16.30
Good To SoftWalrus Open Hunters’ Chase
- Prize money: £7699.5
- 2m 6f 54y
- Class 3
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hunter Chase
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
5/4 (Won)
- Win: £4.00
- Place: £1.90
Form: 5-52P1 D
Last run: 37 days
W: 12st 4lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
1st May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
12st 4lb |
Bled from the nose when a fading fourth in the Aintree Foxhunters latest (2m5f, good to soft), though still had Fan De Blues comfortably behind for the second time this year; more prolific on easier surfaces but Taunton win in January reaffirmed he's effective on good as well. |
2/5 |
|
4th 22 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Won the Grand Annual at Cheltenham Festival in March 2024 (2m, soft) and runner-up in it last year (good to soft); comfortable wins in hunter chases on last two starts (2m5f/2m6f, good/good to soft); his stamina will be more severely tested in today's hotter company but leading claims if seeing it out. |
4/1 |
|
1st 2 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 6f 54y Class 3 |
12st 4lb |
Useful handicapper who won the Grand Annual Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival (2m, soft) and was second in that race last year (good to soft); did not need to be at best to make winning hunter chase debut at Taunton (2m5f, good; main rival disappointed) last month and ought to remain a potent threat at this level. |
5/4 |
7/1
- Place: £2.00
Form: F1-443
Last run: 30 days
W: 12st 1lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 20 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Good efforts in defeat behind Java Point (3m, good to soft) and Unexposed Party (2m6f, good to soft) this year and ran well for a long way before fading at last month's Cheltenham Festival (3m2f); could have an each-way shout at big odds now back down in trip; reapplied cheekpieces replace hood. |
40/1 |
|
8th 19 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
125-1 for this last year but was still travelling within himself when falling three out; returns on the back of a positive performance at Haydock when just ahead of Shearer; hood returns; he's no forlorn hope by any means. |
50/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 6f 54y Class 3 |
12st 1lb |
Ran well when fifth in this race a year ago (good to soft) and has some notable form since, including fourth of 16 in amateur riders' handicap at Cheltenham (3m1f, heavy) in November and third in recent Ludlow hunter chase (3m, good to soft); can make his presence felt. |
7/1 |
9/4
Form: 1/115- D
Last run: 337 days
W: 12st 4lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 135
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Relinquished an unbeaten record over regulation fences when fifth in this race last year, though he did well to be only 13l off Wonderwall given that he was in the firing line throughout; it's best not to read too much into a recent odds-on defeat behind past Festival hero Unexpected Party at Haydock (2m6f) as that was probably needed after 11 months off; has no ground preferences; can run well. |
20/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 6f 54y Class 3 |
12st 4lb |
Useful hurdler/chaser who launched hunter chase career with two wins in this month last year (2m5f/2m7f) before a creditable fifth at the Cheltenham Festival (3m2f, good to soft); returns from 11-month absence but still commands respect. |
9/4 |
|
5th 18 |
14th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Unbeaten over regulation fences, having won two handicaps at about 3m in 2023 and come back from a long absence to win hunter chases at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy) and Taunton (2m7f, good to soft); Haven't Time gave him something to think about last time and this demands more of him, probably a lot more; the cheekpieces he wore for those handicap wins are back on; Paul Nicholls has won this four times. |
10/1 |
6/1
Form: 323P3-
Last run: 350 days
W: 11st 12lb
13 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 6f 54y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Six-time chase winner; long in the tooth now but was placed in Newbury veterans' chase (3m2f, soft) on latest outing last March and has a good record when fresh; shortlised on hunter chase debut. |
6/1 |
25/1
Form: 12532P
Last run: 55 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 7 |
6th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 96y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Hurdle winner for Dan Skelton; placed on his last two runs in hunter chases, last time finishing third at Hexham (3m, good) where Whatdeawant was 18l in front of her in second; each-way chance. |
8/1 |
|
3rd 8 |
13th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Won mares' novice hurdle for Dan Skelton last October and ran respectably in second in a hunter chase at Carlisle (2m5f, good to soft) last month on her second start for this yard; shaped last time as though this trip may be within range and she could be involved. |
10/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
8th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 4f 198y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Won mares' novice hurdle (2m3f, good) for Dan Skelton in October but didn't really fulfill her potential for that stable and struggled to get competitive (albeit in stronger race than this) on stable/hunter chase debut at Haydock three weeks ago. |
12/1 |
10/1
Form: /3210-
Last run: 337 days
W: 12st 1lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Jumping failed the test when he was tailed off in this last year, going off at 33-1, and his credentials are no more compelling this time around. |
150/1 |
|
3 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 6f 54y Class 3 |
12st 1lb |
Runner-up in Champion Hunters' Chase at Stratford (3m3f, good) in spring 2024 and won under rules at Warwick (3m, good to soft) in January last year; made satisfactory reappearance in open point last month and handles soft ground (unraced on heavy); no surprise if he features. |
10/1 |
|
13th 11 |
14th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Low-mileage 9yo; beat a talented hunter chaser when wearing the new cheekpieces at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last time; has appreciably more on his plate now and was a long way behind Fairly Famous here last May; the latter was not at his best when those placings were reversed at Stratford later in the month (both behind What A Glance); a minor role looks on the cards. |
40/1 |
Non-runners
Darraby
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £15.10 |
| Straight Forecast | £19.49 |
| Trifecta | £37.10 |
Selections
The Times:
Unexpected PartyTelegraph:
Unexpected PartyThe Guardian:
Unexpected PartyDaily Mirror:
Unexpected PartyDaily Record:
Unexpected Party