16.19
SoftPointing Pointers Dick Saunders Novices’ Hunters’ Chase
- Prize money: £2980.2
- 2m 6f 151y
- Class 5
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Hunter Chase
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
4/5
Form: 62/2/1 D
Last run: 14 days
W: 12st 4lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
22nd Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 171y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Won races for Paul Nicholls and Will Biddick and his last success was in a hunter chase at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy) last January; that form puts him in the picture and he made a respectable stable debut when third at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month; possibilities. |
7/2 |
|
3rd 9 |
17th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 54y Class 5 |
12st 2lb |
Put poor reappearance run behind him when signing off for Paul Nicholls with fair third in Wincanton hunter chase (2m4f, good to soft; behind Gateau De Miel) last month; will be fine over this longer trip and has each-way claims if in similar form for new yard; cheekpieces removed after one use. |
10/1 |
5/1
Form: P1P/4-
Last run: 460 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Three wins from five starts over hurdles and he made it 2-2 in points when making all at Larkhill (3m) on his comeback in December; had tough task in Grade 2 on only previous run over regulation fences and he's respected on this hunter chase debut; his three rules wins have been on good to soft/soft. |
5/1 |
100/1
Form: P
Last run: 262 days
W: 12st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won a four-runner point (3m, good to firm) in May 2022 but he's struggled since and was pulled up in a Cartmel hunter chase (2m5f) on rules debut last May; can only be watched on his return. |
100/1 |
|
4 |
27th May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 5f 34y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won a four-runner point in May 2022 (3m, good to firm); well beaten recently and others look stronger. |
20/1 |
|
4 |
27th May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 5f 34y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won a four-runner point in May 2022 (3m, good to firm); well beaten recently and others look stronger. |
20/1 |
11/2
Form: 53 BF
Last run: 24 days
W: 12st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
30th May 2025 Good 3m 3f 119y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Became first horse since Brunico (1992-3) to win successive renewals of the prestigious Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett latest (3m2f, good; Red Delta over 6l third); beaten favourite in all three hunter chases, mistakes seeming more the issue than the soft ground each time. |
9/2 |
|
6 |
30th May 2025 Good 3m 3f 119y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Became first horse since Brunico (1992-3) to win successive renewals of the prestigious Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett latest (3m2f, good; Red Delta over 6l third); beaten favourite in all three hunter chases, mistakes seeming more the issue than the soft ground each time. |
9/2 |
|
4 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
7yo with a record of 5-8 in points; turned over as favourite in his two runs in hunter chases but he was only beaten 2l in a good race at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last month, when a mistake at the third-last fence didn't help; that form puts him firmly in the picture and he still has potential. |
11/2 |
6/1
Form: 45427-
Last run: 327 days
W: 12st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Beaten 6l by Golden Son at Warwick in January and his subsequent wins (in the new cheekpieces) were races he was entitled to win at odds-on; lacks Cheltenham experience; opposable. |
66/1 |
|
1st 1 |
24th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 25y Class 5 |
12st 4lb |
Took well to first-time cheekpieces in similar event (2m6f, heavy) at the last Leicester fixture, opening his chase account; solid effort on penultimate start; commands respect in the retained headgear. |
2/1 |
|
1st 6 |
12th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Maiden hurdle and two-time point winner (including on heavy ground) who was runner-up in a hunter chase at Warwick (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; that performance reads well in today's context and he's a key player in first-time cheekpieces. |
11/10 |
14/1
Form: 3-
Last run: 650 days
W: 12st 0lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Dual hunter chase winner but tends to struggle on the bigger stage; remote third on sole visit here (2023) and pulled up in 2025 Aintree Foxhunters'. |
80/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
24th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 6f 151y Class 3 |
12st 4lb |
Lightly raced 11yo who resumed his progress in similar event at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy) on seasonal debut, taking chase record to 2-5; successful on this card last year (2m4f, heavy) and warrants respect. |
9/4 |
|
1st 4 |
29th Jan 2026 Heavy 3m 1f 30y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won a small-field Leicester maiden hunter chase last February (2m4f, heavy) before pulling up over the big fences at Aintree; looks vulnerable, especially over this far. |
12/1 |
25/1
Form: 8P/F8/
Last run: 993 days
W: 12st 0lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Ten-time point winner but he's been disappointing in last two runs in that sphere including a pulled-up effort last month; has something to prove again back over regulation fences and he's 1-18 under rules; change of headgear. |
25/1 |
16/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 3m 4f 97y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Stays thoroughly, having won the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen (3m4f) on Boxing Day and performed well in the Eider at Newcastle (4m1f) in February; perhaps his heavy defeat over 3m on latest start can therefore be forgiven, particularly as he was hampered early on; considered back at 3m4f. |
14/1 |
|
11th 2 |
22nd Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 110y Class 2 |
11st 12lb |
Stays thoroughly, having won the Lincolnshire National (3m3f) on Boxing Day and performed well in the Eider (4m1f) last time; not crying out for this drop back to 3m. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 9 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 4m 1f 56y Class 2 |
10st 2lb |
3-10 in points; seven-race career under rules includes two handicap wins this season and there have been two notable performances over 3m3f/3m4f, including his win in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen (good to soft) on Boxing Day last time; 11lb higher this time (including 3lb out of the handicap) but he's a strong candidate for this trip. |
12/1 |
25/1
Form: 2U6P5- D
Last run: 293 days
W: 12st 0lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Lightly raced 12yo; point winner who has plenty of useful form under rules but he's failed to complete in three of his last five starts and is now 0-10 over regulation fences; passed over. |
25/1 |
100/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 |
25th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 4f 25y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
0-5 in points; placed in 16-runner Larkhill maiden (3m, good to soft) in December 2023 but, following a long absence, was pulled up (albeit in stronger race than this) on recent hunter chase debut here (2m6f, soft). |
20/1 |
|
10 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
11st 7lb |
0-5 in points in 2023 including two pulled-up efforts; now switches to rules after a long absence and can only be watched. |
100/1 |
Selections
The Star:
Mr Glass