February 02 / 16.10 Wincanton

16.10

Good To Soft

Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £2053.2
  • 3m 1f 30y
  • Class 6
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Stewart Tory Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80

Form: O3/1-P D

Last run: 279 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Won on hunter chase debut at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last March and flopped at Cheltenham next time; back on track with two easy point wins since, most recently on New Year's Day, and this 8yo could be a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Famous Clermont

12st 0lb

J: Mr Milo Herbert

T: C R Barber

Won this in 2023 (good to soft) and bagged further hunter chase wins in the same Stratford race in May 2024 and 2025 (2m6f, good); won a point last month and he's better than he showed when tailed off in this last April, but this 11yo probably isn't as good as he once was and others are preferred.

25/1

1st

1

30th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 3

18:25 Stratford

Famous Clermont

11st 13lb

J: Mrs Izzie Hill

T: C R Barber

Among the very best hunter chasers in his prime, with career highlight a success over the big Aintree fences in April 2023; beat Imperial Esprit to win this race under Izzie Hill in 2024 and has collected three point wins this year but last month's Aintree run was very disappointing and he may not be as good as he was; sports first-time cheekpieces.

10/11

1st

1

30th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 3

18:25 Stratford

Famous Clermont

11st 13lb

J: Mrs Izzie Hill

T: C R Barber

Among the very best hunter chasers in his prime, with career highlight a success over the big Aintree fences in April 2023; beat Imperial Esprit to win this race under Izzie Hill in 2024 and has collected three point wins this year but last month's Aintree run was very disappointing and he may not be as good as he was; sports first-time cheekpieces.

10/11

Form: U/21-5 D

Last run: 279 days

W: 12st 2lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
This 13yo isn't the force of old but he won a hunter chase at Fontwell (3m2f, soft) last February and landed two point-to-points at the end of last year (3m, good/good to soft); holds leading claims here.
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

18:35 Stratford

Shantou Flyer

11st 13lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

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

16:10 Cheltenham

Shantou Flyer

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

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

15:30 Taunton

Shantou Flyer

12st 6lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: S Loxton

raced in second, pressed leader from 3rd

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: 3240-4 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Useful in his prime but he was below par last year on his final two runs for Nicky Henderson and this 12yo was soundly beaten on last month's stable debut in a hunter chase at Taunton; others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

5th May 2023

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:45 Cheltenham

Another Venture

11st 12lb

J: Mr George Daly

T: Miss E McGarty-Jones

prominent, weakened after 22nd, hit 23rd, pulled up before 3 out

25/1

3rd

3

2nd Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 6

16:10 Wincanton

Another Venture

11st 12lb

J: Mr George Daly

T: Miss E McGarty-Jones

led, pushed along after 4 out, ridden when mistake and headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out

20/1

4th

6

9th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Another Venture

11st 12lb

J: Mr George Daly

T: Miss E McGarty-Jones

Ex-Nicky Henderson; third in a Cheltenham handicap in November 2021 (3m1f, good) before finishing second in a hunter chase at Ludlow; in the reckoning if hitting the ground running for new yard.

10/1

Form: 3P4-25 C

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 12lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
13yo front-runner who isn't as good as he used to be but he's posted creditable performances in Class 3 handicaps on his two starts this season (including C&D on good to soft) and he's one to consider now in a hunter chase.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

9th Jul 2023

Good

3m 3f 123y

Class 4

17:50 Market Rasen

Step Back

11st 5lb

J: Miss Lily Bradstock

T: Mark Bradstock

Front-runner who stays well; thrown in today if judged even on the form shown on his first two starts last season (one on good); however, easily his best show in hunter chases since came when second at Carlisle in March (3m, heavy) and such a poor show at Cartmel last time has to be a major concern.

10/1

7th

7

31st May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:20 Cartmel

Step Back

12st 0lb

J: Miss Lily Bradstock

T: Mark Bradstock

Best hunter chase run when creditable second at Carlisle in March (3m, heavy); well beaten in the Aintree Foxhunters next time; each-way chance.

4/1

12

5th May 2023

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:45 Cheltenham

Step Back

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lily Bradstock

T: Mark Bradstock

Won Sandown's big end-of-season finale in 2018 and took two further handicaps in 2020; nearly won a hunter chase at Carlisle in March but a weaker one than this, and he's always been a more potent force going right-handed.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.90
Straight Forecast £3.94
Trifecta £10.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Famous Clermont

RP Ratings:

Shantou Flyer

TOPSPEED:

Another Venture

Daily Mail:

Step Back

The Times:

Famous Clermont

Telegraph:

Famous Clermont

The Guardian:

Famous Clermont

D Express:

Famous Clermont

The Sun:

Famous Clermont

The Star:

Famous Clermont

Daily Record:

Famous Clermont

POSTDATA:

Shantou Flyer

WEST COUNTRY:

Shantou Flyer

Daily Mirror:

Shantou Flyer