14:35 Exeter

Friday 23 February 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:5017:20

Bet & Watch At 188bet.co.uk Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 4m 42.24s

Drops Of Jupitor²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 120| BF| C

2/1

Won a similar contest by 8L here (2m2½f, soft) in December and carries a penalty as a result. Disappointed last time at Wincanton (2m5½f, heavy) and prior to that in a Sandown handicap, but can't rule her out back here/dropped in trip.

Form: 0-72166

Waiheke⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L Heard| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121| BF| C

5/2

Won here (2m2½f, soft) by 9L in similar company on her second start back in November, but disappointed under a penalty when favourite last time time (beaten 25L). Bit to prove after that, but a repeat of her winning effort would give her claims.

Form: 514

Bella's Vision⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips

50/1

Well beaten in two bumpers so far and now makes hurdles debut. Half-sister to a hurdles winner over 2m5f/2m6f and out of a 2m2f/2m3f hurdle winner, so could go on to better things, but probably one to watch this time.

Form: 00

Bonza Girl²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott

40/1

Yet to be sent off at shorter than 33-1 and her performances have reflected that. Tailed off over 2m5½f (heavy) at Wincanton last time and now takes marked drop in trip. Not easy to enthuse about her chance.

Form: 097

Dame du Soir¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater

7/4

Won a couple of French AQPS races at 1m4f, on very soft/heavy. Now makes debut for this stable. Dam a full-sister to French 2m1f-2m6f hurdle/chase winner and market check suggested.

Form: 2131

Love Lane²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver

10/1

Not devoid of promise in three Irish point-to-points and made a nice enough debut when 22-1 and finishing 21L fourth at Towcester (1m7½f, soft) earlier in the month. Improvement possible and probably has each-way claims in this field.

Form: 0434

Madame Claud^h1⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard

200/1

Won a 1m3½f (soft) handicap at Bath on the Flat in 2016. Was off the track for a year and badly out of sorts under both codes since resuming, with only one coompletion from four hurdles starts. Beaten 51L on AW last time and readily opposed.

Form: B0PP

France Du Lukka^h1⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis

66/1

Ran well for a long way until weakening to be a 17L eighth of 10 on her debut in a Hereford bumper (2m, soft) in December. Couldn't back that up here (heavy) last time. Full-sister to a 2m1f-3m1f hurdle/chase winner, so this could be more her forte.

Form: 86

Gog Elles¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs K Stephens

200/1

48-rated maiden from 16 starts on Flat/AW and was beaten 53L on hurdles debut at Taunton (2m½f, soft) earlier in the month. Will need a lot of improvement on that to take a hand and impossible to recommend her at present.

Form: 0

Kestrel Valley^h1⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard

25/1

Finished approximately 10L ahead of France Du Lukka in a Hereford junior bumper (soft) in December, though well held (22L) at Ludlow against a field of mares last time. Stable's latest runner won, so perhaps she can also do better today.

Form: 57

Forecasts

Dame du Soir (7/4), Drops Of Jupitor (2/1), Waiheke (5/2), Love Lane (10/1), Kestrel Valley (25/1), Bonza Girl (40/1), Bella's Vision (50/1), France Du Lukka (66/1), Madame Claud (200/1), Gog Elles (200/1)

A race in which credible selections are thin on the ground and perhaps DROPS OF JUPITOR, who may have been found out by a longer trip and very testing ground under her penalty at Wincanton last time, can get back on track. Waiheke has to be respected as another to have won one of these races already, while dual French winner Dame Du Soir is also of interest. Others to consider are potential improvers Kestrel Valley and Love Lane.