14:00 Exeter

Tuesday 17 April 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Follow 188Bet On Twitter Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 5m 52.9s

King Calvin^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 134

5/2

Point-to-point winner that beat two better fancied rivals at Wincanton on his latest start, a marked improvement on his previous effort. Conditions clearly fine and with further improvement likely, has to be a major player, even with the penalty.

Form: 5211-41

Master Tommytucker⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| C

4/5

Made a winning debut here in February when beating the useful yardstick Molineux with a bit in hand, and he promises to be suited by this step up in trip. Wouldn't need much more than that to be a big threat here, and has to be shortlisted.

Form: 1

Benechenko²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 114| BF

6/1

Second at Fakenham two starts back the highlight of his hurdling career to date but that form needs improving on. Very disappointing again last time and in present frame of mind, looks one to avoid.

Form: 4-23328

Ericas Lad³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis

200/1

Very little in the way of form in point-to-points and can't be considered a likely winner here.

Form: DF3U35

Hunt Politics²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex

10/1

Won a point-to-point last year and whilst he's not really come alight over hurdles yet, showed a little more last time and this stiff track and trip may help his cause. One to consider for e/w purposes if a decent price.

Form: P1-0435

Bean Liath¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D L Williams

50/1

Point-to-point winner that showed minor promise on her debut at Towcester last month but finished very tired that day. One for handicaps this summer.

Form: 53P-1P3

Dawn's Little Lady⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss Sarah Robinson

250/1

Sent off big prices and tailed off on both starts to date. Has no realistic chance here barring accidents to the others.

Form: 45

Non-Runners

Applesolutely³⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: R Mitford-Slade J: M G Nolan

Forecasts

Master Tommytucker (4/5), King Calvin (5/2), Applesolutely (3/1), Benechenko (6/1), Hunt Politics (10/1), Bean Liath (50/1), Ericas Lad (200/1), Dawn's Little Lady (250/1)

Only a handful to consider for this opener, and of those, KING CALVIN makes the most appeal. He was quietly impressive when winning at Wincanton, taking the scalps of two higher-rated horses than himself and there appeared to be no fluke about that. He can follow up under a penalty. Master Tommytucker was another to impress last time out and he may well be the one to give him most to think about. Applesolutely travelled like the winner at Hereford last time out but didn't find quite as much as expected, but nevertheless she may be best of the rest.