February 09 / 13.20 Bangor-on-Dee

13.20

Soft

John Hewitt Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £3725.25
  • 3m 0f 30y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
John Hewitt Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: U7F1P-

Last run: 287 days

W: 12st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Posted an RPR of 140 over fences in Ireland only two years ago and 134 in winning a Cork hunter chase last April; competitive in Irish points this winter and should go well on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: /121-4 D

Last run: 58 days

W: 12st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Last spring he won a point and two soft-ground hunter chases; returned to Dan Skelton prior to finishing a close fourth in a handicap at Leicester (2m4f, heavy); looks sure to be involved in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

15th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:05 Fakenham

Firak

12st 6lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Hampered but not unlucky when second dropped back to 2m at Leicester latest (soft); work to do with Rebel Dawn Rising and Janika on last Easter's C&D clash, and Hexham win afterwards might not be infallible proof of his effectiveness at 3m under rules (tired and just held on in slowly run race).

4/1

2nd

2

8th Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

16:50 Leicester

Firak

12st 6lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Won three times for Nick Pearce last spring, including when value for more than the winning margin at Hexham (3m, soft; 5-2; first-time cheekpieces); yet to fire since returning to Dan Skelton, pulling up in the Walrus at Haydock (2m6f, heavy) three weeks ago; questions to answer, especially at 2m.

9/2

2

17th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Haydock

Firak

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Won two hunter chases last spring (2m4f/3m, soft) and returned from some time off with fair fourth of five in Leicester handicap (2m4f, heavy) in December; could show the benefit of that outing today; possible contender.

13/2

Form: P-2424 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a 3m2f heavy-ground handicap chase at Kelso but was beaten a distance at Warwick on his return to hunter chases; that wasn't a bad race and he's entitled to have some say here.
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: 4P14-P D

Last run: 45 days

W: 12st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Had some problems since looking so promising earlier in career; won a 2m4f Kempton handicap last season before finishing a remote fourth in the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival; however, he ran a laboured race on hunter chase debut after 286 days away and that leaves him with questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

27th Oct 2024

Good

3m 2f 162y

Class 3

15:15 Wincanton

Lieutenant Rocco

10st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

pressed leader, led before 12th, pressed leader when headed 15th, not fluent 17th, outpaced before 3 out, weakened after 2 out

14/1

13

11th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Lieutenant Rocco

12st 0lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: Syd Hosie

Looked as though he might develop into a smart handicapper a few seasons back only for injury to intervene; won a Kempton handicap (2m4f, good; has won on heavy) 14 months ago but holding his form has been a challenge and he was well beaten by Espoir De Guye last time.

25/1

13

11th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Lieutenant Rocco

12st 0lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: Syd Hosie

Looked as though he might develop into a smart handicapper a few seasons back only for injury to intervene; won a Kempton handicap (2m4f, good; has won on heavy) 14 months ago but holding his form has been a challenge and he was well beaten by Espoir De Guye last time.

25/1

Form: F/878-

Last run: 287 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Running well when final-fence faller in hunter chase at Ludlow (3m, soft) in January 2022 on rules debut; had a year off after that and has been well beaten in three hurdles since returning; not the easiest to assess right now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:13 Exeter

Havent Time

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Miss S McQueen

No threat to easy winner when second at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last month but that was still a pretty good effort and he'll probably be better suited by the less testing ground here; a possible.

14/1

2nd

2

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:00 Taunton

Havent Time

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Miss S McQueen

Won hunter chase at Southwell (3m, soft) in March 2024 and runner-up in this race last February (good to soft); this 12yo was no match for Golden Son when fourth at Warwick (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; could improve for that reappearance outing but others still make greater appeal.

33/1

Form: /PP-U5 D

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been in the best of form and was always last in a steadily run hunter chase at Ludlow on Wednesday.
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: PU-P3P D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
A declining force last year and he was pulled up at Warwick when Just Don't Know finished fourth.
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

Form: 59/P-5

Last run: 256 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Poor form in two previous runs over regulation fences; has been competitive in his recent points but may struggle here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

17:37 Ludlow

The Creadan Rogue

11st 12lb

J: Mr Tommie M O’Brien

T: Patricia Rigby

Six-time point winner, most recently last May; folded tamely 11 days ago when back from a layoff; holds weak claims on rules form, as ratings reflect.

25/1

5th

4

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

17:10 Leicester

The Creadan Rogue

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Miss Hannah Roach

Won five of 13 points, latest on soft in November; had an off day next time and although faring better when third to a classy one in an open last month, his yard has a much more obvious chance with Iskandar Pecos but this 9yo may be best of the rest.

5/1

Verdict

Still only a 10yo, the ex-Irish DINNY LACEY has some back-class and he’s been mixing it with respected opposition in this winter’s points. Regarding the most likely dangers, Firak has a little less to prove than Lieutentant Rocco.[Alistair Jones]