15:20 Wincanton

Thursday 4 February 2021

All12:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 7m 4.9s

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Selected odds by:

Captain Cattistock^p,t³⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 136| BF| C

3/1

Useful winning chaser. Still leading when unseated rider 2 out in hunter chase (2/5) at Doncaster 11 months ago on final run for Paul Nicholls. Worth considering for new yard despite his absence.

Form: 1/7234U-

Coningsby^b⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: S Penny| OR: 129

28/1

Useful chaser but not seen out since pulled up in handicap chase (7/2) at Market Rasen (23.9f 11 months ago on final run for Tom Lacey. Runner-up in point since so not ruled out.

Form: 1/UV8P-2

Deans Road²⁰⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 134

20/1

Fairly useful chaser. Off 6 months since below-form sixth in handicap chase at Tipperary (20f) 6 months ago on final run for Henry de Bromhead. Needs more on yard debut.

Form: 1593-06

Black Valentine⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: K L Smith| OR: 109| C

40/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles for Paul Nicholls but off track over 3 years. Winning pointer subsequently so no forlorn hope here.

Form: 5U11/1-P

Captain McGinley^t1⁴²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: B Gibbs| OR: 103| BF

16/1

Fair chaser. Sole run for Miss Beverley Thomas when good second in hunter chase at Cheltenham (26f) in May, 2019. Since scored in points but has long absence to overcome.

Form: 1121/2P-

Imogens Thunder^t1⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: H Tory

150/1

Stowaway gelding. Dam (h90) maiden hurdler (stayed 3m). Wears tongue strap. Winning pointer but faces no easy task here.

Form: 2P616-P

Jimmy Tew^h1⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Ackner

125/1

Flying Legend gelding. Dam point winner. Wears hood. Maiden pointer. Has plenty on his plate.

Form: 3/U3P-26

Kelvingrove^p,t³⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Leyshon| OR: 113

125/1

Temperamental sort. 25/1, pulled up in hunter chase over C&D 12 months ago. Since runner-up in points but long absence to overcome now too so others appeal more.

Form: 33/42P2-

King Of The Clothe³²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: T Ellis

28/1

€20,000 3-y-o, Milan gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful chaser Mister Don, stayed 31f. Dam unraced half-sister to smart 25f chaser Grand Jesture. Winning pointer but lack of recent run is a worry.

Form: U15122-

Knockaderry Flyer⁶⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: M Comley| OR: 108| D

150/1

Lightly-raced winner in chases. 25/1, below-form fifth of 18 in hunter chase at Cheltenham (32.4f) 21 months ago. Has work to do after lengthy spell off the track.

Form: 43664/5-

Porlock Bay⁹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: W Biddick| OR: 135

11/4

Useful ex-French hurdler/chaser in 2018/19 for Francois Nicolle. Wide-margin point winner in November on comeback run so well worth considering here.

Form: 122/21-1

Rien Du Tout³⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: C Budd

125/1

Twice-raced maiden in bumpers, off 4 years since fifth at Southwell (100/1) for Mark Wall. Winning pointer 11 months ago so no forlorn hope.

Form: 4565/U1-

Sametegal^p,t³³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140

6/5

Useful chaser. It's eleven runs since his last win in 2016 but veteran arrives in good form, fourth of 15 in 3m handicap chase at Sandown 33 days ago. Sets a good standard for top yard.

Form: 43-3364

Stevan Steel^t1⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: J Ackner

200/1

€31,000 3-y-o, £7,800 5-y-o, King's Theatre gelding. Half-brother to bumper winner Robinsson. Wears tongue strap. Winning pointer but this is no easy ask.

Form: 3421-46

Teeton Surprise⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: J Mason

66/1

Black Sam Bellamy gelding. Brother to fair 25f hurdler Teeton Power. Dam fair 2¾m chase winner. Dual winning pointer so not without some hope.

Form: 42/11P-6

Lizzie Langton^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: H Brown| OR: 84| C

150/1

Poor chaser. Cheekpieces tried when pulled up in 26f handicap chase at Taunton 13 months ago on final run for Colin Tizzard. Unseated rider early in point in December. Faces very stiff task.

Form: 33/53P-U

Non-Runners

Back Bar¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: A Hill J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Envoye Special⁵⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: C R Barber J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sametegal (6/5), Porlock Bay (11/4), Captain Cattistock (3/1), Back Bar (12/1), Captain McGinley (16/1), Deans Road (20/1), Envoye Special (20/1), King Of The Clothe (28/1), Coningsby (28/1), Black Valentine (40/1), Teeton Surprise (66/1), Jimmy Tew (125/1), Kelvingrove (125/1), Rien Du Tout (125/1), Imogens Thunder (150/1), Knockaderry Flyer (150/1), Lizzie Langton (150/1), Stevan Steel (200/1)

Veteran SAMETEGAL has been holding his form well in stronger company so is taken to gain a deserved victory on his first go in a hunter. Useful ex-French chaser Porlock Bay advertised his well-being with a recent impressive points win so shouldn't be underestimated while Captain Cattistock isn't ruled out easily either now in tandem with the in-form Fergal O'Brien team.