March 10 / 17.05 Leicester

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17.05

Good

Yeomanry Open Hunters’ Chase

Prize money: £2566.5
1m 7f 201y
Class 5
6 runners

RTV

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Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

Espoir De Teillee

J: Miss Fern O’Brien

T: B F Brookhouse

Abandoned

Form: P-PPU1 C

Last run: 10 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict

Much his best jumping display of the past year when able to boss a small field here (2m7f, good) latest; likelier than most to cope with the shorter trip (many good wins at 2m4f and below).

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4th 3	27th Feb 2024 Heavy 2m 6f 151y Class 3	16:35 Leicester Espoir De Teillee 12st 4lb J: Miss Fern O’Brien T: B F Brookhouse	Two soft-ground wins earlier in career but minor form on that surface now and unraced on heavy, while his front-running win over three rivals in this race last year came on good ground; can be involved if he does cope with the surface.	9/2
3rd 1	31st May 2023 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 5	16:30 Newton Abbot Espoir De Teillee 12st 8lb J: Miss Fern O’Brien T: B F Brookhouse	jumped right throughout, raced in second, not fluent 3rd, mistake 4th, not fluent 10th, dropped to last 4 out, weakened after 3 out	4/7
1st 1	24th Apr 2023 Good 2m 4f 110y Class 5	20:55 Kempton Espoir De Teillee 12st 6lb J: Miss Fern O’Brien T: B F Brookhouse	Useful in the past; opened his hunter chase account at Leicester (2m6f, good) in February and subsequent odds-on defeat is better than it looked on the day (winner franked the form next time); respected.	5/4

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4th

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12st 4lb

Two soft-ground wins earlier in career but minor form on that surface now and unraced on heavy, while his front-running win over three rivals in this race last year came on good ground; can be involved if he does cope with the surface.

9/2

3rd

31st May 2023

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

12st 8lb

jumped right throughout, raced in second, not fluent 3rd, mistake 4th, not fluent 10th, dropped to last 4 out, weakened after 3 out

4/7

1st

24th Apr 2023

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

12st 6lb

Useful in the past; opened his hunter chase account at Leicester (2m6f, good) in February and subsequent odds-on defeat is better than it looked on the day (winner franked the form next time); respected.

5/4

Due Reward

J: Miss Alice Stevens

T: Kelly Morgan

Abandoned

Form: 90-442 D

Last run: 222 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict

Winless since summer 2019 and hasn't been seeing out 2m4f in points for current yard; drop back in trip makes sense on that basis but others inspire greater confidence.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
13th 1	19th Aug 2023 Good 2m 2f 140y Class 5	20:00 Market Rasen Due Reward 12st 0lb J: Miss Alice Stevens T: L J Morgan	Two chase starts since landing a 2m4f point both blighted by a refusal to settle, so some risks attached; current hurdles mark pales next to the mid-130s RPRs he was capable of in Ireland up to mid-2021, however.	7/1
3rd 1	22nd Jul 2023 Good 2m 1f 43y Class 4	15:50 Market Rasen Due Reward 11st 13lb J: Adam Wedge T: L J Morgan	took keen hold, prominent, niggled along after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out	6/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

13th

19th Aug 2023

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

20:00 Market Rasen

Due Reward

12st 0lb

J: Miss Alice Stevens

T: L J Morgan

Two chase starts since landing a 2m4f point both blighted by a refusal to settle, so some risks attached; current hurdles mark pales next to the mid-130s RPRs he was capable of in Ireland up to mid-2021, however.

7/1

3rd

22nd Jul 2023

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

11st 13lb

took keen hold, prominent, niggled along after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out

6/1

Fier Jaguen

J: Mr Bradley Gibbs

T: Bradley Gibbs

Abandoned

Form: 0/2-

Last run: 322 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Relentless front-running style has netted six pointing wins in the past two years, slamming a next-time open winner by 60l at Revesby Park in the latest (good); the most recent sub-2m4f scorer here; occasional tendency to jump right less of a concern at a clockwise track; player.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
6th 3	31st May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 213y Class 5	20:40 Stratford Fier Jaguen 12st 2lb J: Mr Freddie Mitchell T: Bradley Gibbs	Won 2m hunter chase at Cheltenham (good) in May 2023 and looked all set for repeat success in that race until collared close home four weeks ago (soft); his tendency to jump right remains a concern but, nevertheless, he ought to play a significant role here.	3/1
2nd 2	3rd May 2024 Good 2m 0f 62y Class 5	16:35 Cheltenham Fier Jaguen 12st 1lb J: Mr Bradley Gibbs T: Bradley Gibbs	Kept on well to beat Caryto Des Brosses in this race last year, despite jumping badly right throughout, and was 11l too good for same rival in Garthorpe point (3m, soft) in February; beaten odds-on favourite in latest point but went down fighting behind a useful rival; good chance.	11/10
2nd 2	3rd May 2024 Good 2m 0f 62y Class 5	16:35 Cheltenham Fier Jaguen 12st 1lb J: Mr Bradley Gibbs T: Bradley Gibbs	Kept on well to beat Caryto Des Brosses in this race last year, despite jumping badly right throughout, and was 11l too good for same rival in Garthorpe point (3m, soft) in February; beaten odds-on favourite in latest point but went down fighting behind a useful rival; good chance.	11/10

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

6th

31st May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:40 Stratford

Fier Jaguen

12st 2lb

J: Mr Freddie Mitchell

T: Bradley Gibbs

Won 2m hunter chase at Cheltenham (good) in May 2023 and looked all set for repeat success in that race until collared close home four weeks ago (soft); his tendency to jump right remains a concern but, nevertheless, he ought to play a significant role here.

3/1

2nd

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 5

12st 1lb

Kept on well to beat Caryto Des Brosses in this race last year, despite jumping badly right throughout, and was 11l too good for same rival in Garthorpe point (3m, soft) in February; beaten odds-on favourite in latest point but went down fighting behind a useful rival; good chance.

11/10

2nd

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 5

12st 1lb

11/10

T: Rob Cundy

Abandoned

Form: —

Last run: —

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
8	5th May 2023 Good 2m 0f 62y Class 5	16:50 Cheltenham Josh The Plod 11st 12lb J: Mr Charles Buckle T: Rob Cundy	Flat-bred 9yo who has won three of his 20 points; these fences could test him on his belated debut over regulation fences.	25/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 62y

Class 5

11st 12lb

Flat-bred 9yo who has won three of his 20 points; these fences could test him on his belated debut over regulation fences.

25/1

Mister Whitaker

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: Donald McCain

Abandoned

Form: 234P-3

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict

Former mid-150s performer who fared well for a long way behind Secret Investor on recent return; a step up on that form is required but he should appreciate this course.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
7	17th Mar 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 38y Class 5	17:00 Fakenham Mister Whitaker 11st 12lb J: Miss Gina Andrews T: Donald McCain	always towards rear	3/1
3rd 4	10th Feb 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 5y Class 4	13:20 Bangor-on-Dee Mister Whitaker 11st 12lb J: Mr Jack Andrews T: Donald McCain	Cheltenham Festival winner over fences for Mick Channon; his last success was over hurdles (2m6f) in November 2021 and he found things tough back over fences early last year but his latest run was in the Topham at Aintree; returns from 308 days off but he was won when fresh in the past and should have a future in hunter chases; respected.	9/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

17th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

11st 12lb

always towards rear

3/1

3rd

10th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 5y

Class 4

11st 12lb

Cheltenham Festival winner over fences for Mick Channon; his last success was over hurdles (2m6f) in November 2021 and he found things tough back over fences early last year but his latest run was in the Topham at Aintree; returns from 308 days off but he was won when fresh in the past and should have a future in hunter chases; respected.

9/2

Urbanist

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: R J Holmes

Abandoned

Form: /99-P6 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict

More moderate runs than good since the second of two 3m handicap chase wins in 2019 and almost five years since his last 2m start.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
0 9	29th Jan 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 194y Class 5	16:30 Hereford Urbanist 11st 12lb J: Miss Immy Robinson T: R J Holmes	Sole point win last May but pulled up behind Time Leader in a Cartmel hunter chase later that month and in two points since.	100/1
8	31st May 2023 Good 3m 1f 107y Class 5	20:20 Cartmel Urbanist 12st 0lb J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell T: R J Holmes	Easy winner of a five-runner point last time (3m, good) but has a much stiffer task here.	16/1
5th 15	5th May 2023 Good 4m 0f 97y Class 4	19:45 Cheltenham Urbanist 11st 12lb J: Miss Immy Robinson T: R J Holmes	took keen hold, held up in rear, headway after 3rd, prominent 7th, ridden after 22nd, weakened after 3 out, tailed off	66/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

29th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:30 Hereford

Urbanist

11st 12lb

J: Miss Immy Robinson

T: R J Holmes

Sole point win last May but pulled up behind Time Leader in a Cartmel hunter chase later that month and in two points since.

100/1

31st May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:20 Cartmel

Urbanist

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: R J Holmes

Easy winner of a five-runner point last time (3m, good) but has a much stiffer task here.

16/1

5th

5th May 2023

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:45 Cheltenham

Urbanist

11st 12lb

J: Miss Immy Robinson

T: R J Holmes

took keen hold, held up in rear, headway after 3rd, prominent 7th, ridden after 22nd, weakened after 3 out, tailed off

66/1

Non-runners

Josh The Plod

Verdict

Foot-perfect here last time, today’s drop in trip and likely rivalry for the lead could place Espoir De Teillee’s jumping back under some strain. He’s therefore taken on with FIER JAGUEN (nap), a remorseless front-runner whose occasional tendency to jump right ought to go less punished around this clockwise track. [Jeremy Grayson]