Jonathan Neesom Memorial Open Hunters' Chase – Cheltenham

Cheltenham

18:20

Jonathan Neesom Memorial Open Hunters' Chase

Date 2025-05-02

Distance 3m2f70y

Class Class 4

Going Good

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize £5,133

Winning Time 6m 54.95s (slow by 8.95s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Music Drive (FR) Miss Gina Andrews · Kelly Morgan	EvensF	Won
2nd	Gracchus De Balme (FR) Mr James King · J J O'Shea	9/4	8
3rd	Macklin (FR) Mr William Biddick · Will Biddick	7/2	1.25
4th	Montanna (GB) Mr Joshua Newman · Edward William Walker	33/1	40

Non-Runners / Other

Status	Horse	SP
P.U.	Joy Of Life (IRE) Mr Zac Baker · Mrs H Hickman-Jones	28/1

Runners (5)

EW Terms: 2 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
5	Music Drive Bay J:Miss Gina Andrews T:Kelly Morgan	J:Miss Gina Andrews T:Kelly Morgan	166	t	9/114-	127	133	118	49d	—	—	-13	35.5	0.21/1	5/6 55%
2-2 in points for this stable before very creditable fourth at the Festival here in March
1	Gracchus De Balme Bay J:Mr James King T:J J O'Shea	J:Mr James King T:J J O'Shea	172	—	612P1-	134	132	118	29d	—	—	+16	43.9	0.69/1	11/4 27%
Career-best form when winning last month's Aintree Foxhunters'; upped in trip here
3	Macklin Bay J:Mr William Biddick T:Will Biddick	J:Mr William Biddick T:Will Biddick	172	—	1/221-	122	127	-	—	—	—	+11	30.7	0.88/1	7/2 22%
6-10 in points, and won his only hunter chase readily; must be considered
4	Montanna Chestnut J:Mr Joshua Newman T:Edward William Walker	J:Mr Joshua Newman T:Edward William Walker	172	p	8/042-	114	113	61	—	—	—	+13	17	7.00/1	28/1 3%
Has not done enough in points this year to suggest he's the one to be on today
2	Joy Of Life Bay J:Mr Zac Baker T:Mrs H Hickman-Jones	J:Mr Zac Baker T:Mrs H Hickman-Jones	172	p	/2132-	95	-	-	—	—	—	+23	25.4	10.00/1	40/1 2%
Won three-runner point in February but faces a tall order here

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Music Drive	5/6	5/6	5/6
Gracchus De Balme	11/4	5/2	11/4
Macklin	7/2	7/2	7/2
Montanna	28/1	28/1	25/1
Joy Of Life	40/1	33/1	33/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Gracchus De Balme

43.9

OR: 21 Form: 14.5 Odds: 8.4

11/4

2nd

Music Drive

35.5

OR: 19.3 Form: 0 Odds: 16.3

5/6

3rd

Macklin

30.7

OR: 18 Form: 7 Odds: 5.7

7/2

Joy Of Life

25.4

OR: 11.3 Form: 13.6 Odds: 0.6

40/1

Montanna

OR: 16 Form: 0 Odds: 1

28/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Gracchus De Balme	134	132	118
Music Drive	127	133	118
Macklin	122	127	—
Montanna	114	113	61
Joy Of Life	95	—	—

Last Run