15:20 Exeter

Tuesday 23 October 2018

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Happy Birthday Matthew Johnson Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 3m 58.80s

Thomas Blossom^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽³⁾| T: A Stronge| OR: 99| CD

6/1

1-8 over hurdles, that success being over C&D two years ago, when 5lb higher. Wind surgery last winter has not resulted in an upturn in fortunes. Bit to prove.

Form: 03/463-5

Sin Sin^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 99

12/1

Went close on the Flat when trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger (stays 1m4f), but has not shown commensurate ability over hurdles so far. Still early days, but plenty to prove at present from this mark.

Form: 435-5

Mr Lando^t⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 97| D

20/1

Has won on ground from good through to heavy, but yet to do so on a fast surface. Back on his last winning mark today, so may do better than of late. Not ruled out.

Form: 214-970

Field Exhibition²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: Christian Williams| OR: 97

14/1

1-27 and that win came over fences in July, when 3lb lower. Has made the frame just once from 15 attempts over hurdles, when 1lb lower at Southwell last month. Failed to complete twice since but not ruled out if she does so this time.

Form: 1F33UF

L'Attesa^p⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 97

150/1

Triple hurdle winner in Ireland at up to 2m3½f. Badly out of sorts in both codes of late. Can only watch.

Form: 586P-8P

Dream Free^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 96

10/1

Slightly better effort last time out at Newton Abbot and another 2lb drop will help. Still early days over hurdles and not ruled out of the prize money.

Form: P-7556

Uno Mas²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 95

7/1

Has slipped 15lb in three handicap starts since joining this trainer before producing a better effort last time when 9L fourth from this mark at Market Rasen. Each-way claims.

Form: 409054

Elysian Prince^b1,t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: N B King| OR: 93

7/2

Now 18-months since he last won, when 10lb higher. Needs more than last time out, but has a squeak on a couple of runs this year. New headgear may help. Enters calculations.

Form: 63V364

Buckeye Shan⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr C Bickers Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 88

20/1

0-13 under rules, Well held from this mark last time. Others readily preferred.

Form: P-P4844

Akkapenko^p⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr Morgan Winstone⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 86

5/1

Triple Flat winner overseas at up to 1m4½f. Has shown improved form over hurdles lately, including when less than 4L third from this mark at Newton Abbot last time, from this mark. Enters calculations.

Form: 087-023

Diablerets^h1¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: David Prichard⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 86

50/1

Plummeting in the handicap, but then that should be no surprise given what he has shown so far. Hooded for the first time, but not easy to fancy his chance.

Form: 4/8F40-9

Ladies Dancing³²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 84| D

8/1

In the twilight of his career but managed to notch a fifth career win at Stratford (2m½f, good) in August, when 7lb lower. Pulled up last time when 1lb higher than today, so again has a bit to prove.

Form: 49731P

Thundering Home^b,t¹⁰⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Charlie Davies⁽⁷⁾| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 82| CD

25/1

Multiple hurdle winner, including three times at this venue. Now 19lb lower than the last of those, 18-months ago. Very little encouragement from recent efforts. Hard to fancy.

Form: 76307-F

Kilcaragh Boy⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 71

10/1

1-40, out of the handicap and readily opposed again here.

Form: 45575F

Nenergy's Quest^t⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 66

125/1

7lb out of the handicap and has rarely shown any ability on a racecourse.

Form: 74400-P

Forecasts

Elysian Prince (7/2), Akkapenko (5/1), Thomas Blossom (6/1), Uno Mas (7/1), Ladies Dancing (8/1), Dream Free (10/1), Kilcaragh Boy (10/1), Sin Sin (12/1), Field Exhibition (14/1), Buckeye Shan (20/1), Mr Lando (20/1), Thundering Home (25/1), Diablerets (50/1), Nenergy's Quest (125/1), L'Attesa (150/1)

A poor contest, and not an easy to solve. The suggestion is to side with ELYSIAN PRINCE. Neil King has his team in decent nick and this seven-year-old looks as though he retains enough ability to make an impact here, while the new headgear combination could help to tip the scales in his favour. Field Exhibition would have claims if able to complete, with Mr Lando and Akkapenko others not ruled out. Dream Free and Uno Mas are not written off.