16:50 Exeter

Friday 23 February 2018

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

Higos Insurance Services Devon National Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 8m 32.80s

Cresswell Breeze^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: James Nixon⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 137

17/2

Won the 0-140 Southern National from 7lb lower at Fontwell (3m3½f, good to soft) in November and beaten just 3L from this mark in the London National (3m5f) at Sandown next time. A repeat of either run would see her in the mix again here.

Form: 298-135

Knockanrawley^v1³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 132

17/2

Consistent performer over fences, winning two and being placed in seven of his 13 starts. Stays 4m½f on soft ground. Has a rare off day at Haydock last time, but back up in trip and in different headgear, he appeals as a contender.

Form: 526-23P

Thomas Patrick²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 131| C

7/2

Won a 2m7f (soft) hurdle here in November and has improved since. Landed a novices' chase on debut at Chepstow (2m7½f, heavy) last time out under the champion and not ruled out from 6lb higher, despite inexperience.

Form: 021281

Emperor's Choice^p⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 131

14/1

Returned to form with a win at Haydock (3m3½f, heavy) in December from 7lb lower, but fell at first when bidding for a repeat Welsh National win last time. Never easy to rule out, but will need to eek out more to win again.

Form: P5P-31F

Dawson City³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: A Thornton| T: P Gundry| OR: 127

8/1

Flattered by the margin of his 32L Wincanton win (3m1f, heavy) from 1lb lower in March, his sole chase success. Back in better form at that venue again last time and not ruled out, though suspicion is that he will probably find one or two too good.

Form: 31P-4P3

Spookydooky^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126

9/1

1-13 over fences, that success coming in a novices' handicap at Newbury in 2015, when 8lb higher. Beaten just 1½L in this last year from the same mark, he can't be ruled out on second starts after wind op and with 3lb claimed.

Form: 8837P-5

Shotgun Paddy⁴⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124

11/2

It's four years since he last won, beating Carruthers in Warwick's Grade 3 Classic Chase (3m5f, soft) from 21lb higher. Has been unable to take a number of reasonably good opportunities since then, but on handy mark if he can come back.

Form: 3P-55P6

Act Now^p1,t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 116

12/1

Was a thorough stayer over hurdles (won on soft) an improved significantly on her chase debut when a neck runner-up at Plumpton last time from 3lb lower. Unexposed and cheek pieces now added for this step up to an extreme trip. Interesting.

Form: 41-5252

All Kings²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 111

25/1

0-9 so far, but showed promise that he may be able to win a chase on his debut in this sphere at Taunton (2m7f, soft) in December. Well held from this mark at Chepstow last time and it won't be easy to break his maiden in this field.

Form: P8-3826

Jepeck⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: K Woollacott| OR: 109| BF

15/2

Multiple point-to-point winner who ran well here when a 4½L third over C&D (soft) in December. Another good effort at Market Rasen last time and has claims with feather weight to carry after a 1lb drop.

Form: 1-34P34

Yanmare^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 109| CD

7/1

8lb worse off with Jepeck for beating him 4½L over C&D (soft) in December, so may struggle to maintain those placings on these revised terms and was well held from this mark at Warwick last time.

Form: 223-F15

Non-Runners

Gingili¹²²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: J Farrelly J: N D Fehily

Forecasts

Thomas Patrick (7/2), Shotgun Paddy (11/2), Gingili (11/2), Yanmare (7/1), Jepeck (15/2), Dawson City (8/1), Knockanrawley (17/2), Cresswell Breeze (17/2), Spookydooky (9/1), Act Now (12/1), Emperor's Choice (14/1), All Kings (25/1)

A relatively open contest where cases can be made for several runners, but KNOCKANRAWLEY is the one who finds favour. You can usually set your clock by the performances of Kim Bailey's charge, so his latest run was a bit of a disappointment. However, back over an extreme trip and on this ground, we could see a revival in fortunes from what is a good mark. Cresswell Breeze is entitled to healthy respect, while Spookydooky and the unexposed runners Gingili, Thomas Patrick and Act Now are of interest. Lower down the weights Jepeck is not ruled out.