Abberley Hall Centenary Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 6m 25.8s

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Selected odds by:

Galway Jack²³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-5| J: Mr T A McClorey⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 128

4/5

Has made up into a very useful horse in this grade and has the beating of most of these if running to the same level as at Leicester last time. Beat a subsequent winner that day (Penmore Mill well held in third) and a line through the well beaten fourth, Vincitore, gives him a clear edge over Now Ben.

Form: F/F11P2-

Pearlysteps³³

Age: 14| Weight: 12-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 128

7/2

Stable do well in these races and have a good record here. They won this in 2014 and this veteran was runner-up last year. Has won multiple races at this level and has shown enough to suggest he can add to that tally. Yard are just 1-42 since the turn of the year and that is a concern.

Form: 112-124

Penmore Mill²³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-5| J: Mr S Lee⁽⁷⁾| T: F Hutsby| OR: 127

16/1

Has 21L to find with Galway Jack on running at Leicester last time. Regular rider takes the mount on Pearlysteps. Has more races in him at this level but needs others to underperform in order to land this.

Form: 12-1133

Now Ben¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: P Rowley

4/1

Prolific winning point-to-pointer who saw off the formerly useful chaser Consigliere when winning a point-to-point at Cottenham a month ago and has scored again since.. Was a beaten favourite in two other point-to-point outings this season. These include a defeat by Vincitore who was sent off at 80/1 when well beaten by Galway Jack recently.

Form: 1-2411P

Real Milan^p³²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr J H Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick J Jones| OR: 110

14/1

Former useful chaser for Donald McCain who has won five of his last six completed point-to-points. Beat last week's Foxhunter third, Barrel Of Laughs, in December but was below that level at Larkhall last time. Prone to errors and has failed to complete the course on his last two starts over regulation fences.

Form: 11U122-

Non-Runners

Brody Bleu³²

Weight: 12-5| Age: 10

T: Miss L Wallace J: Mr J Smith-Maxwell

Free World²¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 13

T: Lady S Brooke J: Miss L Brooke

Temple Grandin³²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 10

T: P Rowley J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Galway Jack (4/5), Pearlysteps (7/2), Now Ben (4/1), Brody Bleu (6/1), Temple Grandin (10/1), Real Milan (14/1), Penmore Mill (16/1), Free World (33/1)

GALWAY JACK is in tremendous heart and can complete the hat-trick. The form of both victories this winter looks very strong and gives him a clear edge over most of these. Pearlysteps rates the main danger on his best form and has shown himself to retain plenty of ability on his last two starts. The form of his stable is a valid reason to be cautious about his prospects. Now Ben and Real Milan are prolific winning point-to-pointers. The former is the more reliable jumper and looks the one most likely to test his more experienced rivals.