16:40 Cheltenham
Friday 14 March 2025
All13:2014:0014:4015:2016:0016:4017:20
St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
- 5YO plus | Class 2 | 3m 2f 70y | Good to Soft | 24 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 6m 51.04s
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Selected odds by:
Smart hurdler and high-class chaser during his time with Dan Skelton. Missed 20 months but fair bit of ability remains judged on his 3 efforts in handicaps this term. Successful both starts in points, soundly beating only other finisher on second of them, but stamina a concern here.
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Ended last season with a heavy defeat in the Martin Pipe but having warmed up with a run between the flags in December, he made a winning reappearance for new yard back chasing in a Taunton hunter (21.7f) in January. Disappointing at Ffos Las since.
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Fairly useful hurdler for Gordon Elliott and a point winner, but little to shout about of late.
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Winner of a handicap hurdle and maiden chase for Gavin Cromwell at Kilbeggan in 2024 and displayed a willing attitude from the front when landing 5-runner hunter for new yard last month. This a different examination.
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Fairly useful hurdles winner who has made an encouraging start over fences, making the frame at Down Royal (19.7f) in May before bumping into a good prospect at Wexford. Won 2 of last 3 starts in points but this a tough ask tackling a new trip.
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Had plenty of exposure over fences and won a hunter for this yard in January 2024. Mixed bag since but he did finish fourth at huge odds in this a year ago.
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Prolific in points and produced his best effort in this sphere when readily landing C&D event in May. Warmed up for this with another success between the flags in January and this thorough stayer can go well.
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Back-to-back hunter winner last spring. Jumped right and folded quite tamely, even allowing for fact he may have needed the run on last month's return to action for new handler. Doesn't always look straightforward.
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Won a Southwell hunter this time last year and stuck to his task really well when second to Shearer having made a bad mistake at Taunton last month. Should stay this far but huge career best required.
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Dual winner of the Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown, latterly in May. Below that level when odds-on twice to add to his tally in that sphere during the winter but he's twice finished runner-up in this race so is more than capable of making his presence felt.
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Multiple-point winner who took a step forward on just his fourth start under Rules when second to What A Glance in a good-quality hunter at Stratford in May. Fitted with cheekpieces and matched that form when scoring at Warwick in January. This asks a different question.
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Lightly-raced 7-y-o who got off the mark in 6-runner hunter at Fairyhouse in November. Held back by jumping 2 months later and this a different environment to what he's used to.
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Fairly useful in bumpers and bright start over hurdles in 2022, off the mark in a Galway maiden (19f) prior to improved efforts in defeat at Cheltenham. Left Gordon Elliott and has no chasing experience to call upon under Rules but has won both starts in points this year.
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Smart handicap chaser at best for Willie Mullins and having won a point, he stuck to his task pretty well when runner-up to Ryehill on hunter debut at Naas last month, Task is to now build on that.
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Very useful chaser at his peak for leading yard. Didn't really take to the cross-country discipline in 2023 but fit from a point win last month. Jury out as to how much ability he retains.
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Looked limited for most of his career but hit a purple patch in points and carried on the excellent work when fourth in the 2023 renewal of this race. Failed to meet expectations only Rules start since at Limerick in December. Added to tally between the flags in January.
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Chased home Angel's Dawn in a point in December and left previous hunter form trailing in his wake when forging clear to land 9-runner contest at Naas from Ontheropes. These stiffer fences ask a new challenge but he brings untapped potential to the table.
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Took well to fences with 2 novice handicap wins in summer 2023 and showed he's still very talented when scoring easily in a Ffos Las hunter back from a long absence in February. Turned out 12 days later and workmanlike at Taunton but he's a player with this trip expected to suit.
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Useful chaser in Ireland at his peak and confirmed he retains a chunk of his ability when second on hunter debut at Taunton in January. Won a point after but failed to jump with much fluency back under Rules at Haydock last month. Up in trip.
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Surpassed hurdles form in this code this winter with a brace of third-place finishes this winter. 16-length winner of a point last month and he's unexposed, but this is a tall order.
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Progressive form in hunters for this yard, supplementing his Cheltenham win at Stratford (both in May). Failed to win last 2 starts in points and this demands a career best.
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Multiple point winner and plenty to like about his switch to Rules this winter, shaping best when second at Limerick before readily going one place better at Thurles 8 weeks ago. Jumped and travelled with plenty of purpose that day and well worth a shot at this for Gordon Elliott.
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Fairly useful hurdler/lightly raced over fences. Sold for £33,000 and successful both starts in points in late-2024 and now tackles this discipline for the first time. Tongue tie goes on and this probably on the limit of his stamina.
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Career highlight when winning the 2023 Kim Muir and would have been placed in last year's renewal when falling 2 out (both under this rider). Successful both starts in points this winter, beating Ryehill by 6 lengths on second of them and she's a very classy recruit to this sphere. Leading claims.
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Forecasts
Angels Dawn (3/1), Its On The Line (4/1), Shearer (6/1), Willitgoahead (13/2), Ryehill (17/2), Fairly Famous (17/2), Rocky's Howya (11/1), Allmankind (20/1), Wonderwall (28/1), Music Drive (33/1), Ontheropes (33/1), Lift Me Up (33/1), What A Glance (40/1), Plan Of Attack (66/1), Bardenstown Lad (66/1), D'jango (66/1), Go On Chez (66/1), Angels Breath (66/1), Haven't Time (66/1), Carnfunnock (100/1), Take All (125/1), West Of Carrig (125/1), Au Fleuron (200/1), Lisleigh Lad (200/1)
ANGELS DAWN is the class act and her Cheltenham Festival form under Patrick King stacks up, having been successful in the 2023 Kim Muir over C&D and in the process of running well when departing 2 out bidding for the follow-up last year. She ticks all the boxes and can come out on top. Willitgoahead is unexposed and very interesting for Gordon Elliott after his Thurles success. C&D winner Fairly Famous is a player at bigger odds while Its On The Line, second in 2023 and 2024, must be feared.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £24,445.002nd: £12,220.003rd: £6,110.004th: £3,055.005th: £1,530.006th: £765.00
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