April 01 / 17.05 Kempton

17.05

Good

Nick Luck Daily Podcast “Pointing Pointers” Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £2566.5
  • 2m 4f 110y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Nick Luck Daily Podcast “Pointing Pointers” Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1/2P/2 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced over the last couple of years but was a wide-margin point winner in February and returned to racing under rules with good second at Stratford (2m5f, good to soft; front pair well clear) last month; very well suited by good ground; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

19:30 Newton Abbot

Viroflay

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Has had no trouble in transferring his useful hunter chase form to handicaps, last season winning at Kempton (3m, good) and runner-up there (2m4f, good to soft) in February; his Topham run can be forgiven and, while he might be better going right-handed, he could be tough to catch around here.

13/8

17th

14

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Viroflay

10st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful hunter chaser last season and he's transferred that form to handicaps, winning at Kempton (3m, good) in December and runner-up there (2m4f, good to soft) in February; he may be better going right-handed but otherwise this front-runner could prove well suited by today's test.

20/1

2nd

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:05 Kempton

Viroflay

11st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Won a C&D hunter chase last season from the front, as is his way; last two races have also been here over 3m, jumping better than his rivals the last time when 4lb lower; looks sure to go well for a long way back at 2m4f.

9/1

OUR TIP

7/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 19-P11 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
In-form 11yo who returned to racing under rules with hunter chase wins at Catterick (3m1f, good) and Ludlow (2m4f, good) last month; has 8lb penalty to shoulder here but must be considered in current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Captain Tommy

11st 11lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Fred Timmis

About 6l and 2l too good for Presentandcounting at Catterick (3m1f, good) and Walkin Out at Ludlow (2m4f, good) respectively back in March, but two subdued efforts when as much in his favour since to forgive.

5/1

4th

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Captain Tommy

11st 11lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Fred Timmis

About 6l and 2l too good for Presentandcounting at Catterick (3m1f, good) and Walkin Out at Ludlow (2m4f, good) respectively back in March, but two subdued efforts when as much in his favour since to forgive.

5/1

5th

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:40 Ludlow

Captain Tommy

12st 6lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: Fred Timmis

Won small-field hunter chases on good ground at Catterick (3m1f) and Ludlow (2m4f) last month; lost out to only the odds-on favourite at Kempton (2m4f, good) three weeks ago and, although the scale of his defeat was a bit worrying, his good record here (won the last three of his four visits) bolsters his chance today.

9/4

Form: 352-65

Last run: 207 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Will be suited by today's good ground and was a very useful handicap chaser in his prime but was out of form for Fergal O'Brien when last seen last summer and it's hard to gauge how much ability he retains as a 12yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Before Midnight

11st 12lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

prominent, chased clear leader after 4th

10/1

3rd

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Before Midnight

11st 12lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

Will be suited by today's good ground and was a very useful handicap chaser in his prime but was out of form for Fergal O'Brien when last seen last summer and it's hard to gauge how much ability he retains as a 12yo.

10/1

5th

3

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 3

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Before Midnight

11st 8lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Ran well in defeat in Ludlow hunter chase (2m4f, soft) in April but was well beaten when back in a handicap two months ago and is patently not the force of old; pulled up at 2023 Cheltenham Festival on only previous start in cheekpieces.

8/1

Form: 18P6/3

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Very useful handicap chaser for Willie Mullins in Ireland a couple of years ago; returned from long absence with respectable third (arguably second best on merit) in Leicester hunter chase (2m, good to soft) for new connections last month but needs to build on that performance here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Fan De Blues

12st 0lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: Miss Nikki Henton

Very useful for Willie Mullins and ran pretty well over these fences in the 2023 Topham; following a long absence this 11yo hasn't been devoid of promise for his new yard, but needs to take a significant step forward.

66/1

4th

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Fan De Blues

11st 12lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: Miss Nikki Henton

Very useful when trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins; kicked off for this yard after a long absence but ran well in that race at Taunton (2m5f, good) after wind surgery, finishing best of the rest behind the smart Unexpected Party; enters the reckoning.

11/4

Form: P/78-0

Last run: 318 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Became very disappointing under rules for Emma Lavelle last season and has not shown a great deal in points for new stable this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Sam Barton

11st 12lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: E M Rees

Became very disappointing under rules for Emma Lavelle last season and has not shown a great deal in points for new stable this year.

50/1

Form: 34U8-P D

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Regressive 10yo who has been pulled up in a Taunton hunter chase and three subsequent points this year; can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Flagrant Delitiep

11st 12lb

J: Mr Robbie David

T: Miss A Lewis

in touch with leaders

100/1

5

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Flagrant Delitiep

11st 12lb

J: Mr Robbie David

T: Miss A Lewis

Regressive 10yo who has been pulled up in a Taunton hunter chase and three subsequent points this year; can't be recommended.

100/1

8

8th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Flagrant Delitiep

11st 12lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: Miss A Lewis

didn't always jump with fluency, prominent, not fluent and lost ground 6th, soon in rear, struggling when pulled up after 8th

40/1

Non-runners

Janika, Latenightfumble

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.30
Straight Forecast £3.51
Trifecta £5.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Viroflay

POSTDATA:

Captain Tommy

RP RATINGS:

Fan De Blues

The Star:

Latenightfumble

WEST COUNTRY:

Before Midnight

TOPSPEED:

Viroflay

The Times:

Viroflay

The Guardian:

Viroflay

The Sun:

Viroflay

Daily Record:

Viroflay

D Express:

Fan De Blues

Telegraph:

Captain Tommy

Daily Mail:

Captain Tommy

Daily Mirror:

Captain Tommy