15.35
SoftWilloughby De Broke Open Hunters’ Chase
- Prize money: £2053.2
- 3m 0f 0y
- Class 6
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hunter Chase
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 21P5-P
Last run: 271 days
W: 12st 6lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 124
| 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 |
12st 0lb |
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 |
12st 4lb |
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 |
12st 6lb |
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 |
Abandoned
Form: 05-00P
Last run: 16 days
W: 12st 6lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
3rd May 2024 Good 4m 0f 97y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
always behind, never going well, lost touch 21st, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out |
25/1 |
|
10 |
3rd May 2024 Good 4m 0f 97y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Seeing out trips better since returned to points, in March almost adding a 3m6f High Easter conditions event to an earlier 3m Horseheath success (soft); 9l to find with Pym on their last-time clash, however. |
25/1 |
|
6 |
11th Feb 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
Smart hurdler/chaser in Ireland and he ran okay in last season's cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival; it's been a poor 12 months otherwise and pulling up in a recent hunter chase makes him very opposable back over hurdles. |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: U/21-5 D
Last run: 271 days
W: 12st 2lb
13 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
31st May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 6f 125y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Grand old stager who has run well at several Cheltenham Festivals; not as good as he was and beaten 20l in the big one this March, but he won this 12 months ago and defends on the back of two point wins. |
5/2 |
|
6th 10 |
15th Mar 2024 Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Festival regular having made the frame in the Ultima, a Kim Muir and three editions of this race (beaten 3l by Premier Magic 12 months ago); warmed up for another crack with his sixth point win 12 days ago; however, now a 14yo, his chance of getting his hands on the treasured trophy has surely passed. |
33/1 |
|
5th 5 |
8th Jan 2024 Soft 2m 5f 150y Class 5 |
12st 6lb |
raced in second, pressed leader from 3rd |
9/4 |
Abandoned
Form: F4/69-
Last run: 295 days
W: 12st 2lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 90
| 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 |
11st 12lb |
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 |
Abandoned
Form: /PP-PP
Last run: 53 days
W: 11st 12lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| 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 |
12st 0lb |
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 |
12st 0lb |
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 |
12st 4lb |
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 |
Abandoned
Form: /P634-
Last run: 284 days
W: 11st 12lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 5 |
3rd May 2024 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
It wasn't the first time that Premier Magic has had his number when tailed off in this 12 months ago and he suffered the same fate in his latest point. |
25/1 |
|
6th 5 |
3rd May 2024 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
It wasn't the first time that Premier Magic has had his number when tailed off in this 12 months ago and he suffered the same fate in his latest point. |
25/1 |
|
5th 5 |
5th May 2023 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
Quite a useful chaser for Alastair Ralph; has won his last two points but he was tailed off behind Premier Magic in December and looks up against it. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 5127-P
Last run: 270 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| 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 |
12st 0lb |
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 |
12st 6lb |
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 |
12st 6lb |
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 |
Abandoned
Form: 35-323
Last run: 196 days
W: 11st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 21 |
11th Apr 2024 Heavy 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
80-1 when a close fifth in this last year and that was after making a horlicks of The Chair; returns on the back of just about his best form yet when third at Cheltenham last month (soft; just over 5l behind Its On The Line), having been in the firing line throughout; the extended 3m2f ultimately found him out and he's a strong contender with stamina assured back at this trip. |
6/1 |
|
4th 21 |
11th Apr 2024 Heavy 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
80-1 when a close fifth in this last year and that was after making a horlicks of The Chair; returns on the back of just about his best form yet when third at Cheltenham last month (soft; just over 5l behind Its On The Line), having been in the firing line throughout; the extended 3m2f ultimately found him out and he's a strong contender with stamina assured back at this trip. |
6/1 |
|
3rd 11 |
15th Mar 2024 Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
By no means prolific in points (3-13) but he's 5-7 in hunter chases after taking a winnable race at Hereford in January (2m5f, good to soft); showed that he can mix it at this level of competition when not beaten far into fifth (staying on) in last season's hunter chase at Aintree (2m5f good to soft; made bad mistake at The Chair); perhaps relying on some of these being off their game if he's to win, but is no forlorn hope over a longer trip that he might need these days. |
25/1 |
Verdict
The ex-French Gaboriot needs a market watch and if Bennys King has anything left to offer, he’d better show it quickly. COUSIN PASCAL can throw in the occasional modest effort but he’s taken to beat Shantou Flyer.[Jonathan Neesom]