15:10 Exeter

Friday 23 February 2018

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

Six Nations Rugby At 188Bet 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 4.61s

Dentley De Mee⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 125

2/1

Bumper winner who landed a Taunton maiden hurdle (2m½f, good to firm) to in November and went close in a handicap (2m5f) next time. Beaten 12L in Listed company last time. Has claims despite penalty here, though slight concern regarding the ground.

Form: 56-3128

Molineaux²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125

11/10

Had knocked on the door on several occasions before winning at Wincanton (1m7½f, heavy) last time, when front pair were 11L clear. Penalised for that, but is proving consistent and looks a leading player with conditions again to suit.

Form: 442321

East Wing^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Cobden| T: A J Honeyball

50/1

Best effort so far was on debut in a Uttoxeter bumper (good to soft) last May. Beaten a cumulative 260L in three novices' hurdles so far and looks best watched until he can show us more.

Form: 28708

Inspireus²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

22/1

33-1 and suffered one or two traffic issues on debut at Plumpton (2m, soft), when a 25L fourth on debut last month. That was a promising start in the context of this race and he probably has each-way claims this time.

Form: 4

Lapford Lad¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

150/1

Another whose best run so far was on debut in a bumper, in his case here (good) last May. Beaten 52L in his only completed hurdle so far, here over C&D (heavy) earlier in the month and gets the chance of further education here.

Form: 40P7

Live For Today¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bishop

200/1

Well beaten on bumper debut in 2016, pulled up in a hunter chase last April and then a 56L 12th of 13 on his debut for this trainer at Taunton earlier in the month is his rules racing CV and impossible to make a case for him as a result.

Form: 0/36PP-0

Master Tommytucker

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

10/1

Half-brother to bumper/2m hurdle winner Rouquine Sauvage out of a useful 2m-2m1f hurdle/chase winner. Top stable a bit quiet at the moment with Festivals to come, but it would be no surprise to see him make an impact on debut.

Form:

Reikers Island⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/2

Won an Irish point-to-point at the fourth attempt in December and bought for £60,000 within a week. Half-brother to eight winners, including 2m4f German Listed. In good hands and probably capable of making an impact on rules debut.

Form: 4231

Royal Tara¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams

20/1

Won a point-to-point and novices' hunter chase (2m7f, good) in Ireland. Had wind op prior to recent debut for this trainer. Always towards rear and beaten 29L at Warwick (2m5f, soft), but couldn't rule out improvement this time.

Form: P/1-16

Hally's Kitchen¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: N P Madden| T: Mrs F M Shaw

125/1

Made some progress in three bumpers and ran well enough for a long way on hurdles debut over C&D (heavy) recently. Can improve for that, though may have to wait for other days to pick up some prize money.

Form: 0-996

Forecasts

Molineaux (11/10), Dentley De Mee (2/1), Reikers Island (9/2), Master Tommytucker (10/1), Royal Tara (20/1), Inspireus (22/1), East Wing (50/1), Hally's Kitchen (125/1), Lapford Lad (150/1), Live For Today (200/1)

MOLINEAUX gained reward for some consistency last time out and may be able to defy a penalty and follow-up with conditions again to his liking. The ground is, however, a concern for fellow hurdle winner Dentley De Mee, whose best efforts so far have been on more of a sound surface. Reikers Island is very much respected despite this being his rules debut, while Master Tommytucker is another newcomer who could make an impact. Royal Tara and Inspireus are perhaps the others in this field who might be able to improve enough to have a say.