19:20 Exeter

Tuesday 8 May 2018

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Heavitree Brewery Handicap Chase

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 4m 36.4s

Marquis Of Carabas²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: B S Hughes| T: David Dennis| OR: 127| D

13/2

Best on a decent surface so ran better than finishing position suggests on recent return, beaten just 4 lengths. Jockey booking catches the eye and should go well despite shouldering plenty of weight.

Form: 253264-

Kings Lad^t³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 124| D

17/2

Hasn't won for over three years and never without 'soft' of 'heavy' mentioned somehwere in going description. Having first chase start for over 2 years and 16lb lower than last outing so worth a glance in the betting market.

Form: 44P6/56-

Perfect Timing^p¹⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 123

40/1

Rattled off a hattrick in 2016/17 campaign but hated soft ground when running poorly in two starts this winter. Returns now with the sun shining and decent claiming jockey on board, so certainly not without hope if it stays dry.

Form: 211/16P-

Lip Service^h²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117

4/1

Last wins came in Tramore chase in October 2016, and although he ran well over hurdles at Cheltenham in October has been disappointing in two runs since returning from wind surgery. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 126/45P-

Casper King^b³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116| C

5/1

Three runs over fences this season and has pulled up on each occasion. Underwent wind surgery following chasing debut but thngs clearly haven't gone well. Dropped a further 4lb and champion jockey rides, but looks up against it on recent evidence.

Form: 94/5PPP-

Innocent Girl^h,t²⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 115| D

5/1

Runner-up in each of her last three starts, two of them over fences. Running well but does appear to be in the grip of the handicapper at the moment.

Form: 22/3222-

Triple Chief^p⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 113| BF| CD

5/1

Won over C&D in March 2017 but now 18lb higher. Scored at Taunton last term over hurdles and fences, and is 5lb higher than 10 length success here in February. Top conditional on board so not out of it by any means.

Form: 412616-

Dark Mahler¹¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 112WS

5/1

Very lighlty raced seven-year-old who won at Ludlow on penultimate start before weakening quickly there in January after racing prominently. Has undergone wind surgery and has first run since that op so might go well.

Form: 3P64/16-

Non-Runners

Conna Cross²⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: J Farrelly J: James Best

Above Board¹⁸²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Aidan Coleman

Admiral's Secret¹⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: V R A Dartnall J: Conor Shoemark

Bredon Hill Lad³⁷

Weight: 10-7| Age: 11

T: Mrs S Gardner J: Sean Houlihan

Forecasts

Lip Service (4/1), Triple Chief (5/1), Innocent Girl (5/1), Dark Mahler (5/1), Casper King (5/1), Admiral's Secret (5/1), Conna Cross (6/1), Marquis Of Carabas (13/2), Above Board (8/1), Kings Lad (17/2), Bredon Hill Lad (14/1), Perfect Timing (40/1)

This is a very trappy handicap chase with most of the runners having some sort of realistic chance. ABOVE BOARD Is one of a number of horses in this race who have undergone a wind operation, and if it has worked he would have every chance of recording his fourth win from his last six outings. There are plenty of dangers, including Marquis of Carabas, Admiral's Secret and Perfect Timing, while a case can also be made for King's Lad Cona Cross, and Dark Mahler, among others.