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In first-time cheekpieces he stayed on better than anything to push Premier Magic close in this 12 months ago when bidding to become the first successful 6yo since Kingscliff in 2003; has won all his subsequent completed hunter chases, in the last two staying on to nab Ferns Lock at Down Royal (3m, soft) and then repelling a fast-finishing Billaway at Naas (3m1f, heavy); deserves considerable credit last time for holding on after getting competitive a long way out; purchased since by JP McManus; gives the impression of racing lazily at times and the return of cheekpieces (absent last four starts) is probably a good thing.

RACING POST TIP

Sine Nomine

The smallest field since 11 ran in 1998 and this could be more open than the betting implies. Last year's runner-up Its On The Line doesn't always make life easy for himself and seems risky business as favourite, while it's a concern over today's trip that the hugely talented Ferns Lock has rarely looked the stoutest of stayers, a doubt that also dismisses Samcro. Past winners Premier Magic and Billaway should threaten again, while Time Leader is interesting despite having largely plied his trade at a lower level and over shorter distances. However, another surprise package could be SINE NOMINE, who is an improving mare with the wind in her sails after delivering her most convincing performance yet at Wetherby last month when making short work of last season's Aintree hunter chase runner-up Bennys King.

St James's Place Hunters' Chase PREVIOUS WINNERS

Year	Horse	Previous Form	Age	Price	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Premier Magic	1-11	10	66-1	Bradley Gibbs	Mr Bradley Gibbs
2022	Billaway	252-21	10	13-8F	Willie Mullins	Patrick Mullins
2021	Porlock Bay	221-12	10	16-1	Will Biddick	L Williams
2020	It Came To Pass	1-U17P	10	66-1	Eugine O’Sullivan	Maxine O’Sullivan
2019	Hazel Hill	112-11	11	7-2F	Philip Rowley	Alex Edwards
2018	Pacha Du Polder	4-114-3	11	25-1	Paul Nicholls	Harriet Tucker
2017	Pacha Du Polder	633-41	10	16-1	Paul Nicholls	Bryony Frost
2016	On The Fringe	77249	11	13-8F	Enda Bolger	Nina Carberry
2015	On The Fringe	31-122	10	6-1	Enda Bolger	Nina Carberry
2014	Tammys Hill	61213	9	15-2	Liam Lennon	James Smyth

St James's Place Hunters' Chase KEY TRENDS AND STATS

Key trends

Aged ten or 11, 9/10
Won over at least 3m, 8/10
Top-three finish last time out, 8/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 139, 7/10
Rated within 9lb of RPR top-rated, 7/10 (exceptions 18lb to 29lb off top)

Other factors

The record of the previous year’s winner is 141P7F.
There have been three back-to-back winners since 2012 – Salsify (2012-13), On The Fringe (2015-16) and Pacha Du Polder (2017-18). The last one before them was Double Silk in 1993-94.
Five winners had competed at a previous festival.
Those aged 12 or older are winless in the last ten years. The 13-year-old Earthmover (2004) is the only winner from this category since 1990.

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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - St James's Place Hunters' Chase 2023

PREMIER MAGIC had failed to give his running in this race last year when pulled up but, with cheekpieces added, came in to this year’s renewal once again in good order on the back of two point wins and toughed it out well to run out a surprise 66-1 winner. Its On The Line was struggling to get involved from the back of the third-last but finished strongly up the hill. This was a cracking effort. Shantou Flyer has a fine festival record having made the frame in the Ultima, a Kim Muir and two editions of this race and rallied to gamely from the last to regain third.