18:40 Cheltenham

Friday 4 May 2018

All16:5517:3018:0518:4019:1519:5020:25

Timico Mixed Open Gold Cup Final Hunters' Chase

Off time: 18:41 | Winning time: 6m 48.5s

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Selected odds by:

Abricot De L'Oasis^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr F Henderson| T: J H Henderson| OR: 132

6/1

Fair recent form in point-to-points and won at Stratford hunter chase when last seen, but penalised for that victory as well as his rider not being able to use his claim, so this looks potentially a big ask.

Form: 2/45221-

Barel Of Laughs^p⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-4| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 136| CD

1/2

Last year's winner and ran an excellent race in the Cheltenham Festival Foxhunters', having also filled that position in the 2017 renewal as well. Could prove a cut above the rest of these and sure to go well.

Form: 31/1213-

Fourovakind^b⁴³

Age: 13| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss K Lyons| T: M Hazell| OR: 125

33/1

Hasn't been able to build on a good second at Warwick in a hunter chase two starts ago having failed to complete twice since, though was still travelling okay in a Haydock heat won by Virak when coming to grief.

Form: 43/62FP-

Owen Glendower^t³⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss Hannah Gregory| T: Hannah Gregory| OR: 102

33/1

Impressive winner of a point-to-point last time out but form under rules leaves plenty to be desired in a competitive race.

Form: 304/321-

Pentiffic^p⁵

Age: 15| Weight: 12-4| J: Miss Lucy Turner| T: P P Turner| OR: 108| D

33/1

Wide margin winner on his most recent completed start in a point-to-point, but plenty to find with the principles here now back racing under rules.

Form: 5-3311U

Sentimentaljourney²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Nathan Rahman| T: R Varnham| OR: 100

33/1

Down the field at Sandown on his most recent starts under rules, and needs substantial and unlikely improvement in order to figure here.

Form: 1P7616-

The Wealerdealer¹⁶⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-1| J: Mr William Biddick| T: I Chanin| OR: 109| D

9/2

Second in this last year but not up to that level in two starts since. Needs the return to this course to spark a revival, and even then has a bit to find with Barel Of Laughs.

Form: U21/273-

Asockastar^p³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs| T: D Bourne| OR: 94

50/1

Only one win in any type of race since September 2013, which was a narrow one. That level of form very likely to see him come up short here.

Form: 3/48142-

Kelsey¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Jodie Hughes| T: M Bowen

20/1

Experience under rules is restricted to hurdles (1-12), and this is much tougher than the point-to-point he won at odds-on last month.

Form: 38P/B21-

Shantou Tiger^t1²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr James King| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 100

16/1

Mostly raced over hurdles so far and despite a narrow point-to-point success last time he has a bit to prove over regulation fences.

Form: 24U631-

Subtle Sovereign^b1¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss L Mager| T: Mrs Teresa Clark

40/1

Good form of late in point-to-points but yet to race over regulation fences. Best watched on this first in a hunter chase.

Form: 421/121-

Forecasts

Barel Of Laughs (1/2), The Wealerdealer (9/2), Abricot De L'Oasis (6/1), Shantou Tiger (16/1), Kelsey (20/1), Pentiffic (33/1), Owen Glendower (33/1), Fourovakind (33/1), Sentimentaljourney (33/1), Subtle Sovereign (40/1), Asockastar (50/1)

Once again the standout contender here is BAREL OF LAUGHS. Last year's winner has also finished third in the Foxhunters' at the Cheltenham Festival over this C&D the past two years and just looks a cut above the rest of these, once again ridden by Alex Edwards who knows him so well. The main dangers could well be Fouravakind, who could do well if completing this time round, as well as last year's runner up The Wealerdealer.