13.12
SoftJohn Hewitt Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase
- Prize money: £3973.6
- 3m 0f 30y
- Class 4
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Hunter Chase
Surface: Turf
Weather: Sunny
4/1 (Won)
- Win: £7.00
- Place: £2.70
Form: 4U/4-6 D
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 12lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 9 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Running well in the 2023 Grand National when he unseated at the 21st; confined to only four runs in the meantime and he'll need to find plenty on his recent hunter chase exploits (narrowly beaten by Captain Tommy last time). |
33/1 |
|
9 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Running well in the 2023 Grand National when he unseated at the 21st; confined to only four runs in the meantime and he'll need to find plenty on his recent hunter chase exploits (narrowly beaten by Captain Tommy last time). |
33/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
5th Mar 2025 Good 3m 1f 54y Class 5 |
12st 2lb |
prominent, went second 5th, pushed along after 5 out, outpaced and lost second 3 out, soon ridden, rallied and went second again last, stayed on and challenging towards finish, just held |
7/4 |
12/1
- Place: £5.60
Form: P-1
Last run: 256 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
24 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Pulled up at 50-1 in this last year and same outcome at the Cheltenham Festival last month, when 100-1; however, that latest outing was his first run for 110 days and he may have needed it; in front when making a bad blunder at the final fence at Bangor (3m, soft) last February and that form suggests he might not be a forlorn hope each-way, at what should be a big price. |
100/1 |
|
21 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Five-time point winner but turned over at odds-on in latest start in that sphere; Gracchus De Balme and Linelee King have had his measure in the past. |
100/1 |
|
27 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Might have beaten Eva's Oskar at Bangor had he not clouted the last fence and he again found one too good at Southwell latest (again over 3m); in points this season he's been beaten by Gracchus De Balme and Bardenstown Lad; has no more than place aspirations. |
50/1 |
7/4
Form: 264P-4 D
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 12lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
25th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Very useful staying chaser at his best and has made the frame in both hunter chases for new owner-rider this season, more recently when third at Bangor (3m, soft) this month; won't be far away if in similar form again. |
8/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
7th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 30y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Winless since early 2021 but has run plenty of good races in the meantime, including on his recent hunter chase debut at Warwick (3m, good to soft) when returning from a lengthy break and wind surgery; that was a stronger race than this. |
7/4 |
|
3rd 6 |
7th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 30y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Winless since early 2021 but has run plenty of good races in the meantime, including on his recent hunter chase debut at Warwick (3m, good to soft) when returning from a lengthy break and wind surgery; that was a stronger race than this. |
7/4 |
4/1
Form: /0952- D
Last run: 361 days
W: 11st 12lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
9th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 198y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
prominent, pressed leader before 14th, led before 4 out, faced challenge when led narrowly before 2 out, kept on well |
7/4 |
|
4th 7 |
7th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 30y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Has won half of his 16 races over fences and should welcome this drop in grade after struggling last season in strong handicaps (his second was remote); has been absent for 12 months so some market confidence would be welcomed. |
4/1 |
12/1
Form: 44-3P5 D
Last run: 14 days
W: 12st 6lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 |
17th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 54y Class 5 |
12st 2lb |
Teenager who has gone over two years since his latest win and has been out of form this season (three runs); revival needed. |
50/1 |
|
5 |
23rd Jan 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 5 |
12st 2lb |
Won this race in 2024 (soft ground) but never really got going last season and was very disappointing favourite in a point last month, after a layoff; now a teenager and needs to prove he still has what it takes. |
20/1 |
9/2
Form: 45-300 D
Last run: 189 days
W: 11st 12lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 135
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
15th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 171y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Second in each of his last four point starts, only one of them as high as open class; among the non-finishers with Blagthebookies at Cheltenham in May when last seen in this sphere; overlooked. |
25/1 |
|
12 |
2nd May 2025 Good 4m 0f 97y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Formerly very useful for Gordon Elliott but made low-key stable/hunter chase debut in February and his three subsequent pointing seconds all came in small fields; swaps visor for refitted blinkers today. |
9/1 |
|
12 |
2nd May 2025 Good 4m 0f 97y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Formerly very useful for Gordon Elliott but made low-key stable/hunter chase debut in February and his three subsequent pointing seconds all came in small fields; swaps visor for refitted blinkers today. |
9/1 |
12/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 3 |
2nd May 2025 Good 3m 2f 0y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
led, soon clear with one other, much reduced lead 13th, prominent when headed 15th, weakened 18th, tailed off |
16/1 |
|
8th 3 |
2nd May 2025 Good 3m 2f 0y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
The ground was slow when struggling in his two previous hunter chases; clocked a similar time to Crawter when winning on the same card at Bitterley a month ago; only a 6yo and hard to dismiss. |
16/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
25th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 4f 25y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Rallied well to win Friars Haugh restricted (3m, good to soft) last month and is now 2-9 in points; unable to justify prominence in the betting when last of seven on recent hunter chase debut at Bangor (3m, soft) but was not disgraced there and this race is easier; contender if aided by first-time cheekpieces. |
4/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £70.40 |
| Straight Forecast | £77.49 |
| Trifecta | £248.30 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Lord Du MesnilTelegraph:
For One Night OnlyTOPSPEED:
Minella TrumpThe Guardian:
Frontal AssaultThe Times:
Eva's OskarThe Sun:
For One Night OnlyDaily Mirror:
Minella TrumpRP RATINGS:
Lord Du MesnilPOSTDATA:
Lord Du MesnilDaily Mail:
Lord Du MesnilD Express:
Lord Du MesnilThe Star:
Lord Du MesnilDaily Record:
Lord Du Mesnil