May 06 / 17.02 Kelso

17.02

Good

Aidan & Margaret McDonnell’s Golden Anniversary Open Hunters’ Chase

  • Prize money: £3387.78
  • 2m 7f 96y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Aidan & Margaret McDonnell’s Golden Anniversary Open Hunters’ Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hunter Chase

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £3.40

Form: 2P523-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Hurdle winner for Dan Skelton; placed on his last two runs in hunter chases, last time finishing third at Hexham (3m, good) where Whatdeawant was 18l in front of her in second; each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 4

15:18 Cartmel

Settle Down Jill

12st 1lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Comfortable winner of a Kelso hunter chase (2m7f, good) last month but was beaten fair and square by about 10l in a 3m handicap at Perth since and has only dropped 1lb.

10/1

3rd

5

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:02 Perth

Settle Down Jill

11st 8lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Looked in very good nick when readily winning Kelso hunter chase (2m7f, good) for his owner-trainer last month but faces quite daunting assignment off career-high mark on this return to a handicap; now in the care of Tristan Davidson.

11/2

1st

7

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Settle Down Jill

11st 5lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Norman Sanderson

Hurdle winner for Dan Skelton; placed on his last two runs in hunter chases, last time finishing third at Hexham (3m, good) where Whatdeawant was 18l in front of her in second; each-way chance.

8/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2/

Last run: 394 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Five-time point winner, latest at Overton last month (3m, good); creditable second in maiden hunter chase over C&D last April only previous rules run; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Eagles Rock

11st 12lb

J: Mr John Dawson

T: M Cregan

Five-time point winner, latest at Overton last month (3m, good); creditable second in maiden hunter chase over C&D last April only previous rules run; interesting.

4/1

Form: 1/P- D

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 10yo; won the Heart Of All England (maiden hunter chase) at Hexham last May (3m, good); pulled up over same C&D last month on only run since; bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Dressedtoimpress

12st 0lb

J: Mr Nick Orpwood

T: Miss Joanne Murphy

Lightly raced 10yo; won the Heart Of All England (maiden hunter chase) at Hexham last May (3m, good); pulled up over same C&D last month on only run since; bit to prove.

25/1

2

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Dressedtoimpress

11st 12lb

J: Mr Nick Orpwood

T: Miss Joanne Murphy

Very lightly raced 10yo who won the Heart Of All England Maiden Hunters' Chase over C&D (good) in May 2024; however, others have stronger form and this is his first outing since.

33/1

1st

3

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

17:10 Hexham

Dressedtoimpress

12st 0lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Miss Joanne Murphy

in touch with leaders

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 63/1P- CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won a similar event at Catterick in good style in March (3m1f, good) but pulled up at Hexham last time; needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Brandy McQueen

12st 6lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Miss Lucy Brown

Won a similar event at Catterick in good style in March (3m1f, good) but pulled up at Hexham last time; needs to bounce back.

6/1

1

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Brandy McQueen

12st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Miss Lucy Brown

Quite useful in his prime and he won a point in February (3m, good to soft) before easily following up in a hunter chase at Catterick last month (3m1f, good; Lunar Contact second); strong claims.

5/2

1st

6

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

16:10 Catterick

Brandy McQueen

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Miss Lucy Brown

One-time quite useful staying hurdler/chaser who won a point on second start for present connections last month (3m, good to soft); this tougher, but a contender.

13/2

Form: 00/P3-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Maiden point winner in March (3m, soft), but a 20-race maiden under rules; last of two finishers at Pusk on latest point start; stiffer task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Royal Cave

11st 5lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Tom Fife

Maiden point winner in March (3m, soft), but a 20-race maiden under rules; last of two finishers at Pusk on latest point start; stiffer task here.

16/1

3rd

4

13th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:10 Fakenham

Royal Cave

11st 7lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Tom Fife

Out of form over hurdles/on the Flat in Ireland last year; caused 16-1 surprise in point at Hutton Rudby (3m, soft) last month, her third start for this stable, but was safely held on next outing; not easy to predict on chase debut.

5/1

18th

24

(26)

22nd Oct 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:32 Navan

Royal Cave

9st 10lb

J: Robbie Colgan

T: Chris Timmons

First reserve; 0-18 under both rules and recent Flat efforts leave her with plenty to find; soft ground does suit.

Form: 1231P- C

Last run: 37 days

W: 12st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won two 2m4f handicaps for Ben Pauling last year, the second a two-runner event at Warwick; bit to prove after being pulled up on hunter chase debut at Ludlow in March (2m4f, good), including stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Northern Bound

12st 6lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

Won two 2m4f handicaps for Ben Pauling last year, the second a two-runner event at Warwick; bit to prove after being pulled up on hunter chase debut at Ludlow in March (2m4f, good), including stamina.

13/2

2

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Northern Bound

12st 6lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Myles Osborne

It was a match he won at Warwick in October (2m4f handicap, good) but that took his strike-rate to 9-30 over fences; remains in the same colours despite leaving Ben Pauling; should give his running on hunter chase debut.

100/30

1

1st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:05 Warwick

Northern Bound

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Strike-rate of 8-29 over fences and also runner-up in five of those; not as good as he was but still very capable off this mark; Bangor last time was a backward step, mind.

6/5

Form: 353/2-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Ex-Willie Mullins; smart novice hurdler, third in the 2022 Ballymore at Cheltenham; has won four of his last five points (all for today's rider), and was runner-up at Hexham on hunter chase debut last time (3m, good; Settle Down Jill third, Brandy McQueen and Dressedtoimpress both pulled up); the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

6th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 96y

Class 4

17:02 Kelso

Whatdeawant

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lisa O’Connor

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Ex-Willie Mullins; smart novice hurdler, third in the 2022 Ballymore at Cheltenham; has won four of his last five points (all for today's rider), and was runner-up at Hexham on hunter chase debut last time (3m, good; Settle Down Jill third, Brandy McQueen and Dressedtoimpress both pulled up); the one to beat.

11/10

2nd

7

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Whatdeawant

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lisa O’Connor

T: Lucinda Russell

Third in Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2022 for Willie Mullins; he's raced in points on his last seven starts, winning five of them; one to be interested in now back under rules.

9/4

3rd

3

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

13:35 Wetherby

Whatdeawant

11st 6lb

T: Lucinda Russell

held up in last, nudged along 13th, left in third 14th, lost touch from 15th, tailed off from 4 out

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.40
Straight Forecast £35.46
Trifecta £393.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Whatdeawant

TOPSPEED:

Settle Down Jill

Telegraph:

Northern Bound

Daily Mail:

Settle Down Jill

RP RATINGS:

Whatdeawant

POSTDATA:

Whatdeawant

The Times:

Whatdeawant

The Guardian:

Whatdeawant

D Express:

Whatdeawant

Daily Mirror:

Whatdeawant

The Star:

Whatdeawant

Daily Record:

Whatdeawant

The Sun:

Northern Bound