15:40 Exeter

Thursday 20 December 2018

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Jockey Club Catering Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 5m 47.4s

Marvellous Monty^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 102

6/1

Not discredited when fourth of 14 behind Premier Rose in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter last month. Should strip fitter now, but remains a maiden after 19 attempts, so hardly one for maximum faith.

Form: 93-3674

Echo Watt^h¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Matthew Hampton⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 102

10/1

Won a Ffos Las bumper last year, but not pulled up any trees over hurdles, and looks harshly treated on balance. Ran s shocker here last time, and big surprise if he could bounce back to win here.

Form: 4U65-8P

Great Fairy²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 102

10/1

Form is patchy, and while he produced his best effort when 7L fourth of 17 to Radical Archie in a handicap hurdle at Chepstow last time, he's far from certain to build on that now.

Form: 5694P4

Parlour Maid^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: R G Hawker| OR: 100

50/1

Second at Ludlow a year ago, but tailed off/pulled up on both starts since (seemed to lose action last time), and handicapper hasn't flinched.

Form: 10B2P-8

Martabot^p²⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 100WS

10/1

Claioms on third at Taunton in March, but well below form on both starts since, and it remains to be seen whether a breathing operation has been of any benefit. Market should guide.

Form: 4/P9365-

Spirit Of Rome²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr D Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Mitchell| OR: 99

50/1

Failed to progress from initial promise for Harry Whittington, and showed very little on debut for new yard at Hereford, so makes limited appeal now.

Form: 2345-35

Motts Cross⁸⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr M Legg| T: C J Down| OR: 98| C

16/1

Finished third over C&D when last seen, but that was more than two years ago, and he can't be supported until proving his iold ability remains intact.

Form: 416273/

Amzac Magic^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽³⁾| T: Jack Barber| OR: 95

6/1

Lightly raced gelding whose best effort came when third here in April, and this winning pointer is likely to do much better now qualified for handicaps in this sphere. Shortlist material.

Form: 12/53-0

Henchard¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Charlie Davies⁽⁷⁾| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 95

50/1

Shaped quite well here on debut in February 2017, but hasn't matched that form in two subsequent starts, and no great appeal given how poorly he ran last time.

Form: 57/P

Change Ur Tune^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 92

22/1

Flattered by his third at Towcester in May, and better judged on latest fifth of 16 to Destined To Shine in handicap at Hereford. Place claims if he can build on that, but that is no certainty.

Form: P9-39P5

Kayf Charmer²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Conor Smith| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 91| CD

8/1

Scored three times in 2016, and back to winning ways out of the blue over C&D last time, although there is a suspicion she was flattered by sitting well off a strong early pace. Must show she can repeat that run.

Form: 3P-6261

Jigsaw Financial¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr James King| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 91| D

50/1

Fife of his six wins have come on good or quicker ground, and while he probably still needed the run last time having unseated early on his return, conditions here are unlikely to suit.

Form: 2157-U0

Mauna Kea^v⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 84

2/1

Made it 17th time lucky when running away with a handicap hurdle on good-to-soft ground at Taunton last time. Well treated on that evidence, and respected for all his overall record prompts a degree of caution.

Form: 4P7651

Macca's Stowaway⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 88

20/1

Failed to be revived by Gordon Elliott, and first two runs for current yard were poor, but fared better when 17¾L third of 11 to Mauna Kea at Taunton last time. Remains to be seen how strong that form is.

Form: 67-6093

Black Anthem^p1,t1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Savage⁽³⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 86

16/1

17-race hurdles maiden who continues on a downward spiral in the weights. Going backwards when falling heavily last time, and debatable whether first-time headgear is the answer to his woes.

Form: P6-377F

Dartmoor Girl⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Frederick Tett| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 83

100/1

Hasn't got within hailing distance of the winner in 11 starts under Rules, and seems a lost cause after two desperate efforts this season.

Form: 7365-PP

Kerry's Lord²²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy| OR: 69

100/1

Yet to make the placings in ten starts over a three-year period, and seems of no account these days.

Form: 7P5P7/P

Non-Runners

All Riled Up⁹⁶²

Weight: 10-8| Age: 10

T: H Chisman J: Non Runner

Kingston Mimosa⁹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 6

T: Mark Gillard J: Pte Alexandra Bell

Forecasts

Mauna Kea (2/1), Amzac Magic (6/1), Marvellous Monty (6/1), Kayf Charmer (8/1), Martabot (10/1), Echo Watt (10/1), Great Fairy (10/1), Motts Cross (16/1), Black Anthem (16/1), Macca's Stowaway (20/1), Change Ur Tune (22/1), All Riled Up (25/1), Parlour Maid (50/1), Spirit Of Rome (50/1), Kingston Mimosa (50/1), Jigsaw Financial (50/1), Henchard (50/1), Dartmoor Girl (100/1), Kerry's Lord (100/1)

MAUNA KEA bolted up at Taunton, and while there is a smidgeon of doubt about the value of that form given her previous record, she is very well treated on the face of things, and should go well under a penalty. Kayf Charmer also needs to prove that her latest win isn't flattering, but that did come over C&D in soft ground, which is a a plus point. Amzac Magic has plenty to find on form, but looks a surefire improver for the switch to handicaps, and also makes the shortlist.