February 14 / 16.40 Fakenham

16.40

Good

William Bulwer Long Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £2566.5
  • 3m 0f 38y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
RTV
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William Bulwer Long Memorial Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

Form: -611P5 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Useful form when on song (not always the case) for Gavin Cromwell; well held in a hunter chase last month but has since won a point without much fuss; enters the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:42 Ludlow

Bardenstown Lad

12st 6lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Warwick Ryan-Beswick

Won a point and a Fakenham hunter chase about this time last year before predictably struggling at lengthy odds in the feature hunter chases at Cheltenham and Aintree; badly let down by his jumping in calmer waters afterwards and this 11yo now has much to prove.

16/1

1

14th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

17:05 Newton Abbot

Bardenstown Lad

12st 8lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: David Loughnane

Won a point and a Fakenham hunter chase in February before making no impact in the big hunter chases at Cheltenham and Aintree (behind when unseating); found no fluency and was well held when falling at Stratford (2m6f, good); comes with risks on the back of that effort but this is a modest contest.

4/6

1

14th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

17:05 Newton Abbot

Bardenstown Lad

12st 8lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: David Loughnane

Won a point and a Fakenham hunter chase in February before making no impact in the big hunter chases at Cheltenham and Aintree (behind when unseating); found no fluency and was well held when falling at Stratford (2m6f, good); comes with risks on the back of that effort but this is a modest contest.

4/6

Form: 2571P1 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 12st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Was stuck on a losing run but has now won two of his last three starts, a 2m5f handicap chase here and a 3m hunter chase at Ludlow nine days ago (again on good to soft); that was a fair effort conceding weight all round and having form here ticks a big box.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

18:39 Plumpton

Frere DArmes

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has been well out of form since returning in September from a break and has offered little switched to hunter chases this year; now back in handicap company for his leading stable and down to a potentially workable mark, but recent efforts temper enthusiasm.

2/1

4th

1

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Odds-on third in this race last year before comfortably making all in Stratford hunter chase (2m1f, good) in May; hasn't got near the latter form in eight starts since September however and latest pulled up, despite attracting some support, was a third non completion in a row; others look safer.

7/2

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

15:25 Fakenham

Frere DArmes

12st 6lb

J: Mr Dominic Lewis

T: Dan Skelton

He was in better form when runner-up in this last year having won his previous race; very disappointing when pulled up back here just before Christmas and then unseated at Ludlow when 33-1; hard to trust right now.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 1-1464 D

Last run: 170 days

W: 12st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Prolific winner of handicaps and added two hunter chases during the first half of last year; didn't run too badly in a handicap on final start for previous yard last August and was later bought for £30,000; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

16:50 Fakenham

Go On Chez

12st 6lb

J: Mr Charlie Marshall

T: F A Hutsby

Dual scorer in this sphere granted a sharp 3m and good ground in 2024; outclassed in the big one at Cheltenham this raceday last year and disappointing season either side of that (34l fourth over this C&D); absent since May, but record fresh is generally fair.

3/1

Form: 4544P1 D

Last run: 84 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Goes well in small fields and, in dominating two rivals, he lowered the course record over 3m1f on good ground at Catterick three months ago; should make his presence felt at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

14:25 Kelso

Presentandcounting

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Veteran; has won nine chases, often making all in small fields on good ground; hasn't been quite at his best since Uttoxeter win last July (2m4f, good) but has plenty going for him here.

5/2

4th

1

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Presentandcounting

12st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Returned to winning ways at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last summer and remained competitive afterwards; however, he has since turned 12 and lacking a run might not be ideal.

14/1

5th

4

16th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Carlisle

Presentandcounting

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

11yo who returned to winning ways at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in July and has run pretty well in third on his next two outings (3m/3m1f, good); might not be far away.

9/2

Form: 1/U5P- C

Last run: 621 days

W: 12st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Had some good form when with Gary Moore but clearly a declining force and recent point exploits don't bode well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Feb 2025

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

16:40 Fakenham

Sopran Thor

12st 2lb

J: Mr Archie Loweth

T: John Whyte

Had some good form when with Gary Moore but clearly a declining force and recent point exploits don't bode well.

66/1

3

4th Jun 2023

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:30 Fakenham

Sopran Thor

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Louise Allan

Left alone to win selling handicap chase over C&D in April on final run for Gary Moore; however, he was in rear when unseating mid-race at Warwick on his stable debut then finished down the field at Plumpton last time.

14/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Frere d'Armes

SPOTLIGHT:

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D Express:

Go On Chez

POSTDATA:

Frere d'Armes

Daily Mirror:

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The Sun:

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The Star:

Frere d'Armes

Daily Record:

Frere d'Armes

TOPSPEED:

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The Times:

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Telegraph:

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The Guardian:

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Daily Mail:

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