Is Jett ready for take-off? Expert analysis and key quotes on the Foxhunters'

Thursday: 4.05 Aintree
Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase | 2m5f | 6yo+ | ITV/RTV

Irish horses might have fought out the finish to the hunter chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but it's the cream of the British crop who line up for this race over the Grand National fences and the cream doesn't always rise to the top. In fact, there have been two huge upsets in recent years.

Who could forget Tartan Snow winging in at 100-1 in 2013? And last year's winner Cousin Pascal was 66-1. At nine years old, he is the youngest winner over the last ten seasons and he's back again to defend his crown. On The Fringe won back-to-back runnings in 2015 and 2016.

Cousin Pascal has had an altogether different prep this season. A year ago he came into the race on the back of a win at Catterick, but it was the festival for him this time around and he hardly covered himself in glory, hitting several fences before being pulled up.

In the last ten years there have been 44 horses prep at Cheltenham en route to this race and five were successful. That includes Balnaslow, who won in 2018 but was subsequently disqualified due to a banned substance. A £1 bet on all 44 runners would have lost £11.13.

Mighty Stowaway did best in the hunter chase at the festival when third behind Billaway and Winged Leader. Top Wood filled the same position in that race before winning here in 2019.

Cat Tiger also ran at Cheltenham but not in the hunter chase. He finished midfield in the Kim Muir and would become the first horse to win here after competing in a race other than the hunter chase at the festival this century. Only four have tried, with Massini Man the last in 2011.

Jett and Latenightpass head the overnight market and both missed the festival. Latenightpass has had wind surgery since his last run and, since the start of 2020, horses who competed in hunter chases following a wind operation are 5-23 (22 per cent; -£9.78 to £1 level stake). At the age of nine, he is a youngster for a hunter and may still have improvement in the locker.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Waley-Cohens take aim again

Sam Waley-Cohen has won this big amateur event more than any other rider and hopes to extend his tally to four on favourite Jett.

The 11-year-old, trained by the jockey's father Robert, led to three out in last year's National and finished a creditable eighth and teed up a tilt at this prize with a return win at Kelso and second to Shantou Flyer at Fontwell.

Waley-Cohen has landed the Foxhunters' on Katarino twice and Warne, the Topham aboard Liberthine and Rajdhani Express and the Becher Chase on Oscar Time and boasts a 26 per cent win-or-place strike-rate at the course.

The rider said: "Jett ran a brilliant race in the National last year and likes the course. He does like to put the afterburners on and go hard, so we thought this race should suit him.

"A sounder surface will be in his favour, and while you need lady luck on your side, I'm hoping he should be there or thereabouts."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Another Venture
He ran very well first time out at Cheltenham but probably didn't quite back it up since. He's all ready to go and George Daly, who is one of my assistants, gets on very well with him so I hope they'll have a great time.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Cat Tiger
He gave David [Maxwell, rider] a great spin in this last year when just run out of it on the flat and ran well in the Grand Sefton this season. He didn't get the trip on soft ground in the Kim Muir, but back in trip and at level weights, he should have a nice chance.

Lawney Hill, trainer of Mighty Stowaway and wife of Alan Hill, trainer of Clondaw Westie and Reikers Island
Mighty Stowaway ran a great race at Cheltenham and my eagle-eyed son Joe spotted a tweet by Camilla Sharples saying he was for sale and the Suttons were able to buy him. Camilla did a great job with him and taking the blinkers off seems to have really suited him. He has experience from the race last year and hopefully can run really well. Clondaw Westie ran a cracking race last year and took to it really well, while Reikers Island is an old chaser and should give Huw [Edwards, rider] a great spin. It's lovely to go there with three live chances.

Ben Bromley, rider of Complete Sizing
He's a very nice horse and one of the best jumpers I've sat on, so I'm hoping that stands him in good stead for the National fences. We've made up some Aintree-style fences at home and he's loved jumping them. If he gets into a good rhythm and takes to the fences, hopefully he can run a big race.

Joe O'Shea, trainer of Cousin Pascal
He's in better condition and better form at home compared to last year and the two horses he has been working with – and thrashing – both won at the weekend. He just got out of his comfort zone at Cheltenham and made a couple of mistakes but James [King] did the right thing and looked after him with this in mind. It took me 50 years to win the race and these big wins don't come around like buses. I'm not a Disney fan and don't expect lightning to strike twice, but hopefully he runs a great race and returns safe and sound.

Gina Andrews, rider of Latenightpass
I'm hoping he has a good chance. We purposely missed Cheltenham to come here fresher and he’s had a wind op since his last run. He's only little but tries very hard and took to the fences last year so hopefully does so again. It's a big race for amateurs and I can't wait.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Le Breuil
He has plenty of course form and loves the fences. He's not quite the force of old but he can be comfortable in this grade and has good early speed for this race.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Marracudja
Since he's gone hunter chasing he's been one of the better ones at that level and has a bundle of experience under his belt.

Sara Bradstock, trainer of Myth Buster
He's prepared for the race and in extremely good form. Lily [Bradstock, daughter and rider] had worked very hard to get him to this place and if he takes to it, I'd hope he'd be in with a real shout.
Reporting by Jack Haynes

Thursday's Aintree previews:

1.45 Aintree: 'This was always the target' – Nicholls hoping to crack Grade 1 with Pic D'Orhy

2.20 Aintree: 'You'd like to think he'll take a bit of beating' – Elliott confident in Piper

2.55 Aintree: Gold Cup third Protektorat out to prove best of British in Bowl at Aintree

3.30 Aintree: intermediate trip sets up fascinating clash between Epatante and Zanahiyr

4.40 Aintree: front-running Before Midnight could be the one in a fast and furious Red Rum

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