15:15 Exeter

Thursday 12 October 2017

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Great Point Media Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 4m 40.30s

Cleni Wells^h⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: M Hill| OR: 120| D

25/1

Mildly progressive during the early part of 2017 and emerged with credit at Newton Abbot in late spring/early summer, when taking a small field contest over this trip by a neck. Not so good since and this mark looks high enough.

Form: 13-21P0

Hidden Cargo¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 120

7/1

Has yet to break his duck over hurdles, but has posted a number of fair efforts in novice/maiden company; most notably when beaten 1L by the subsequent Grade 3 hurdle runner up Movewiththetimes at Wincanton in December (2m). Handicap bow.

Form: 35243-

Steely Addition¹⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116| BF

11/4

Placed in a couple of starts over hurdles for previous trainer Hugo Froud (has form with Hidden Cargo), but was a well beaten favourite on his final start for that yard at Market Rasen in April. Moved on for £45,000 and is now switched to handicaps.

Form: 1334-

After Eight Sivola²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 115| D

16/1

One time reasonable performer, but off the boil since making a winning chasing debut at Newton Abbot in October 2016, and showed little on his seasonal return at Uttoxeter last month. Eased a few pounds in the weights.

Form: PP4-469

Hoke Colburn³²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Cooper| T: H Whittington| OR: 111

10/1

Probably hasn't made the expected progress over hurdles since taking a Southwell bumper by ½L in May 2016, but goes handicapping now for the first time with a leading jockey booked.

Form: 6/1835-

Hill Fort^t¹⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 110

40/1

Dual purpose performer who was on the premises when last in action over hurdles in May. The more rain that falls the better, and a step up in trip from 2m is most likely helpful, assuming that he's fit and ready to roll.

Form: 6420-23

Samson^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 109

10/1

His two hurdles successes have come over vastly differing trips, and he was driven clear to score by 4L at Uttoxeter last month (2m good to soft). A 5lb rise makes life tougher, but he is race fit, stays, and has previous Exeter form in the book.

Form: P81431

Greyed A²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 109| BF

12/1

Improved when switched to handicaps late last year, winning in a determined manner at Lingfield in November (2m3½f soft) but that progression has plateaued and he posted a 'U' grade performance on his final start at Fontwell in February (pulled up).

Form: 62136P-

Jarlath³⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 108

28/1

Returns to action for the first time in 11 months, and back over hurdles for the first time since finishing third to Miss Estela over 2m1f here in April 2016. Likely to need the race.

Form: 132323-

Pengo's Boy^h³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: W S Kittow| OR: 108

8/1

Back to form with a bang (always travelled well throughout) when a decisive 5L scorer at Newton Abbot last month (2m1f good to soft). Hit with a hefty 11lb rise since and now needs a career best performance to follow up.

Form: 47/0671

Thundering Home^b,t⁹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Alice Mills⁽³⁾| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 107| CD

50/1

A three time winner at this track (including over C&D), who also goes well at Wincanton. Remains 4lb higher than when beating Glimpse Of Gold by 2L here in April (2m1f good) and is probably paying the price for his consistency now.

Form: 101-540

Tinted Rose¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 106| BF

10/1

Game when winning a Fontwell bumper in October 2016 (2m1½f soft), but fair to say her limitations have been exposed over hurdles. Likely to do better in time as he mark eases further.

Form: 13243P-

Khismet^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁷⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 105| BF

16/1

Newton Abbot winner in October 2016 (2m1f good), who has been competitive off higher marks since, and made the frame on both starts last month. This mark looks just beyond her, but her latest conqueror Soiesauvage has run well in defeat since.

Form: 5-93523

Trans Express¹⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 105| CD

7/1

His sole career success in 15 starts came over this C&D in December 2016 (soft) when accounting for Rocklander by ¾L. A combination of higher marks and stronger races stunted his growth thereafter, but more feasibly treated now off 105.

Form: 21850-5

Forecasts

Steely Addition (11/4), Trans Express (7/1), Hidden Cargo (7/1), Pengo's Boy (8/1), Samson (10/1), Tinted Rose (10/1), Hoke Colburn (10/1), Greyed A (12/1), Khismet (16/1), After Eight Sivola (16/1), Cleni Wells (25/1), Jarlath (28/1), Hill Fort (40/1), Thundering Home (50/1)

Both Pengo's Boy and Samson have been hit by the handicapper for their respective Newton Abbot (11lb) and Uttoxeter (5lb) successes, with strong preference for the latter of that pair given his versatility in terms of trip, and his previous Exeter form (runner up in November 2016). However, the pair to concentrate upon are clearly HIDDEN CARGO and Steely Addition. They clashed at Wincanton in December when chasing home the subsequent Grade 3 Betfair Handicap Hurdle runner up Movewiththetimes (151 rated), and it looks evidently clear that both Alan King and Philip Hobbs could exploit their respective current handicap marks of 120 and 116 in the weeks and months which lie ahead.