May 06 / 17.02 Kelso

17.02

Good

Aidan & Margaret McDonnell’s Golden Anniversary Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £3387.78
  • 2m 7f 96y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Aidan & Margaret McDonnell’s Golden Anniversary Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £3.40

Form: 2P523-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
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.
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

17:02 Kelso

Settle Down Jill

11st 5lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Norman Sanderson

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

17:00 Hexham

Settle Down Jill

11st 5lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: Norman Sanderson

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

17:35 Carlisle

Settle Down Jill

11st 5lb

J: Mr Sam Burton

T: Norman Sanderson

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

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2/

Last run: 394 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Five-time point winner, latest at Overton last month (3m, good); creditable second in maiden hunter chase over C&D last April only previous rules run; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Eagles Rock

11st 12lb

J: Mr John Dawson

T: M Cregan

Five-time point winner, latest at Overton last month (3m, good); creditable second in maiden hunter chase over C&D last April only previous rules run; interesting.

4/1

Form: 1/P- D

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 10yo; won the Heart Of All England (maiden hunter chase) at Hexham last May (3m, good); pulled up over same C&D last month on only run since; bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Dressedtoimpress

12st 0lb

J: Mr Nick Orpwood

T: Miss Joanne Murphy

Lightly raced 10yo; won the Heart Of All England (maiden hunter chase) at Hexham last May (3m, good); pulled up over same C&D last month on only run since; bit to prove.

25/1

2

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Dressedtoimpress

11st 12lb

J: Mr Nick Orpwood

T: Miss Joanne Murphy

Very lightly raced 10yo who won the Heart Of All England Maiden Hunters' Chase over C&D (good) in May 2024; however, others have stronger form and this is his first outing since.

33/1

1st

3

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

17:10 Hexham

Dressedtoimpress

12st 0lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Miss Joanne Murphy

in touch with leaders

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 63/1P- CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won a similar event at Catterick in good style in March (3m1f, good) but pulled up at Hexham last time; needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Brandy McQueen

12st 6lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Miss Lucy Brown

Won a similar event at Catterick in good style in March (3m1f, good) but pulled up at Hexham last time; needs to bounce back.

6/1

1

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Brandy McQueen

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Miss Lucy Brown

Quite useful in his prime and he won a point in February (3m, good to soft) before easily following up in a hunter chase at Catterick last month (3m1f, good; Lunar Contact second); strong claims.

5/2

1st

6

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

16:10 Catterick

Brandy McQueen

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Miss Lucy Brown

One-time quite useful staying hurdler/chaser who won a point on second start for present connections last month (3m, good to soft); this tougher, but a contender.

13/2

Form: 00/P3-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Maiden point winner in March (3m, soft), but a 20-race maiden under rules; last of two finishers at Pusk on latest point start; stiffer task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Royal Cave

11st 5lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Tom Fife

Maiden point winner in March (3m, soft), but a 20-race maiden under rules; last of two finishers at Pusk on latest point start; stiffer task here.

16/1

3rd

4

13th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:10 Fakenham

Royal Cave

11st 7lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Tom Fife

Out of form over hurdles/on the Flat in Ireland last year; caused 16-1 surprise in point at Hutton Rudby (3m, soft) last month, her third start for this stable, but was safely held on next outing; not easy to predict on chase debut.

5/1

18th

24

(26)

22nd Oct 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:32 Navan

Royal Cave

9st 10lb

J: Robbie Colgan

T: Chris Timmons

First reserve; 0-18 under both rules and recent Flat efforts leave her with plenty to find; soft ground does suit.

Form: 1231P- C

Last run: 37 days

W: 12st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won two 2m4f handicaps for Ben Pauling last year, the second a two-runner event at Warwick; bit to prove after being pulled up on hunter chase debut at Ludlow in March (2m4f, good), including stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Northern Bound

12st 6lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

Won two 2m4f handicaps for Ben Pauling last year, the second a two-runner event at Warwick; bit to prove after being pulled up on hunter chase debut at Ludlow in March (2m4f, good), including stamina.

13/2

2

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Northern Bound

12st 6lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

It was a match he won at Warwick in October (2m4f handicap, good) but that took his strike-rate to 9-30 over fences; remains in the same colours despite leaving Ben Pauling; should give his running on hunter chase debut.

100/30

1

1st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:05 Warwick

Northern Bound

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Strike-rate of 8-29 over fences and also runner-up in five of those; not as good as he was but still very capable off this mark; Bangor last time was a backward step, mind.

6/5

Form: 353/2-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Ex-Willie Mullins; smart novice hurdler, third in the 2022 Ballymore at Cheltenham; has won four of his last five points (all for today's rider), and was runner-up at Hexham on hunter chase debut last time (3m, good; Settle Down Jill third, Brandy McQueen and Dressedtoimpress both pulled up); the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Whatdeawant

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lisa O’Connor

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Ex-Willie Mullins; smart novice hurdler, third in the 2022 Ballymore at Cheltenham; has won four of his last five points (all for today's rider), and was runner-up at Hexham on hunter chase debut last time (3m, good; Settle Down Jill third, Brandy McQueen and Dressedtoimpress both pulled up); the one to beat.

11/10

2nd

7

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Whatdeawant

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lisa O’Connor

T: Lucinda Russell

Third in Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2022 for Willie Mullins; he's raced in points on his last seven starts, winning five of them; one to be interested in now back under rules.

9/4

3rd

3

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

13:35 Wetherby

Whatdeawant

11st 6lb

T: Lucinda Russell

held up in last, nudged along 13th, left in third 14th, lost touch from 15th, tailed off from 4 out

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.40
Straight Forecast £35.46
Trifecta £393.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Whatdeawant

TOPSPEED:

Settle Down Jill

Telegraph:

Northern Bound

Daily Mail:

Settle Down Jill

RP RATINGS:

Whatdeawant

POSTDATA:

Whatdeawant

The Times:

Whatdeawant

The Guardian:

Whatdeawant

D Express:

Whatdeawant

Daily Mirror:

Whatdeawant

The Star:

Whatdeawant

Daily Record:

Whatdeawant

The Sun:

Northern Bound