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16:10 Cheltenham

Friday 18 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 6m 55.31s

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Selected odds by:

Back Bar²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Izzie Marshall| T: A Hill| OR: 116

100/1

One-time fair hurdler (for Gordon Elliott) who is better known for his pointing exploits. Just fair form when winning novice hunter at Leicester last month so firmly up against it.

Form: 3-21P21

Billaway^p³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

13/8

Long been one of the leading lights in hunter chases and looked as good as ever in first-time headgear when making all at Naas. Runner-up in this for last 2 years, only just failing 12 months ago.

Form: 1252-21

Bob And Co^t²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| BF| D

11/2

Enhanced good strike rate in this sphere in Champion Hunters at Punchestown. Not seen to best effect on belated return at Haydock last month. Still going well when unseated 3 out in this last year.

Form: 1U11-22

Cousin Pascal²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King| T: J J O'Shea| OR: 133

12/1

Surprise winner of Foxhunters' at Aintree last year. Should have won at Hereford on comeback and made amends when beating the returning Bob And Co by 2 lengths at Haydock. Unlikely to be far away.

Form: 11-1221

Desire De Joie²³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr A Wright| T: N R Wright| OR: 123

66/1

Positive start for current yard when landing a point last month but he's 0-10 over fences under Rules.

Form: 436P12

Don Bersy^p²⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: R Potter| OR: 131| BF

150/1

Refused to race on his last 3 outings under Rules and on his latest start in a point. Very much one to leave alone.

Form: 21R/R-1R

Dubai Quest⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 137

13/2

Multiple point winner who bolted up in hunters at Fakenham and Wetherby a year apart. Jumping will be tested here but well worth a shot at this.

Form: 11/11-11

Fumet D'Oudairies⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: T Ellis| OR: 127| C

25/1

Improved to win first 2 starts in hunters but stamina stretched at Stratford in May. Multiple point winner, including small-field events on last 2 starts (latest Jan 29).

Form: 12-1211

It Came To Pass⁶¹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Maxine O'Sullivan| T: E M O'Sullivan| OR: 139| CD

33/1

Surprise winner of this 2 years ago but is no longer at that level, well beaten when fell 3 out latest start in point (Jan 16).

Form: 75-321F

Lord Schnitzel^v1²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M C O'Donovan| T: D Queally| OR: 127

33/1

Has been going great guns in points this season, winning 2-finisher event last time (Feb 26). Landed odds in maiden hunter latest start under Rules in December. Visored.

Form: 111121

Mighty Stowaway^p,t³³

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 125

33/1

Multiple point winner (including this season), though well beaten when pulled up last time (Feb 13). Good 5½ lengths third of 4 to Vaucelet at Fairyhouse in November. Remote sixth in this last year.

Form: 12211P

Monbeg Chit Chat⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Christopher Furness| T: Mrs G B Walford| OR: 124| CD

50/1

Fairly useful in Ireland and did well in hunters in 2021, winning over C&D in April. Multiple winning pointer, including last 3 starts (latest Jan 30).

Form: 1-11311

Overworkdunderpaid^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G Chatterton| T: L Morgan| OR: 118

50/1

Multiple winning pointer and fairly useful chaser. Not far behind Cousin Pascal and Bob And Co on return to Rules at Haydock but that was a slowly-run affair. Up against it.

Form: 47-U113

Point The Way¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Joe Wright| T: Guy Brewer| OR: 117| D

100/1

Won a couple of hunters at Perth and Kelso when last seen under Rules in May. Off mark in points at seventh attempt last time (Feb 6). Looks out of his depth.

Form: 2-11411

Pont Aven^p³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Alex Chadwick| T: J P Owen| OR: 139

14/1

Talented chaser for Willie Mullins and won a point by a wide margin for current connections. Made an impressive winning start to life in hunters at Ludlow last month and is an interesting contender.

Form: 4P3F11

Premier Magic^t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Bradley Gibbs| T: B Gibbs| OR: 126| D

25/1

Multiple point winner, including last 2 starts. Justified short odds in hunter at Leicester on Rules debut 13 months ago and better form when 4¼ lengths third of 5 to Vaucelet at Stratford in May.

Form: 111-311

Rewritetherules^h⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr David O'Brien| T: David O'Brien| OR: 120

150/1

Fairly useful chaser at best. Looks out of his depth starting out for new yard.

Form: 7021P9

Senor Lombardy¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Lyall Hodgins| T: Mrs K Harding| OR: 125

66/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who pulled clear of the remainder when second in hunter at Carlisle when last seen under Rules a year ago. Won 4 of 5 starts in points, wide-margin winner latest (Feb 27).

Form: 422-121

Winged Leader⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| OR: 139

9/2

Coming of age in hunter chases now, winning last 3 starts, jumping well on his return to Rules when beating Billaway (who was returning from 9 months off) by 12 lengths at Thurles in January.

Form: 21-1111

Non-Runners

Zamparelli¹⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: Miss V Collins J: Mr D Andrews

Forecasts

Billaway (13/8), Winged Leader (9/2), Bob And Co (11/2), Dubai Quest (13/2), Cousin Pascal (12/1), Pont Aven (14/1), Premier Magic (25/1), Fumet D'Oudairies (25/1), Mighty Stowaway (33/1), Lord Schnitzel (33/1), It Came To Pass (33/1), Overworkdunderpaid (50/1), Monbeg Chit Chat (50/1), Senor Lombardy (66/1), Zamparelli (66/1), Desire De Joie (66/1), Back Bar (100/1), Point The Way (100/1), Don Bersy (150/1), Rewritetherules (150/1)

BOB AND CO was still going well when unseating 3 out in this last year and he went on to make amends when edging out Billaway in the Champion Hunters at Punchestown in April. Paul Nicholls charge made a respectable return when second in a steadily-run race at Haydock and shades the vote over Billaway, who's been second in the last 2 renewals. The up-and-coming Winged Leader is another to consider.