15:45 Exeter

Tuesday 17 April 2018

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

Daily Racing Specials At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 5m 13.1s

Muhtaris^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Edward Austin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 117| D

50/1

Useful handicap hurdler on his day but hadn't been seen for 15 months before reappearing at Kempton recently, where he finished tailed off. May need another race or two to achieve peak fitness.

Form: 2P1B0/P-

Drops Of Jupitor⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 116| CD

16/1

Easy winner here in December but hasn't repeated the dose in three starts since, although she seems to reserve her better efforts for here. Handles soft ground and still on a reasonable mark, so not dismissed, but needs to dig in better late on.

Form: 721664

Rainy Day Dylan^h,t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 114| D

9/2

Been in good form this calendar year, ready winner at Wincanton in January and has run to a similar level twice since. This trip should be fine and having had a short break, should be capable of getting in the shake up.

Form: 4P8142

Choix Des Armes^h⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 107

6/4

Well backed and won as easy as you like at Wincanton last week, coming right away in the closing stages to win on the bridle. Connections striking whilst the iron is hot and under the penalty, looks the one to beat here.

Form: 7-0631

Take A Break^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Buckley⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 113| BF| D

18/1

Doing little wrong at present and looked about ready to strike again when a close second at Sedgefield last time out, sticking on well. Handles soft/heavy ground fine and if running his race again, has place chances.

Form: 5P5632

The Brothers⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 113

6/1

Looked to be getting the hang of things when a staying-on third at Wincanton in January but took a backwards step at Kempton last time. Possible this track will suit better so could bounce back, and too soon to write him off yet.

Form: 88U537

Mr Fickle⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108

50/1

Dropping quickly in the handicap but that's because of some pretty moderate efforts and he may be one to watch until showing some signs of a return to form (possibly on better ground).

Form: 12-9800

Tea Time Fred^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 108

12/1

May well have got on the scoresheet but for a final hurdle blunder at Fontwell last time, unshipping his rider. That didn't go unnoticed by the handicapper, who has raised him 5lb for that, and that makes life harder here. Chance nevertheless.

Form: UP536U

The Mighty Ash^b1⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 102

6/1

On the plus side, best effort to date did come at this track last year but he's been going backwards since then and now blinkers are given a go to try and reverse his fortunes. Did run better last time, though, so improvement may be forthcoming.

Form: 246-053

Mahler's First²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 102

16/1

Only had the four starts, so has room for improvement on his handicap debut today, and he did show some promise behind Polydora here in December. Market probably the best guide as to his chance.

Form: 9-4P5

Kayf Charmer²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 88

20/1

Seemed to run better for wind surgery last time out, sticking better to the task than had previously been the case to finish third at Chepstow. 2lb lower than last winning mark at present, so if it works again, could still have a hand in the finish.

Form: 4P0U03

Non-Runners

Master Work²²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: P Hobbs & J White J: T J O'Brien

Samson's Reach³⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: R J Price J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Choix Des Armes (6/4), Rainy Day Dylan (9/2), The Mighty Ash (6/1), The Brothers (6/1), Tea Time Fred (12/1), Drops Of Jupitor (16/1), Mahler's First (16/1), Take A Break (18/1), Kayf Charmer (20/1), Master Work (20/1), Samson's Reach (25/1), Muhtaris (50/1), Mr Fickle (50/1)

Plenty of these can be given chances on bits and pieces of their form but they'll all be playing for the places if CHOIX DES ARMES turns up in the same form as his easy Wincanton victory last week. The wind surgery he'd had seemed to do the trick and he looked the winner a long way from home. A penalty won't stop him if he's in that form. Rainy Day Dylan , Kayf Charmer and if there's some money for him, Mahler's First all look likely ones for the frame and the unlucky last time Tea Time Fred can't be discounted either, although he's not the most consistent and may not repeat that effort.