totepool Follow Us On Twitter Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 5m 6.6s

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Selected odds by:

Decade Player^h,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr D Peters⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Kelly Morgan| OR: 123

3/1

Ex Irish (Pat Rothwell), and made giant strides for this yard late last season notching a hat-trick of victories between 2m1f and 2m4f at High Easter, and under rules at Wetherby and Stratford. Probably not quite tuned up for his recent return at Cottenham (3m), adopting his usual prominent tactics, but weakening quickly from three out, but should be spot on for this dropped in trip.

Form: 14P1PP-

Top Cat Henry^t,v²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Kit Alexander⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 123

6/1

Finished 8L second to Cave Hunter on his penultimate start (stable debut) in a 3m Mens Open at Friars Haugh (good to soft) in late January before being outclassed here last time when fifth to Wonderful Charm (3m2f). This trip looks fine having finished sixth at Aintree in the 2016 Topham (2m5f) for Richard Newland.

Form: 352510

Another Dark Rum^p1³⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Nick Orpwood⁽⁵⁾| T: S J Leadbetter| OR: 85

33/1

Old timer who returned from over 20 months off at Friars Haugh in January. Always behind, he was pulled up behind Cave Hunter. Did win under rules at Sedgefield on his penultimate start (April 2015) in a novices hunters chase over this trip, but a guessing game as to whether much of that ability remains.

Form: 26321/P

Always Tipsy²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Morshead⁽⁷⁾| T: Alan Wight| OR: 115

15/8

Rules hurdles winner for Nick Alexander (Musselburgh handicap in January 2015), but untried over fences for his previous trainer. Now unbeaten in three starts in Point-to-Points for this trainer since December 2016 (all over 3m at Alnwick). Marginally quicker ground and a shorter trip for his rules chasing debut, but clearly in fine shape.

Form: FU6111

Darwins Fox^t⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 141

11/4

Enjoyed a fruitful career in Ireland for Henry De Bromhead, winning bumpers, hurdles and chases and ultimately earning a rating in the 140's. A runner up from that mark in April 2015 in a 2m Grade 3 handicap chase at the Aintree Festival, he should be better for his recent stable debut at Oldtown last month.

Form: 633164-

Havana Jack^p²⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Ryan Nichol⁽⁷⁾| T: L Kerr| OR: 92

25/1

Sole Point-to-Point success came in April 2015 at Balcormo Mains (3m maiden, good) and returns to the track having been absent since May 2016. His best run last spring came at Perth on his penultimate start in May when finishing third of eight to Mister Marker at odds of 80/1.

Form: 634511-

Sposalizio^t²⁸⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr John Dawson| T: C T Dawson| OR: 104

28/1

Sports a solid record of seven from 19 in Point-to-Points, winning on three occasions during 2016 (all over 3m) at Overton, Easingwold and Witton Castle. Can race prominently and should find such tactics beneficial around this sharp track.

Form: 21P-116

Whichwaytobougie¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Owen

66/1

Often placed handicap hurdler for Keith Reveley during 2015, and did win at Newcastle in March of that year (rated 90), but has yet to show a great deal in five starts in Point-to-Points for this trainer, and was a distant last of five to Pacha Du Polder in a Bangor hunters chase last month.

Form: 754454-

Forecasts

Always Tipsy (15/8), Darwins Fox (11/4), Decade Player (3/1), Top Cat Henry (6/1), Havana Jack (25/1), Sposalizio (28/1), Another Dark Rum (33/1), Whichwaytobougie (66/1)

Darwins Fox should have the ability to comfortably see off these rivals on these terms if able to reproduce a chunk of the class that he showed in Ireland for Henry De Bromhead. However, DECADE PLAYER is the most likely danger and is worth chancing at the forecast odds, having been progressive during the latter part of last spring, he should be cherry ripe for this race after a recent pipe opener over 3m at Cottenham. He promises to be dangerous if allowed his way up front and assuming that he doesn't get involved in a battle for the lead with Sposalizio. 1. Decade Player 2. Darwins Fox 3. Always Tipsy