16:45 Exeter

Sunday 8 April 2018

All14:0514:3515:1015:4016:1516:4517:15

Electrotec Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 23.50s

Colt Lightning²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: T Lacey| OR: 116| D

3/1

Has landed back to back races at Hereford for his up and coming trainer who has had an excellent season. As we have learned it pays to follow his horses until beaten, but big improvement is needed to defy a 13lb rise for a hard fought victory.

Form: 746P11

Vodka All The Way¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 114

11/2

Produced his best effort over hurdles last time when also shaping as though he needed a stiffer test such as this. Handicap mark is cautious but workable if the anticipated improvement is produced.

Form: 573-682

Clondaw Bisto^b,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 112

4/1

Needs a stiff test such as this but consistently finds his lack of pace a major hindrance. Weighted to be competitive, but will probably find one or two too good again.

Form: 043643

Holdbacktheriver⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110| BF

8/1

Runner-up at Sandown (2m4f, soft) and probably found 2m too sharp last time. Young amateur 5-17 this season and hard to dismiss his chances.

Form: U32526

Plantagenet²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 105

9/2

Well placed to win a couple of minor handicaps in the autumn, but has found life much harder of late and he may not want the ground as testing as this.

Form: 12U634

Only Gorgeous¹⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 104| C

14/1

Course specialist chaser who has won three times here at up to 3m6½f. Handles heavy ground, but 0-12 over hurdles and may need a more arduous test.

Form: 3-246P4

Martabot^p1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 101

7/1

Jumped better on his penultimate start but disappointed last time and it is hard to find any excuses. Change of headgear employed this time, but he remains unconvincing.

Form: 24-P936

Scrupuleux¹⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 100WS

33/1

French form amounts to little and he has achieved even less in two runs for his new connections. Has undergone wind surgery and dropped in the weights, but still impossible to fancy.

Form: 6064/PP

Just Spot¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: K Bishop| OR: 88

20/1

Landed some good bets to score at Wincanton on Boxing Day over 2m and she stays this far. Now just 2lb above her last winning mark and she'd be of interest if attracting support.

Form: P-21703

Forecasts

Colt Lightning (3/1), Clondaw Bisto (4/1), Plantagenet (9/2), Vodka All The Way (11/2), Martabot (7/1), Holdbacktheriver (8/1), Only Gorgeous (14/1), Just Spot (20/1), Scrupuleux (33/1)

None of these are as progressive as Colt Lighting who bids to complete a hat-trick. A 13lb rise for a hard fought success last time is probably more of an advert for his trainer's skills rather than the achievement itself and he may be vulnerable under topweight. HOLDBACKTHERIVER shaped well at Sandown before finding the drop to 2m against him last time. With his rider proving good value for her 7lb claim he can take advantage of the weight he receives. Vodka All The Way and Clondaw Bisto look best of the rest, although any support for Just Spot, under her featherweight, would make her more interesting.