February 25 / 16.45 Leicester

16.45

Soft

Cottesmore Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £7450.5
  • 2m 6f 151y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Cottesmore Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 2-UPP2 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 4lb

14 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
14yo who is no longer the force of old and has become unreliable; that said, he won this race on heavy ground a year ago and proved he retains significant ability when keeping on gamely for second in refitted cheekpieces at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bennys King

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Inconsistency has crept into this 14yo's game but confidence should be buoyed by his win at Leicester in February and he loves it around here, having finished second in the last two editions of this race; probably vulnerable for win purposes but has place aspirations for sure; races prominently.

14/1

11th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bennys King

12st 0lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Inconsistency has crept into this 14yo's game but confidence should be buoyed by his win at Leicester in February and he loves it around here, having finished second in the last two editions of this race; probably vulnerable for win purposes but has place aspirations for sure; races prominently.

14/1

1st

2

25th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:45 Leicester

Bennys King

12st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

14yo who is no longer the force of old and has become unreliable; that said, he won this race on heavy ground a year ago and proved he retains significant ability when keeping on gamely for second in refitted cheekpieces at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last month.

7/1

Form: 0-3P43

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Thorough stayer who copes very well with slow ground; not firing on all cylinders in handicap chases this season but his last two runs were respectable and he ought to find this race a bit easier.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

9th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

16:15 Taunton

Autonomous Cloud

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won three times over fences for Fergal O'Brien; beaten favourite on his stable debut at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in February but has now dropped to a career-low mark.

4/1

7th

8

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Autonomous Cloud

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Soundly beaten/pulled up towards end of last year on final two runs for Fergal O'Brien; however, perhaps a change of scenery and first run in a veterans' chase will prompt a revival from this 10yo, who is on a reduced mark; interesting on yard debut, all the more so if strong in the betting.

13/2

1st

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:40 Cartmel

Autonomous Cloud

12st 0lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Fergal O’Brien

Thorough stayer; seemingly on the downgrade now but ran well for a long way when eighth in last month's Aintree Foxhunters' and probably found the good ground too lively when below that form at Cheltenham (2m4f; first-time cheekpieces) four weeks ago; can make his presence felt here.

3/1

Form: /585-3

Last run: 275 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Useful handicapper in his prime and collected three points for new stable last season; returned from layoff with very respectable second of three in a point this month but faces a tough assignment here and would probably prefer better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17th

6

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bothwell Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: Kelly Morgan

Winning chaser for Nicky Henderson; remains a capable pointer but at these weights he's held by Bennys King and Autonomous Cloud on their Leicester clash in February.

100/1

6

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Bothwell Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: Kelly Morgan

Winning chaser for Nicky Henderson; remains a capable pointer but at these weights he's held by Bennys King and Autonomous Cloud on their Leicester clash in February.

100/1

3rd

7

25th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:45 Leicester

Bothwell Bridge

11st 12lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: Kelly Morgan

Useful handicapper in his prime and collected three points for new stable last season; returned from layoff with very respectable second of three in a point this month but faces a tough assignment here and would probably prefer better ground.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4-3P55 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 4lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
In career-best form last season, most notably when 66-1 fourth at Cheltenham Festival, but both runs this year have been below par and others in this line-up have much less to prove.
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

17:13 Exeter

DJango

12st 2lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Miss V Collins

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

16:18 Warwick

DJango

12st 2lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Miss V Collins

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

Form: 23-062

Last run: 10 days

W: 12st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 9yo who comfortably won an open point on British debut in November and was creditable second in Haydock hunter chase (2m6f, good to soft) ten days ago; will be suited by the slower ground here; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Gracchus De Balme

12st 0lb

J: Mr P A King

T: J J O’Shea

Pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival (3m2f, good to soft) last month; however, he was also pulled up at Leicester last February prior to winning this race at 22-1 (good to soft) so he's capable of bouncing back.

16/1

6

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Gracchus De Balme

12st 0lb

J: Mr P A King

T: J J O’Shea

Only last April he enjoyed his finest hour when winning the hunters' chase over the Grand National fences (good to soft); followed that with a second over C&D to Music Drive before winning Stratford's Horse & Hound Cup; he's not without hope judged on all that and, although this year's form is underwhelming, so too was his run prior to winning at Aintree.

25/1

3

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Gracchus De Balme

12st 6lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: J J O’Shea

Landed two of British hunter chasing's three big prizes (Aintree, 2m5f and Stratford, 3m3f) during a 2024-25 season founded on consistency at a high level rather than progression; match-fitness is a given for his yard's runners and, with stamina to spare, he may not be for catching.

11/4

Form: 210-12 C BF

Last run: 270 days

W: 12st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Three-time hunter chase winner who looked as good as ever when battling on gamely to score at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) last May; has fitness to prove after nine-month absence, though, and returns in a strong race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Rebel Dawn Rising

12st 9lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: David Kemp

As good as ever when winning the same Cheltenham contest (over essentially today's trip) for the second straight year four weeks ago; now 7lb higher than for last season's 1l defeat in this race, but without the effects of a slog on soft ground to have to shrug off.

11/8

1st

1

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Rebel Dawn Rising

12st 9lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: David Kemp

As good as ever when winning the same Cheltenham contest (over essentially today's trip) for the second straight year four weeks ago; now 7lb higher than for last season's 1l defeat in this race, but without the effects of a slog on soft ground to have to shrug off.

11/8

1st

4

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Rebel Dawn Rising

12st 4lb

J: Mr Dale Peters

T: David Kemp

prominent, led before 2 out, faced challenge approaching last, kept on well final 110yds

6/1

Form: 64P-43 D BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
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.
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

16:45 Leicester

Lord Du Mesnil

11st 12lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Richard Hobson

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

13:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Lord Du Mesnil

11st 12lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Richard Hobson

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

13:12 Bangor-on-Dee

Lord Du Mesnil

11st 12lb

J: Mr David Maxwell

T: Richard Hobson

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

Non-runners

Givega

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.70
Straight Forecast £25.52
Trifecta £141.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Givega

POSTDATA:

Bennys King

RP RATINGS:

Gracchus De Balme

The Times:

Gracchus De Balme

TOPSPEED:

Givega

Telegraph:

Givega

Daily Mail:

Givega

Daily Mirror:

Givega

The Sun:

Givega

The Star:

Givega

Daily Record:

Givega

The Guardian:

Bennys King

D Express:

Bennys King