Outsiders to consider for the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase

A National Hunt chase open to horses six years or older, the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase is contested over two miles and five furlongs and is only one of three races to be run over the Grand National fences across the three-day meeting. Additionally, it is a fixture restricted to amateur riders, oftentimes resulting a thrilling spectacle.

It was British thoroughbred Latenightpass who was successful in last year’s renewal, besting the Paul Nicholls-trained Cat Tiger by just over a length. The nine-year-old’s trainer Tom Ellis will be hoping his horse can become the first to reign supreme in back-to-back Hunters’ Chase fixtures since On the Fringe achieved the feat in 2015/16. 

He is paying 7/1 in the Aintree Foxhunters odds to do so, which is good for third favourite. If he is to secure consecutive wins however, he will need to beat a difficult field that includes a couple of talented favourites and multiple underrated longshots. 

It’s the latter we’re going to focus on in this article, as we take a look at the outsiders to consider for this year’s Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase. 

Bennys King 

Although 12-year-old Bennys King has experienced an inconsistent career since his debut in early 2016, the Dan Skelton-trained horse has had a strong 2023 campaign to date. In addition to winning the Open Hunters’ Chase by just shy of a length at Hereford in January, Bennys King followed that up with a dominant victory in his most recent outing at Fakenham, defeating Sir Jack Yeats by 11 lengths. 

If he can replicate that sort of finishing speed at Aintree this month – Bennys King is a contender to consider at 16/1. 

Cousin Pascal 

With two wins and a second-place finish in five starts this season, Cousin Pascal is a tempting 33/1 shot to upset the applecart on April 13. The John O’Shea-trained horse also has the ideal course and distance form in his favour, having won the same race by more than two lengths from Latenightpass in 2021. Therefore, while there are other horses who are better-fancied in this year’s Hunters’ Chase at Aintree – write off a former champion at your own risk. 

Not That Fuisse 

With a consistent run of form since March of last year, of which includes four triumphs and a second-place finish his last time out, French horse Not That Fuisse boasts strong claims for the Foxhunters Open Hunters’ Chase. 

Of those aforementioned wins, the Dan Skelton-trained horse’s run at Fakenham particularly impressed, as he took instruction well and finished strongly to reign supreme by four lengths from Law of Gold. If Not That Fuisse can do something similar this month, he could prove a good value bet at 20/1. 

Envoye Special 

Having triumphed in four of his last five starts, the Keiran Burke-trained Envoye Special is a bolter worth keeping an eye on at 40/1. His victory at Trebudannon turned heads, as he won in emphatic fashion by an eye-popping 25 lengths. While the nine-year-old’s level of competition has been anything but stellar – his form and comfort over the distance means he could very well challenge some of the better-fancied prospects late.