15:50 Exeter

Friday 24 February 2017

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2516:5517:25

Higos Insurance Services Devon National Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 7m 49.8s

Theatrical Star²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132

10/1

Without a win since 2014. Has looked well handicapped on a number of occasions during this period including when second in a veterans race at Sandown. A 5lb rise for that looks harsh and he was below that form next time.

Form: UF-3460

Kingswell Theatre^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 130

20/1

Has faced some stiff tasks since landing back-to-back races in 2015. Takes a drop in class here but hard to recommend at present despite a plunging mark. Cheekpieces tried without success a year ago are reapplied.

Form: 16P3P-3

Abracadabra Sivola^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 129

13/2

Progressive young chaser who shapes as though he will get this trip. Requires a career best to land this but in capable hands.

Form: 218P1P-

Barton Gift^b¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: J L Spearing| OR: 127

12/1

Dour stayer who won over this C&D last season. Produced a career best to win last time and will require another to do the same here.

Form: 09161P

Spookydooky^t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126

7/2

Useful over these extreme trips but has failed to figure this term despite his mark looking more attractive. Never travelling well at Warwick last time and hard to see him figuring here.

Form: 244P-68

Say My Name^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: L Heard| T: R H Buckler| OR: 122

16/1

Inconsistent hurdler who has failed to convince over fences. Looks up against it but his best performances have come at this venue.

Form:

Audacious Plan^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan Moore⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 121

14/1

Form is inconsistent but handicap mark is beginning to look attractive. Has been on a downward spiral since finishing second in a four miler at the Punchestown Festival in 2015.

Form: P0F-P33

West Of The Edge¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 119

9/2

Has improved for switch to new yard. Form of his latest win at Carlisle has not worked out and he has something to prove off a 6lb higher mark.

Form: 4664-11

Woodford County^p⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117

12/1

Winner in the mud over C&D last season but has been on the decline since. Has not been a factor this season despite dropping down the weights. Hard to recommend at present.

Form: 56P0-9P

Millicent Silver^v³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: N D Fehily| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 117

10/1

Winner off this mark last season. Showed signs of a return to her best in first time visor over hurdles last time. Going and trip are ideal so of definite interest with jockey booking adding extra spice.

Form: BP323P

Vice Et Vertu^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 116

16/1

Goes well fresh, as proved when landing a gamble on his reappearance. Clobbered by the handicapper and failed to reproduce that form five weeks later. Has his first run this year so cannot be ruled out with headgear applied.

Form: 5155P8-

Talk Of The South¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 115

12/1

Winning hurdler who appears to be getting the hang of things over fences. This represents a step up in class and others make more appeal.

Form: 2F262P-

Ambion Lane^p⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: David Prichard⁽⁷⁾| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 101

50/1

Has shown little to suggest he can compete at this level. Racing from 6lb out of the handicap and has shown little for the application of cheekpieces so far.

Form: 3P44-0

The Clyda Rover^p⁶⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 86

100/1

Took this in 2013 but he is well below that level nowadays. Impossible to fancy from a mark 21lb out of the handicap.

Form: 11PPP/0

Non-Runners

Mountainous¹⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 12

T: Kerry Lee J: R Patrick

Dawson City³⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: P Gundry J: Wayne Hutchinson

Forecasts

Spookydooky (7/2), West Of The Edge (9/2), Abracadabra Sivola (13/2), Mountainous (7/1), Millicent Silver (10/1), Theatrical Star (10/1), Dawson City (10/1), Talk Of The South (12/1), Woodford County (12/1), Barton Gift (12/1), Audacious Plan (14/1), Vice Et Vertu (16/1), Say My Name (16/1), Kingswell Theatre (20/1), Ambion Lane (50/1), The Clyda Rover (100/1)

The booking of Noel Fehily for MILLICENT SILVER catches the eye. The Twiston-Davies mare came to hand around this time last season when picking up a race over a similar trip at Bangor in similar conditions. She showed signs of a return to form when fitted with a visor for the first time on her most recent start and she can take full advantage of the weight she gets from Mountainous. Conditions look ideal for Kerry Lee's veteran and his latest run offers his supporters hope that he can get back to winning ways. Abracadabra Sivola has more to do than when picking up a small race last time but he could improve further still for his step up in trip. 1. Millicent Silver 2. Mountainous 3. Abracadabra Sivola