16:20 Leicester

Friday 9 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Nicol & Fielding Mechanical Services Ltd Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 23.7s

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Selected odds by:

Gowanauthat^p,t¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr J Jackson-Stops⁽⁷⁾| T: Francesca Nimmo| OR: 122

12/1

Had a lucrative campaign in 2016-17 for Charlie Mann but it has all been downhill since then. Has a stiff task from the top of the weights.

Form: 2-PUPU4

Grandioso^t³⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-6| J: Mr Ed Bailey⁽⁷⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 117| D

7/1

Versatile in terms of trip and ground. Went well after a layoff 12 months ago and an experienced rider is on board.

Form: 311243-

Argot^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Rory Bevin⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Barlow| OR: 114| D

25/1

Won by 41L on last start under rules 18 months ago. Has not shown much between the flags since then and this looks a decent contest.

Form: 771-4R3

Never Complain^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Charlie Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs F Marshall| OR: 120

10/1

Multiple winning point-to-pointer who was going well before blundering his chance away last time. Trip may be on the sharp side but has definite each-way potential.

Form: U2-11UP

Numbercruncher²⁷³

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr David O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: David O'Brien| OR: 105

11/2

Multiple winner of point-to-points over 3m whose last success was in a 2m1f Stratford hunter chase last June. Handles soft ground, though best form when conditions are drier and has plenty to find in this field.

Form: 241-P31

Rouge Et Blanc^p¹⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 12-2| J: Miss Pippa Glanville⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 114| D

5/1

Dominated a moderate lot at Lingfield last month and this is harder. However, he is sure to give it a go on ground that brings out the best in him.

Form: 0/UP-P61

Santa's Secret^t1³²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: Miss C Boxall| OR: 112| D

16/1

Refused on his last point-to-point start in April and his prior form under rules gives him a lot to find.

Form: P16/45R-

Aero Majestic¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J Martin⁽⁵⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 107

20/1

Poor on only occasion he encountered a soft surface for David Pipe. Has shaped as though needing more of a test than this and easy to pass over.

Form: 334550

Mantou^p1,t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Ed Glassonbury⁽³⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 120| DWS

20/1

Has performed to a decent standard over hurdles and on the Flat, but has failed to complete the course in three point-to-points this winter. Has undergone wind surgery and new headgear combination employed, but yet to encounter ground this heavy.

Form: 0/U5-FPP

Proximo^p²⁹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: Stuart Morris| OR: 100

20/1

Has won six point-to-points on good ground, but was pulled up on both occasions when conditions were soft. Has something to prove on form too and others make more appeal.

Form: 3331P-3

Throthethatch^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: Miss J Pidgeon| OR: 111| D

14/1

3-8 over fences for Lucinda Russell and this trip/ground combination should not be a problem. Will have benefitted from two runs following a lengthy break and no surprise too see him produce a big run under a top pilot.

Form: 42/14-73

Trafalgar Rock⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J Smith-Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 120| D

12/1

Picked up three races over hurdles for Dr Richard Newland, the latest over this trip on testing ground. Ran well for a long way over much further in a point-to-point in January and on that evidence he has claims now dropped in trip.

Form: 212364

Velvet Maker⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: D M Christie| OR: 143| D

11/4

Has some top-class form in Ireland and contested the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last year. Fell on point-to-point debut when weakening, but 2m is his trip and he represents last year's winning trainer/jockey combination.

Form: 20/30-8F

Forecasts

Velvet Maker (11/4), Rouge Et Blanc (5/1), Numbercruncher (11/2), Grandioso (7/1), Never Complain (10/1), Gowanauthat (12/1), Trafalgar Rock (12/1), Throthethatch (14/1), Santa's Secret (16/1), Mantou (20/1), Aero Majestic (20/1), Proximo (20/1), Argot (25/1)

VELVET MAKER took on the likes of Douvan at his peak and has gone to the last two Cheltenham Festivals. He represents last year's winning connections and could be on a different level to these. Throthehatch is proven in the conditions and has the excellent Gina Andrews on board, whilst Trafalgar Rock will have the going to suit and his hurdle rating puts him ahead of many of these. Rouge Et Blanc won well last time and will love the surface, but this is a better race over a shorter trip.