May 02 / 16.35 Cheltenham

16.35

Good

Cleeve Hill Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £2823.15
  • 2m 0f 62y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Cleeve Hill Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

11/8 (Won)

Form: 6/741-

Last run: 53 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 8yo who was paying his way in points before beating his market rival (impressed next time at Kempton) in a 2m5f hunter chase at Stratford (good to soft; effective on good); this shorter trip asks different questions but firmly in the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Barton Snow

12st 0lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: J J O’Shea

Proved his stamina and made it 5-5 under rules (all in hunter chases) when beating Its On The Line by a neck to win the big one at Cheltenham (3m2f, good to soft) last month, despite a mistake at the final fence; has also won on good going; he doesn't appear to be straightforward but clearly knows how to win and should be fine back down in trip; major player.

7/4

1st

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Barton Snow

12st 0lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: J J O’Shea

Won here at last May's hunter chase meeting but that was 2m; his 3m point wins came chiefly in small-field affairs and he was left clear late on when successful over that trip at Ludlow on latest start, and the time was ordinary; could run well for a long way but ultimately prove vulnerable to stronger stayers.

11/1

1st

2

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:42 Ludlow

Barton Snow

12st 6lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: J J O’Shea

Solid record in points, one he enhanced when winning by a distance at odds-on at Sheriff Hutton 17 days ago (3m, soft); unbeaten in hunter chases after completing a hat-trick between March and May of last year, at Stratford (twice; 2m5f/2m6f) and Cheltenham (2m); strong chance.

8/15

Form: 442/3/ D

Last run: 417 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Fair chaser/hurdler for Harry Whittington but six defeats in points include a remote third behind A Jet Of Our Own; blinkers replace cheekpieces after a lengthy absence; probably up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

1st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Franigane

11st 12lb

J: Mr George Edgedale

T: S Loxton

33-1 into 18-1, flattered slightly by near-1l margin behind an idling Barton Snow in this race last year (good), but that was still a mighty run after 418 days out; absent again since, but his comparatively moderate RPRs around sharpish tracks probably concerns more.

4/1

2nd

5

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 5

16:35 Cheltenham

Franigane

11st 12lb

J: Mr George Edgedale

T: Harry Whittington

Fair chaser/hurdler for Harry Whittington but six defeats in points include a remote third behind A Jet Of Our Own; blinkers replace cheekpieces after a lengthy absence; probably up against it.

13/2

Form: 1P25- CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner in points; coped fine with the drop in trip when a narrow winner of this last year and returns on the back of an excellent fifth in the hunter chase at Aintree's National meeting (only weakened on the run-in); may ideally wants the ground a little softer but solid chance otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

A Jet Of Our Own

12st 0lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Mrs N Sheppard

Very hard to fancy judged on this year's hunter chase form but he took a big step forward when fifth of 29 at 125-1 in this race last April (good to soft) and is not ruled out each-way back over these obstacles.

40/1

3rd

2

6th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

17:03 Leicester

A Jet Of Our Own

12st 2lb

J: Mr Milo Herbert

T: Mrs N Sheppard

Showed useful form in hunter chases last spring, notably when finishing fifth over the big fences at Aintree (2m5f, good to soft); returned from break with a win at Larkhill in November, but has since been pulled up at Taunton and was tailed off behind Snipe at Hereford latest, which leaves him with a bit to prove.

11/4

3rd

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

A Jet Of Our Own

12st 2lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Mrs N Sheppard

In good form in hunter chases last spring, notably when finishing fifth over the big fences at Aintree (2m5f, good to soft); returned from break with a win at Larkhill (good) in November but he's been pulled up in a Taunton hunter chase since; a likely type to bounce back but faces a tough task at the weights.

11/2

Form: 22/33-

Last run: 173 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner (heavy/good) for Gary Moore and later competitive in handicap company for Adam West, for whom he signed off with a remote third on chase debut at Sandown (1m7f handicap); only a 6yo and could retain some potential in this discipline, though needs improvement on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

17:25 Stratford

Kansas Du Berlais

11st 10lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

Made the frame (albeit safely held) in two good-quality hunter chases (2m/2m1f) last May and dug deep to beat useful rival in small-field open point at Charing (3m, good to soft; subsequently disqualified) in January; turned over at short odds in latest point but still enters calculations.

11/1

3rd

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Kansas Du Berlais

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

Should have stamina to spare as a dual Fontwell winner at up to 2m3f; fared okay deep into this month's Cheltenham stable debut (2m) but still beaten over 15l, and have to hope that run was simply needed.

12/1

3rd

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Kansas Du Berlais

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

Should have stamina to spare as a dual Fontwell winner at up to 2m3f; fared okay deep into this month's Cheltenham stable debut (2m) but still beaten over 15l, and have to hope that run was simply needed.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 53334-

Last run: 120 days

W: 12st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Placed in the 2022 and 2023 renewals of this race and ran well on occasions in handicaps last year for Gary Hanmer; has changed trainers again but clearly won't be fazed by the demands of this assignment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 5

16:35 Cheltenham

Envious Editor

12st 1lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: Mrs Rhiannon Lodge

prominent, pressed leaders briefly 2nd, weakened after 2 out

14/1

5th

3

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 5

16:35 Cheltenham

Envious Editor

12st 1lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: Mrs Rhiannon Lodge

Placed in the 2022 and 2023 renewals of this race and ran well on occasions in handicaps last year for Gary Hanmer; has changed trainers again but clearly won't be fazed by the demands of this assignment.

14/1

4th

2

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:25 Huntingdon

Envious Editor

11st 10lb

J: James Davies

T: Gary Hanmer

3-17 over fences under rules (6-11 in points); 0-7 in handicap chases for new stable but he is edging down the weights and most of that form gives him a big shout.

9/2

Form: 344PP- D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Beaten 20l by A Jet Of Our Own in this last year and was probably in better form back then; opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

1st May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

18:50 Warwick

Missed Tee

11st 8lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Miss V Collins

Third and sixth in the last two renewals of the 2m race on this card, and still appeals more over shorter despite a win over the full 3m trip at Chaddesley Corbett last May; 0-14 over rules fences.

12/1

4th

5

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Missed Tee

11st 5lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Miss V Collins

0-13 over regulation fences and she needs to improve on her recent seconds in hunter chases at Stratford and here.

13/2

2nd

9

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Missed Tee

11st 5lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Miss V Collins

Third in this race in 2024 and she easily won a ladies open at Chaddesley Corbett (3m, good) in May; had wind surgery (her third) before an encouraging second in novice hunter chase at Stratford (2m5f, soft) despite having the door slammed in her face on the home turn ten days ago; should go well again.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has won points on good and quicker ground but this is his debut over regulation fences and he ideally wants further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

19:50 Stratford

Bobbarelli

11st 4lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

A dual winning pointer, he was runner-up twice over hurdles this year but disappointed when beaten 20l over fences at Bangor (2m4f, good) last Saturday; drops back in trip and may be worth another chance.

7/2

3rd

6

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

14:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Bobbarelli

11st 2lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

A dual winning pointer, his only outing over fences came when pulling up in a hunter chase at Cheltenham in May 2025; a runner-up over hurdles at Warwick and Taunton this year, he should run well.

13/2

2nd

4

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

18:00 Taunton

Bobbarelli

11st 6lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

9yo who was 2-12 in points (the wins coming over 2m4f on good/good to firm); weakened on February's belated hurdling debut (soft) and couldn't convert what turned into a golden opportunity at Warwick (2m5f, good) four weeks ago; handicap debut and may yet do better in this sphere.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £19.75

Selections

The Times:

Barton Snow

SPOTLIGHT:

A Jet Of Our Own

WEST COUNTRY:

Kansas Du Berlais

D Express:

Kansas Du Berlais

RP RATINGS:

A Jet Of Our Own

TOPSPEED:

A Jet Of Our Own

POSTDATA:

A Jet Of Our Own

Telegraph:

Barton Snow

The Guardian:

Barton Snow

Daily Mail:

Barton Snow

Daily Mirror:

Barton Snow

The Sun:

Barton Snow

The Star:

Barton Snow

Daily Record:

Barton Snow