12:55 Exeter

Sunday 26 November 2017

All12:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:55

Gail Harrison - A Lifetime In Racing Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 5m 57.5s

Tactical Manoeuvre^t²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 100| BF| C

14/1

Is rated 10lb higher than when easily scoring here in April over slightly longer trip. Pulled up either side of that effort and off 219 days, entitled to get involved if ready to go / in the mood.

Form: 903P1P-

We'll Be There^t²⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: W S Kittow| OR: 99

7/1

Improving all the time in four hurdles starts last term, culminating in neck second over 2m3½f (soft) at Chepstow on final start. First-time tongue tie (retained) appeared to help there and should go well over this longer trip.

Form: 6/P322-

Steel Express²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 97| C

8/1

Yet to make the frame in seven starts over hurdles, four of them around this track, including this trip. Laboured effort at Chepstow on reappearance and despite mark slipping all the time, isn't easily supported.

Form: 66736-0

Ochos Rios³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 96

12/1

Got within 5L of Defi Du Seuil in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las in October 2016. Paths have gone in different directions since. Final effort last term at the Welsh track (2m4f, soft) was promising, pulled up on reappearance 34 days ago, may be fitter.

Form: 5273-P

Drive On Locky^b,t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 90

22/1

Now ten-years-old and things have fallen apart for him since winning at Plumpton last December (3m1f, good to soft). Recent efforts are not encouraging, including over 3m at Taunton this month.

Form: P0-8F77

Minella Gathering²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 88

4/1

Took a 3m1f heavy-ground Plumpton handicap back in February off a lowly mark but not a particularly good jumper and hasn't threatened to repeat it in three runs since, including reappearance at Wincanton last month.

Form: 3615-38

Gonnabegood^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 82

13/2

Minimal signs of promise so far in six-race career over timber, most recently going down 27L in fourth of 10 over this C&D 33 days ago. Has plenty improvement to find.

Form: 3808P-4

Moonlight Flyer^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: N de Boinville| T: J Scott| OR: 82

9/2

Efforts in four hurdles outings since May have resulted in handicap tumbling a stone from opening mark. Slightly better here over 2m2½f (soft) earlier this month but still left with work to do.

Form: 00-0404

Norse Da^p1,t1²⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Ian Popham| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 79

80/1

Has shown next to nothing in eight starts so far, five of them over timber, and failed to complete the course in final three starts last term. Back from 200-day break with little to recommend at the moment.

Form: 0/90PU-P

Whiskey John¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 77

6/1

Maiden after 11 starts in this sphere, didn't get beyond the first (keen) on return from 467 days off at Chepstow last month, but decent effort over 2m2½f (soft) here since, finishing 5½L third of 17. Up in trip and could build on that showing.

Form: P/033-U3

Admiral Blake²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 72| CD

12/1

No win since 2014, into the veteran stage now and although he can travel well in his races, tends to find little for pressure. Tailed off at Chepstow (2m3½f, good to soft) on seasonal bow, having never got into the race.

Form: 37559-0

Forecasts

Minella Gathering (4/1), Moonlight Flyer (9/2), Whiskey John (6/1), Gonnabegood (13/2), We'll Be There (7/1), Steel Express (8/1), Admiral Blake (12/1), Ochos Rios (12/1), Tactical Manoeuvre (14/1), Drive On Locky (22/1), Norse Da (80/1)

The fitting of a tongue tie appeared to bring something extra from WE'LL BE THERE when last spotted in March finishing second at Chepstow. This is anything but strong, so she will hold sound claims if fit enough to herself justice on her reappearance. Whiskey John also put up a much-improved effort at this track 19 days ago, when just clear of Moonlight Flyer, both are worth a look with preference for the first-named over this longer trip. Tactical Manoeuvre is temperamental but has talent while Ochos Rios can go better having had a run.