marginally preferred to Arthur's Sixpence for forecast purposes.