17:50 Cheltenham

Friday 29 April 2022

All16:4017:1517:5018:2519:0019:3520:10

KTDA Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 17:51 | Winning time: 6m 38.25s

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Selected odds by:

Fixe Le Kap^t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr F Henderson⁽⁷⁾| T: J H Henderson| OR: 124| BF

5/1

Useful hurdler who ran his best race when runner-up in this corresponding event last year. Yet to get his head in front in points (runner-up last 2 starts, latest Apr 18) but warrants plenty of respect back under Rules.

Form: 4/24P22-

Hidden Charmer^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Immy Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: Callum Griffiths| OR: 112

10/1

Fair chaser who shaped as if retaining ability on first outing since leaving Alastair Ralph when third at Ludlow in February. He is a sketchy jumper of fences but being a dual winning pointer (including last time, Apr 16), he's not dismissed.

Form: P/653P1-

I'm Wiser Now^b1,t⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: J Slatter| OR: 114

10/1

Tricky customer who jumped with little fluency when failing in his hat-trick bid at Cheltenham on his final Rules outing for Fergal O'Brien. Never looked like matching that form at Leicester a couple of months ago and now more severe headgear (blinkers) are reached for.

Form: 211/335-

Knockaderry Flyer^t,v1¹¹

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: M Comley| OR: 84| CD

28/1

Multiple winning pointer (including last 2 starts, latest Apr 18), but little to get excited about under Rules for some time. Up against it and a first-time visor goes on today.

Form: 45PP11-

Majestic Touch^t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: A Hill| OR: 115

50/1

Dual hurdles winner whose best effort in 2020/21 was when 7¼ lengths third of 7 to Mine's A Pint in handicap at Newton Abbot final start (left with plenty to do). Last of 3 completed start in points (Apr 16) so not the easiest to enthuse over.

Form: F8F3/P3-

Moratorium^p1⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Biddick| T: M Osborne| OR: 120

3/1

Failed to take to chasing for Gordon Elliott but showed he retains a fairly useful level of ability when runner-up in similar event at Warwick 3 months ago. Has won 4 of 5 starts in points, including last time (Mar 20) so has to be high on the shortlist with cheekpieces applied.

Form: 111241-

Over The Bridge²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Aidan Weaver⁽⁷⁾| T: R C Jones| OR: 50

500/1

Yet to show any ability in bumpers or over hurdles. Maiden pointer, placed last time (Apr 2) but impossible to fancy on previous efforts under Rules.

Form: 22P/PF3-

Tel'art^p,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 113| BF

10/3

Fair winner at 3¼m over hurdles for Ben Pauling and better effort over fences for current yard when third in a hunter at Exeter last month. Failed to meet expectations at Stratford since so percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 342533-

Trio For Rio^p⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: C Boultbee-Brooks| OR: 124| CD

11/4

Fairly useful chaser who won 13-runner similar event on first start for this yard at Ludlow last year and followed up in this corresponding race (by neck from Fixe Le Kap) 7 weeks later. He's a multiple point winner (pulled up last time, Feb 26) but warrants considerable respect back under Rules.

Form: 13/113P-

Forecasts

Trio For Rio (11/4), Moratorium (3/1), Tel'art (10/3), Fixe Le Kap (5/1), Hidden Charmer (10/1), I'm Wiser Now (10/1), Knockaderry Flyer (28/1), Majestic Touch (50/1), Over The Bridge (500/1)

TRIO FOR RIO doubled his tally in hunter chases when landing this corresponding event last year and while his exploits in points have been mixed since (pulled up when last seen a couple of months ago), he gets the verdict to maintain his unbeaten record in this discipline. Prolific winning pointer Moratorium heads up the opposition, with last year's runner-up Fixe le Kap also fancied to feature.