Racecards
16:30 Musselburgh
totepool Follow Us On Twitter Open Hunters' Chase (Class 6)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 193y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £3,000 added
- Winner: £1,872
- 2nd: £580
- 3rd: £290
- 4th: £145
- Form 3F1-114
- Age 9
- Weight 12-6
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Miss Kelly Morgan
- Jockey Mr D Peters
led to 7th, with leader, blundered and lost place 5 out, soon outpaced, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 6-B3525
- Age 9
- Weight 12-6
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Mr Kit Alexander
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led next, drew clear from 2 out, ridden and edged left flat, comfortably
- Form 26321/P
- Age 13
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer S J Leadbetter
- Jockey Mr Nick Orpwood
mid-division, mistake 5th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off 5 out, pulled up next
- Form FU6111
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer Alan Wight
- Jockey Henry Morshead
behind, headway 6th, driven to chase leaders after 10th, went 3rd after 5 out, ridden after next, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
- Form 2/25-663
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer D M Christie
- Jockey Mr D Maxwell
tracked leader, led 7th, headed 4 out, no chance with winner from 2 out, lost 2nd towards finish
- Form P66-634
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer L Kerr
- Jockey Mr Ryan Nichol
always behind, outpaced before 4 out, never dangerous, tailed off
- Form 21P-116
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer C T Dawson
- Jockey Mr John Dawson
tracked leaders, headway after 5 out, not fluent next, soon outpaced, weakening when went right 2 out, pulled up before last
- Form 64P-575
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer R A Owen
- Jockey Lily Pinchin
mid-division, reminders before 9th, struggling when mistake 11th, went modest 4th 3 out, kept on, no chance with leaders
In depth
Verdict
Decade Player won a point and two hunter chases last spring and would be an obvious threat on that form though he ran poorly on his reappearance between the flags at Cottenham last month. Always Tipsy is unbeaten in three point-to-points, all at Alnwick. He hasn't won by far in any of them and this is slightly tougher. DARWINS FOX travels over from Ireland for this and the once very useful Grade 3 winner could still have enough left in the tank to get the better of these rivals. Top Cat Henry was well beaten in a similar race here last month though over a longer trip while prolific point-to-point winner Sposalizio was well beaten when last seen at Stratford in May.
Formwatch
Decade Player (IRE) 7-2 (12-7) (h) (tt) led til hdd aft 15; wknd qckly 3 out, 4th of 8, dist behind Now Ben (12-4) at Cottenham 3m gd in Feb.
Top Cat Henry (IRE) 16-1 (12-4) Behind, jumped left 8th, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, never on terms, 5th of 10, dist behind Wonderful Charm (11-12) at Musselburgh 3m 3f (3) gd in Feb.
Another Dark Rum 5-1 (12-5) A bhnd; t.o & pu 3 out, at Friars Haugh 3m gs in Jan.
Always Tipsy 3-1 (12-0) Stayed on 3 out; led nr fin, won at Alnwick 3m gs in Feb beating Rossini's Dancer (12-4) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Darwins Fox (FR) 2-1 (11-11) Mostly 4th, hdwy disp 5th,5l adv 1/2way, jnd 2out & sn hdd, wknd run in to lose 2nd, 3rd of 5, dist behind Grand Jesture (12-2) at Oldtown 3m Yielding in Feb.
Havana Jack (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 6 out, led after last, headed run-in, no extra, 4th of 10, 14 1/2l behind Abbeyview (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 5f mdn (5) gd in May.
Sposalizio (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, always in rear, outpaced from 7th, mistake 3 out, no chance when blundered next, last of 6, dist behind Penmore Mill (11-13) at Stratford 2m 7f (3) gd in May.
Whichwaytobougie 100-1 (12-0) Went badly left 1st, always last but in touch until outpaced after 8th, struggling when not fluent 11th, weakened and blundered next, tailed off when went badly left last, last of 5, 27 1/4l behind Pacha Du Polder (12-8) at Bangor 2m 4f (6) sft in Feb.