January 18 / 15.33 Ludlow

15.33

Good To Soft

Jumping For Fun Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £3079.8
  • 2m 7f 171y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Jumping For Fun Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Clear

Form: P/856-

Last run: 299 days

W: 12st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
10yo who didn't shine during light campaign last season and it remains to be seen how much ability he retains; however, he was smart for Paul Nicholls in his prime and is not ruled out on this stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Espoir De Guye

12st 1lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Mrs N Sheppard

midfield, weakened after 12th, left in modest fourth before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out

6/1

2

3rd May 2024

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Espoir De Guye

12st 1lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Mrs N Sheppard

Struggled in Aintree Foxhunters' three weeks ago and is not one to rely upon heavily but his win at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) for Sam Loxton in February makes him of strong interest on this stable debut.

6/1

7

11th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Espoir De Guye

12st 0lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: S Loxton

Nothing like as good he was when at his peak for Venetia Williams and had luck on his side when beating last year's winner of this race at Wincanton in February (2m4f, soft); now has to bounce back from a shock defeat at Ludlow at the hands of Captain Tommy.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1P5-11

Last run: 232 days

W: 12st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Won four hunter chases in the first half of last year and was a good fifth in the Foxhunters' at Aintree; returned from break with point win in November and, although he was pulled up in that sphere last month, he's firmly in calculations now back in a hunter chase.
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

16:05 Aintree

Time Leader

12st 0lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Miss Hannah Roach

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

16:05 Aintree

Time Leader

12st 0lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Miss Hannah Roach

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

16:10 Cheltenham

Time Leader

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Miss Hannah Roach

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

Form: 113348 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
11yo who has something to find with the best of these but he was in pretty good form at Cheltenham towards the end of last year and this reliable 11yo can give another good account here; might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

14

25th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

15:35 Cheltenham

Wick Green

11st 4lb

J: Mr Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Close third in this 12 months ago and similar form again over C&D the following month; on a steady decline subsequently and latest third in a small field at Fontwell was unconvincing; cheekpieces replaced by a visor.

25/1

3rd

1

4th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

14:00 Fontwell

Wick Green

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Five-time chase winner; in very good form when placed in two amateur riders' races at Cheltenham (3m1f, good/soft) last autumn but has lost his way this year and arrives here with quite a bit to prove.

8/1

7th

2

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Wick Green

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Ben Pauling

Five-time chase winner but now with questions to answer from a wellbeing perspective; never travelled when well behind Olivers Travels here last month.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Posted a four-timer in points last spring and he may have needed last month's first outing since; interesting to see how he'll get on under rules but this is a relatively hot contest and others are more compelling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

31st May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 3f 119y

Class 2

19:05 Stratford

Forest Chimes

12st 0lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Philip Rowley

Won't mind rain as the ground was heavy when winning over 2m5f here in March, since when he's comfortably won a good-ground point over 2m4f; stays 3m but the extra 3f today will be unknown territory; fair chance should he get home.

4/1

1st

3

11th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 205y

Class 5

16:20 Stratford

Forest Chimes

11st 12lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Philip Rowley

midfield

4/1

Form: 53/35- C

Last run: 608 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in two points last spring when last seen; talented under rules earlier in career but has poor strike-rate and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

5th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 56y

Class 4

18:00 Cheltenham

Hidden Charmer

12st 0lb

J: Miss Immy Robinson

T: Tom Britten

Remote third behind Trio For Rio and Moratorium in this 12 months ago and he's now a year older; probably vulnerable once more.

16/1

Form: 23/PP- D

Last run: 355 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Point and three-time hurdle winner but pulled up on last two rules starts in 2022-23 and well beaten in a point last April when last seen.
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: P1/6/P D

Last run: 258 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in three points in first half of last year and another fair point run when third last month; however, he looks up against it today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

5th May 2023

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 4

18:35 Cheltenham

Polydora

12st 4lb

J: Mr Harry Myddelton

T: Alan Hill

Useful handicap chaser when with Tom Lacey; only 1-8 in points and was hammered by Myth Buster in the penultimate one; has others to worry about here.

25/1

Form: /P003- D

Last run: 303 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Very useful for Henry de Bromhead in his heyday and showed considerable spark when third at Clonmel last March on final run for that trainer; now goes hunter chasing after a break and could be contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

26th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:15 Cartmel

Spyglass Hill

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Barry Brennan

Veteran; two fair efforts since joining this yard, last time finishing runner-up at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good); has won on heavy ground so should handle these conditions; one to consider.

9/4

2

26th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:15 Cartmel

Spyglass Hill

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Barry Brennan

Veteran; two fair efforts since joining this yard, last time finishing runner-up at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good); has won on heavy ground so should handle these conditions; one to consider.

9/4

2nd

8

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Spyglass Hill

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Barry Brennan

Veteran who has done all his winning on heavy ground and is no longer the force of old; looked a shade unlucky not to win on good ground at Exeter (2m3f) in March, having made a bad jumping error in the straight, but is 4lb wrong here and younger rivals appeal more.

20/1

Form: 8-9223 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Beaten on his last 13 starts but he's been pretty consistent in some tough handicap chases, including on his three starts since October; leading claims on these terms now tackling a hunter chase.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

8th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

15:35 Exeter

Tea Clipper

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Very useful handicapper on good ground but he's 1-17 over fences and fluffed some very winnable opportunities last season in hunter chases; ran okay in a C&D handicap last month but he's rarely the percentage call and now tries a visor.

8/1

Verdict

The useful and consistent handicap chaser TEA CLIPPER is on a 13-race losing sequence but this looks a good opportunity to end that. Time Leader won four hunter chases in the first half of last year and is second choice ahead of Wick Green. Espoir De Guye and Spyglass Hill will be dangerous if showing some of their old spark.[Ben Hutton]