March 17 / 17.00 Fakenham

17.00

Good To Soft

Robert Hoare Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £2566.5
  • 3m 0f 38y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Robert Hoare Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.60

Form: P-PP1U

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Shrugged off mistakes for narrow success on his Hereford hunter chase debut (2m5f, soft), with Gaboriot and Zee Man well held; player again granted a clear round, though has last time's Haydock unseat to forgive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bennys King

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Inconsistency has crept into this 14yo's game but confidence should be buoyed by his win at Leicester in February and he loves it around here, having finished second in the last two editions of this race; probably vulnerable for win purposes but has place aspirations for sure; races prominently.

14/1

11th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bennys King

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Inconsistency has crept into this 14yo's game but confidence should be buoyed by his win at Leicester in February and he loves it around here, having finished second in the last two editions of this race; probably vulnerable for win purposes but has place aspirations for sure; races prominently.

14/1

1st

2

25th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:45 Leicester

Bennys King

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

14yo who is no longer the force of old and has become unreliable; that said, he won this race on heavy ground a year ago and proved he retains significant ability when keeping on gamely for second in refitted cheekpieces at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last month.

7/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 9P55-2 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Long time since he won, but C&D record of 121 includes victory in this race four years ago (good to soft); had a misfiring Gaboriot well behind when a respectable second to Secret Investor at Kelso last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

22

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Sir Jack Yeats

12st 0lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has completed all five C&D attempts (two in this race) but not as good as he was and well beaten by Bennys King at Fakenham last month.

50/1

2nd

8

17th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:00 Fakenham

Sir Jack Yeats

11st 12lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

prominent

9/1

2nd

5

17th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

16:35 Kelso

Sir Jack Yeats

11st 12lb

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

took keen hold, raced in second

25/1

Form: 321-73 CD

Last run: 294 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Beaten favourite on last month's first outing since May, but has never won after more than seven weeks' absence; can do better, though not foot-perfect when 4l second to Not That Fuisse in this last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

16:48 Newton Abbot

Peacocks Secret

12st 0lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: G Chambers

Competitive in this year's four points (on good or faster ground) but a 13yo now and may struggle to cope with the best of these.

14/1

6

28th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

16:48 Newton Abbot

Peacocks Secret

12st 0lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: G Chambers

Competitive in this year's four points (on good or faster ground) but a 13yo now and may struggle to cope with the best of these.

14/1

3

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

15:50 Market Rasen

Peacocks Secret

11st 13lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Better known as a hunter chaser/pointer these days but this 12yo ran a pleasing first race for this yard when third over 2m4f at Bangor, behind one who has since followed up; hard to discount.

10/1

Form: /69-63 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Accounted for Kimberlite Candy in a Ffos Las point in November and has outrun his official rating twice in hunter chases of late, including this week; miles behind Bennys King and Gaboriot two starts back, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

30th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:45 Warwick

Zee Man

11st 12lb

J: Mr James King

T: F A Hutsby

took keen hold, prominent, led after 4 out, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakening when mistake last

6/1

Form: 8/1-P4

Last run: 294 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Unseen since well held in the John Corbet Cup last May (lost two shoes), and although twice successful after absences of over 250 days he's never won under anyone other than Dale Peters (five times).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Rebel Dawn Rising

12st 9lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: David Kemp

As good as ever when winning the same Cheltenham contest (over essentially today's trip) for the second straight year four weeks ago; now 7lb higher than for last season's 1l defeat in this race, but without the effects of a slog on soft ground to have to shrug off.

11/8

1st

1

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Rebel Dawn Rising

12st 9lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: David Kemp

As good as ever when winning the same Cheltenham contest (over essentially today's trip) for the second straight year four weeks ago; now 7lb higher than for last season's 1l defeat in this race, but without the effects of a slog on soft ground to have to shrug off.

11/8

1st

4

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Rebel Dawn Rising

12st 4lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: David Kemp

prominent, led before 2 out, faced challenge approaching last, kept on well final 110yds

6/1

Form: 27-P34

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Very useful sub-3m performer in France; respectable 20l third to Bennys King on his British debut in January, but blowout at Kelso since (albeit on his first experience of officially good ground) needs forgiving.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Gaboriot

12st 0lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Pulled up in the Becher here in December and his two subsequent hunter chase runs have yielded an early fall and disappointing defeat; twice placed over these fences, however, most recently in the Grand Sefton over C&D in November, and could have an each-way shout if back on song in change of headgear.

25/1

3rd

2

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Gaboriot

12st 6lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Pulled up in the Becher Chase at Aintree in December but finished a very good second in the Grand Sefton (2m5f, good to soft) the previous month; returned to hunter chasing with quite a spill at Catterick a fortnight ago but holds leading claims if that hasn't left a mark.

5/4

1

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

16:10 Catterick

Gaboriot

12st 6lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Pulled up in the Becher Chase at Aintree last time but had previously finished a very good second in the Grand Sefton (2m5f, good to soft); did well hunter chasing back in 2024 and the one to beat.

10/11

Form: /4P60/

Last run: 716 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Winless beyond an extended 2m3f under Rules; in the frame in several conditions events this pointing season, but lots more on here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:00 Fakenham

General Custard

11st 12lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: David Bingham

Winless beyond an extended 2m3f under Rules; in the frame in several conditions events this pointing season, but lots more on here.

66/1

Form: 234P-3

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Former mid-150s performer who fared well for a long way behind Secret Investor on recent return; still winless at 3m but almost nowhere is that trip more gettable than here; assistance of top rider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

17th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:00 Fakenham

Mister Whitaker

11st 12lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Donald McCain

always towards rear

3/1

3rd

4

10th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 5y

Class 4

13:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Mister Whitaker

11st 12lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: Donald McCain

Cheltenham Festival winner over fences for Mick Channon; his last success was over hurdles (2m6f) in November 2021 and he found things tough back over fences early last year but his latest run was in the Topham at Aintree; returns from 308 days off but he was won when fresh in the past and should have a future in hunter chases; respected.

9/2

Non-runners

General Custard

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.60
Straight Forecast £11.79
Trifecta £90.20

Selections

RP Ratings:

Bennys King

SPOTLIGHT:

Mister Whitaker

Telegraph:

Peacocks Secret

The Guardian:

Sir Jack Yeats

D Express:

Mister Whitaker

The Star:

Mister Whitaker

TOPSPEED:

Bennys King

POSTDATA:

Bennys King

The Times:

Bennys King

Daily Mail:

Bennys King

Daily Mirror:

Bennys King

The Sun:

Bennys King

Daily Record:

Bennys King