19:50 Cheltenham

Friday 3 May 2019

All17:0517:4018:1518:5019:2019:5020:20

Are You Well, I Thought You Were Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:53 | Winning time: 8m 48.7s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Mendip Express^t⁷⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr David Maxwell| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127| C

8/1

Top class hunter chaser at peak, still capable of turning in winning performances at the age of 13, as he showed at Sandown last December. Unproven over this far but comes here fresh, and chances if he stays.

Form: 41/5617-

Sam Red^p,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 117| C

33/1

Winner under Rules here for Dan Skelton last October, so at least has course form, but below par in recent efforts and has a bit to prove now.

Form: PF0P45-

Jack Snipe^p⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Robert Hawker| OR: 103

12/1

Winner of last three, and does look an out-an-out stayer (won over 26f under Rules), so may find this trip to his liking. Ideally wants it no worse than good, but could go well at likely big odds if it does.

Form: 4/1P111-

Master Sunrise^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr James King| T: A Ralph| OR: 100

100/1

Moderate handicapper under Rules, did come good at Southwell last summer but often looks a hard ride and just looks a bit out of his depth here.

Form: 613636-

Optimised⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Alex Edwards| T: P Rowley| OR: 116

4/1

Winner of last three, rallying well to win a good little race at Bangor last time out and promises to be suited by extreme distances. Disappointed at this meeting last year, which is a concern, but not dismissed.

Form: 1/67111-

After Aspen^b²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Daniel Cherriman⁽⁷⁾| T: L Horsfall| OR: 111

66/1

Moderate under Rules for Olly Murphy, hasn't progressed in the point-to-point field although his second over 30f at High Easter in March at least gives hope he'll stay.

Form: 4/P0223-

Captain Von Trappe¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr T M O'Brien| T: A Ralph| OR: 121

40/1

Sprang a bit of a shock when turning over the much -fancied Vedettariat at Bangor on reappearance in March, but two lesser efforts since then temper confidence. Others preferred.

Form: P77/1FP-

Changeofluck^b1,t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: A Hill| OR: 96

20/1

Does nothing but stay, and this 4m trip will be right up his street. Comes here off the back of a win in a little race at Kimble and although his form is not as good as some, will be staying on when others have had enough.

Form: 3P3731-

Earthmoves^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss L Thomas| OR: 117

50/1

Useful chaser in his pomp but long time since he's won one and there's nothing in his form that says he's crying out for this trip either.

Form: 33P227-

Haymount³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 137| D

3/1

Winner over 4m at Kingston Blount last time, so no qualms about this trip, and at his peak, was third to Tiger Roll in a National Hunt Chase at the Festival, so acts on the track too. Big chance here.

Form: 3011P1-

Knockaderry Flyer⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr George Gorman⁽⁵⁾| T: M Comley| OR: 117| C

25/1

Well beaten most starts lately but pinged around these fences to win over 25f at this meeting in 2017, which offers some hope. Needs to recapture that form, which looks unlikely, but may go well at a price if he can.

Form: P43664-

Sentimentaljourney⁴⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Nathan Rahman⁽⁷⁾| T: R Varnham| OR: 92

100/1

Overall form leaves him well short of what's required here, and hard to make much of a case for him winning this.

Form: 6/P5653-

Southfield Theatre^p¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss L Bradstock⁽⁷⁾| T: Sara Bradstock| OR: 130| C

7/2

Classy chaser on his day, will stay this trip (won over 28f at Cocklebarrow earlier in the season) and although outclassed in the Foxhunters at the Festival, may find this a bit easier. Wouldn't want it soft.

Form: P12191-

Spanish Arch^t¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Lt Cdr Vicki Sollitt⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Victoria Sollitt| OR: 107

33/1

Second to Le Reve (at 150-1) in a Military race in March does look something of a fluke given other very moderate efforts that surround it, but you could give him a squeak on it and isn't totally dismissed.

Form: 91/4823-

Teeton Kato^p1,t1¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Faye Messenger

25/1

Useful hunter chaser, five times a winner in the sphere and ran out a ready winner at Maisemore Park last time. This trip asks a new question of him, but good rider booked, and not ruled out.

Form: 2U33U1-

Twist On Ginge⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs K Bandey| OR: 100

40/1

Made the most of a good opportunity to score at Penshurst last time (only two finishers), but was only moderate under Rules and not easy to win with either. Needs more here.

Form: 2P/3U31-

Vasco Du Mee^b,t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss Josephine Banks⁽⁷⁾| T: M H Weston| OR: 122| C

13/2

Winner of this back in 2016, and clearly still capable of good form, second to Haymount at Kingston Blount before successful at Chaddesley on latest start. Can't be ruled out given past glories here.

Form: 2/32421-

Vincitore^t²⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss S Rippon⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S Rippon| OR: 90

100/1

Second at Barbury on latest start, tries hard but in truth outclassed here, and was well beaten in this event last year.

Form: 4/72782-

Non-Runners

Wonderful Charm²⁹

Weight: 12-2| Age: 11

T: P F Nicholls J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

Premier Portrait⁶

Weight: 11-13| Age: 12

T: Dr Charles Levinson J: Mr George Daly

Forecasts

Wonderful Charm (5/2), Haymount (3/1), Southfield Theatre (7/2), Optimised (4/1), Vasco Du Mee (13/2), Mendip Express (8/1), Jack Snipe (12/1), Premier Portrait (14/1), Changeofluck (20/1), Knockaderry Flyer (25/1), Teeton Kato (25/1), Sam Red (33/1), Spanish Arch (33/1), Twist On Ginge (40/1), Captain Von Trappe (40/1), Earthmoves (50/1), After Aspen (66/1), Sentimentaljourney (100/1), Master Sunrise (100/1), Vincitore (100/1)

If there's been rain around, this is going to take some getting, and there will be no room for non-stayers. On that, Wonderful Charm, despite all his class, gets the push as he's not proven over this far. Haymount is proven, but needs to bounce back after a sulky effort in the Foxhunters. If he can leave that behind, he's a chance. VASCO DU MEE has chances of reversing that earlier form with Haymount here, and just gets the vote in an open race. Optimised is a possible improver and for those looking for e/w bets, both Changeofluck and Knockaderry Flyer make some appeal.