February 28 / 16.00 Leicester

16.00

Good To Firm

Pytchley Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £7699.5
  • 2m 6f 151y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
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Pytchley Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75

Form: 0P-PPU

Last run: 10 days

W: 12st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Smart at 2m4f for Tom George (wins came on soft/good to soft) but hard to assess on three runs in better races than this in 2022, when well held and pulled up twice; has failed to complete in two hunter chases for new yard, unseating too far out on latest start to see what stage he's at.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:35 Leicester

Espoir De Teillee

12st 4lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: B F Brookhouse

Two soft-ground wins earlier in career but minor form on that surface now and unraced on heavy, while his front-running win over three rivals in this race last year came on good ground; can be involved if he does cope with the surface.

9/2

3rd

1

31st May 2023

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

16:30 Newton Abbot

Espoir De Teillee

12st 8lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: B F Brookhouse

jumped right throughout, raced in second, not fluent 3rd, mistake 4th, not fluent 10th, dropped to last 4 out, weakened after 3 out

4/7

1st

1

24th Apr 2023

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

20:55 Kempton

Espoir De Teillee

12st 6lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: B F Brookhouse

Useful in the past; opened his hunter chase account at Leicester (2m6f, good) in February and subsequent odds-on defeat is better than it looked on the day (winner franked the form next time); respected.

5/4

Form: 1P5-PP D

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
His second in C&D novice hunter chase two years ago was the start of something big as he went on to win the Foxhunters' at Aintree; was only fifth in that race last year but had useful form at the start of 2022; unraced on good to firm; looks the one to beat after recent spreadeagling point win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

4

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Cousin Pascal

12st 0lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: J J O’Shea

Won this in 2021 and bang there until two out in repeat bid last year (not helped by blunder five out); two wins this season but gives impression he's not as good as he was; still expected to be up there for a long way.

25/1

2nd

1

28th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:00 Leicester

Cousin Pascal

12st 4lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: J J O’Shea

His second in C&D novice hunter chase two years ago was the start of something big as he went on to win the Foxhunters' at Aintree; was only fifth in that race last year but had useful form at the start of 2022; unraced on good to firm; looks the one to beat after recent spreadeagling point win.

1/3

1

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:10 Hereford

Cousin Pascal

12st 6lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: J J O’Shea

Raced in points this winter, winning at Chaddesley Corbett then disappointing favourite at Larkhill; useful hunter chaser on his day, notably winning the 2021 Foxhunters' at Aintree; close second in this race last year and again looks one of the main contenders.

12/1

Form: 567-53 D

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Four chase wins on testing ground in France earlier in career but has had some heavy defeats in hunter chases in Britain, including when a remote third of four at Fontwell on Sunday; looks unlikely if turning out again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Dalahast

11st 12lb

J: Mr Bradley Gibbs

T: Andrew Leyshon

prominent, struggling and lost position before 7th, weakened after 10th, pulled up before 13th

66/1

7

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Dalahast

11st 12lb

J: Mr Bradley Gibbs

T: Andrew Leyshon

Regressive 11yo who was well beaten when fourth in pair of 2m4f Ludlow hunter chases this spring; needs first-time visor to make a massive difference here.

66/1

4th

4

2nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:30 Ludlow

Dalahast

11st 12lb

J: Mr James King

T: Andrew Leyshon

A regressive 11yo without a performance of note for a good while now; very opposable.

40/1

Form: 55P/P-

Last run: 393 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Triple chase winner in his time but was out of sorts in three points and a hunter chase since returning from an absence last winter; best watched back from more time off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

28th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:00 Leicester

Too Many Diamonds

11st 12lb

J: Miss Ella Herbison

T: Anthony Ward-Thomas

Triple chase winner in his time but was out of sorts in three points and a hunter chase since returning from an absence last winter; best watched back from more time off.

50/1

OUR TIP

Form: 31-156

Last run: 7 days

W: 12st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Very useful hunter chaser on good ground at up to 3m last spring before outstayed over 3m3f in the big Stratford race; not unusual for him to need the run on return from a break but he was well seen off at Taunton only last week so there are doubts on this quick return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Solomon Grey

11st 12lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: Miss V Collins

pressed leader, prominent from 2nd, lost position after 7th, outpaced from 3 out

40/1

7th

10

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Solomon Grey

11st 12lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: Miss V Collins

pressed leader, prominent from 2nd, lost position after 7th, outpaced from 3 out

40/1

4th

5

13th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

16:28 Stratford

Solomon Grey

11st 10lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: Miss V Collins

prominent, briefly led 5th, lost position 10th

33/1

Non-runners

Solomon Grey

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.50
Straight Forecast £3.57
Trifecta £5.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cousin Pascal

Telegraph:

Espoir De Teillee

The Guardian:

Solomon Grey

D Express:

Espoir De Teillee

RP Ratings:

Cousin Pascal

POSTDATA:

Cousin Pascal

The Times:

Cousin Pascal

Daily Mail:

Cousin Pascal

Daily Mirror:

Cousin Pascal

The Sun:

Cousin Pascal

The Star:

Cousin Pascal

Daily Record:

Cousin Pascal