January 22 / 16.15 Warwick

16.15

Frozen

Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £2053.2
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 8 runners
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Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.80
  • Place: £1.70

Form: V24882 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Infuriatingly hard to predict for David Pipe but he's a thorough stayer who ran surprisingly well on his hunter chase debut at Taunton (2m5f, soft); if taking that form at face value he must have a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:13 Exeter

DJango

12st 2lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Miss V Collins

Teenager who has gone over two years since his latest win and has been out of form this season (three runs); revival needed.

50/1

5

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:18 Warwick

DJango

12st 2lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Miss V Collins

Won this race in 2024 (soft ground) but never really got going last season and was very disappointing favourite in a point last month, after a layoff; now a teenager and needs to prove he still has what it takes.

20/1

4/6

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 8-9223 C BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Stuck on a losing run but he's returned in good form after a break with placed efforts in 3m handicaps at good tracks, two of them Class 2 affairs; this looks a gilt-edged opening in his first hunter chase.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

8th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

15:35 Exeter

Tea Clipper

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Very useful handicapper on good ground but he's 1-17 over fences and fluffed some very winnable opportunities last season in hunter chases; ran okay in a C&D handicap last month but he's rarely the percentage call and now tries a visor.

8/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: P/856- C

Last run: 303 days

W: 12st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Very smart chaser for Venetia Williams but he's had a number of wind operations and was well beaten in two handicap chases last year for Paul Nicholls; remains in the same ownership and he's too talented to ignore now entering the hunter chase scene.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Espoir De Guye

12st 1lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Mrs N Sheppard

midfield, weakened after 12th, left in modest fourth before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out

6/1

2

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Espoir De Guye

12st 1lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Mrs N Sheppard

Struggled in Aintree Foxhunters' three weeks ago and is not one to rely upon heavily but his win at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) for Sam Loxton in February makes him of strong interest on this stable debut.

6/1

7

11th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Espoir De Guye

12st 0lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: S Loxton

Nothing like as good he was when at his peak for Venetia Williams and had luck on his side when beating last year's winner of this race at Wincanton in February (2m4f, soft); now has to bounce back from a shock defeat at Ludlow at the hands of Captain Tommy.

25/1

Form: 6P-242 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Should be vulnerable at these weights but at least he comes here on the back of a solid effort in defeat in a 3m2f heavy-ground handicap at Kelso; mostly consistent last season as well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

22nd Jan 2024

Frozen

3m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:15 Warwick

Just Dont Know

12st 6lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Paul Robson

Should be vulnerable at these weights but at least he comes here on the back of a solid effort in defeat in a 3m2f heavy-ground handicap at Kelso; mostly consistent last season as well.

10/1

2nd

1

29th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

15:32 Kelso

Just Dont Know

12st 0lb

J: Mr Callum Pritchard

T: Paul Robson

Scored over 2m7f on heavy ground here in January and was close/clear second on good ground over that trip here in May; made low-key reappearance here (2m5f) last month but might have needed that outing and will be better suited by today's longer trip; shortlisted.

9/2

Form: 55-4F0

Last run: 204 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Formerly useful when trained in Ireland but couldn't make any case on recent pointing exploits; blinkers replace regular cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

22nd Jan 2024

Frozen

3m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:15 Warwick

Russian Diamond

11st 12lb

J: Mr Paddy Hanlon

T: Francesca Poste

Formerly useful when trained in Ireland but couldn't make any case on recent pointing exploits; blinkers replace regular cheekpieces.

20/1

12th

6

2nd Jul 2023

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 2

15:12 Uttoxeter

Russian Diamond

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Irish challenger who does not look particularly solid judged on his form in points and hunter chases for current yard; faller last time; something to prove back at handicap level.

20/1

1

5th Jun 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:50 Listowel

Russian Diamond

11st 11lb

J: Mr T Hamilton

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Useful Rules performer ran two decent races off 133 in Galway festival handicap chases last summer; won just one of his seven point-to-point starts this year, at Ballyraggett in March, but his fourth to Billaway, with Vaucelet in second, at Downpatrick is good form and obviously less to do in this company.

7/2

Form: 41F87-

Last run: 296 days

W: 12st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Only a 6yo and he won three of his seven chase starts when trained in France; all his form is on testing ground and his final runs in France were disappointing; could still turn a corner for Tim Vaughan.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

16:15 Fakenham

Cybernetic

12st 6lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

held up in rear, headway 5th, pecked on landing 11th, not fluent 12th, mistake 14th, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before 4 out

25/1

0

1

22nd Jan 2024

Frozen

3m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:15 Warwick

Cybernetic

12st 6lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Only a 6yo and he won three of his seven chase starts when trained in France; all his form is on testing ground and his final runs in France were disappointing; could still turn a corner for Tim Vaughan.

12/1

Form: 23/PP- D

Last run: 359 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Won three handicap hurdles in 2020 and was placed over fences two seasons ago; slim pickings in the meantime and was well beaten in a point when last seen last April.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:30 Uttoxeter

Jobsonfire

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sam Allwood

raced in last, not fluent 4 out, some headway before 3 out, soon no impression

50/1

5th

7

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:30 Uttoxeter

Jobsonfire

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sam Allwood

raced in last, not fluent 4 out, some headway before 3 out, soon no impression

50/1

10

6th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

16:45 Catterick

Jobsonfire

11st 12lb

J: Mr Benjamin Abbott

T: Sam Allwood

Won three handicap hurdles in early 2020 and has shown similar form over fences; however, he's been lightly raced in recent seasons and was soundly beaten in a hunter chase at Ludlow last month; others are preferred.

66/1

Form: 4PU-P3 D

Last run: 234 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Placed in hunter chases (2m4f/2m) for David Brace in April 2022 but wasn't in the same form last year and looks vulnerable against the best of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Rewritetherules

11st 12lb

J: Mr David O’Brien

T: Fred Timmis

Struck for the first time since 2021 with two wide-margin point wins towards the end of 2024 but it's been a struggle since and first-time cheekpieces need to have a fairly dramatic effect.

14/1

3rd

6

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:42 Ludlow

Rewritetherules

11st 12lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Fred Timmis

Three wins over regulation fences and a multiple point scorer; however, beaten at odds of 2-5 in his penultimate point and was pulled up in the next.

66/1

9

8th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 5

14:45 Taunton

Rewritetherules

11st 12lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: Miss Hannah Roach

in touch with leaders, towards rear before 6th, struggling before 9th, no chance when fell 4 out

8/1

Non-runners

Myth Buster

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.00
Straight Forecast £15.07
Trifecta £48.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tea Clipper

TOPSPEED:

Espoir De Guye

The Star:

Cybernetic

Telegraph:

Just Don't Know

RP RATINGS:

Tea Clipper

POSTDATA:

Tea Clipper

The Times:

Tea Clipper

The Guardian:

Tea Clipper

Daily Mail:

Tea Clipper

D Express:

Tea Clipper

Daily Mirror:

Tea Clipper

The Sun:

Tea Clipper

Daily Record:

Tea Clipper

WEST COUNTRY:

Espoir De Guye