14:20 Exeter

Tuesday 24 October 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Read Noel Fehily At 188Bet Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 4m 14.85s

Purple 'n Gold^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 110| D

33/1

Returns from a spell over fences. A winner at Fontwell in June (2m1½f good to firm) where a change of tactics (prominent ride) and the application of a tongue tie helped. Less convincing since and concedes weight to all of his rivals this afternoon.

Form: 515857

Cave Top²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr William Biddick| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 110

7/1

Finished 18½L fifth to Caius Marcius on handicap debut at Wetherby in March (2m good), and returns for his seasonal debut needing more having been eased 3lb in the weights by the assessor.

Form: 256335-

Berry De Carjac²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: G Harris| OR: 108

17/2

His overall career profile isn't the strongest (1 from 21), but he bolted up under today's rider in a similar contest at Stratford in late August (2m½f good). Hit hard by the handicapper thereafter and high enough in the weights at present.

Form: 44-1245

Project Mars^p1¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Gifford| OR: 107

25/1

Lightly raced after just five career starts, and was on the premises (most likely held) when falling at the last at Towcester in May (1m7½f good to firm). Makes his handicap debut.

Form: 532-F5

Bohemian Rhapsody^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 106

33/1

Runner up in a Newton Abbot seller (2m2½f good to soft) on debut for this trainer in early September (ex Brendan Powell), but soon dropped out on his next start when upped in grade, so the percentage call is to oppose today.

Form: 403-027

Scrutinise^p1²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr E David⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 103

20/1

A three time winner on the Flat for previous trainer Ed Dunlop, and joined this yard for 80,000 gns in October 2016. Very disappointing over hurdles so far (jumps moderately), including on handicap debut at Worcester. Wears first time cheek-pieces.

Form: 795-P

Jaunty Inflight¹⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Page Fuller| T: C J Down| OR: 102| D

12/1

Went close when beaten 1½L by Third Act here in November (2m1f soft), but has raced over fences in the main since (winning twice). Ended the season on a low note at Fontwell in May (burst blood vessel), so well-being a slight concern.

Form: 212P1-P

Theatre Stage¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 98

11/2

Lightly raced. Made the frame in a couple of novice hurdles, albeit well beaten by far superior rivals, before finishing fifth on handicap debut at Ffos Las in May (2m4f good to soft). Seasonal reappearance.

Form: 32-5

Kastani Beach^v³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 97| D

16/1

Old timer who has won a couple of races over timber in 27 career starts, but not since March 2015. On a reasonable mark, but shoddy over his hurdles on his recent seasonal reappearance at Plumpton (2m good).

Form: 732-368

Quinto⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr H Hunt⁽³⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 96

25/1

His sole career success came for John Quinn in a 3m1f Catterick novices hurdle in January 2016, but he has bits and pieces of placed course form over fences last term. Pulled up twice in mid summer and back hurdling now with a point to prove.

Form: 2232-PP

Cougar Kid²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss Brodie Hampson| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 94

15/2

Just 1lb higher than winning at Catterick in February (2m3½f soft) for today's rider, but whilst hitting the frame on each of his last two starts hasn't done quite enough to suggest a return to the winners enclosure is imminent.

Form: P80733

Lady Longshot^h,t¹⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss V Wade⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 93

11/1

An eight race maiden who probably has only progressed marginally since switched to handicaps. Beaten 14L when third to Bitter Virtue at Stratford in May (2m2½f good), but that winner has hardly advertised that effort since.

Form: 64052-3

Norse Light^p,t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr James King| T: David Dennis| OR: 91

20/1

His last career success came in hock deep ground at Leicester in January 2016 (1m7½f heavy), when beating Akula by a neck, and whilst he's 9lb lower now despite plenty of placed efforts, his most recent form is average at best.

Form: 25-7P46

Get Ready Freddy^t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 90| BF| D

10/3

Has won twice over fences since joining this trainer for £5,000 in May (Worcester and Uttoxeter), so has already paid his way. Switches back to hurdles now seeking to exploit a 17lb lower mark than over fences. Obvious claims in a winnable contest.

Form: 412214

Brean Golf Birdie^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Mr Jake Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 85

50/1

A 16 race career maiden who doesn't appear to stay over hurdles, and finished down the field on reappearance over C&D earlier this month in a contest blown apart by Bambi Du Noyer.

Form: 904-038

Forecasts

Get Ready Freddy (10/3), Theatre Stage (11/2), Cave Top (7/1), Cougar Kid (15/2), Berry De Carjac (17/2), Lady Longshot (11/1), Jaunty Inflight (12/1), Kastani Beach (16/1), Norse Light (20/1), Scrutinise (20/1), Quinto (25/1), Project Mars (25/1), Bohemian Rhapsody (33/1), Purple 'n Gold (33/1), Brean Golf Birdie (50/1)

Not the strongest of openers, and a contest which will make little appeal to the majority of punters. However, the standout contender is the Dan Skelton trained GET READY FREDDY. Like so many of his stablemates, he has come on in leaps and bounds since joining this stable, winning twice over fences, and seeing his handicap mark rise to 107 over the larger obstacles. Therefore, he makes strong appeal from a mark of 90 back over hurdles, with the assumption being that he'll be equally adept over timber now with this excellent young trainer. Lurking at the foot of the field amongst horses who are either maidens or haven't won for many a moon, he looks potentially thrown in at the weights.