15:10 Exeter

Friday 22 February 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:5017:20

GG Tips 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 4m 41.6s

Accomplice⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

7/1

French form is impossible to evaluate but stable are in great form and have won two of the last four renwals of this contest.

Form: 1

Ask Dillon⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

9/4

Off the mark under rules at Ascot when beating the disappointing Larkbarrow Lad. Relished the stiff test posed by the testing ground and strong wind that day, so questions as to whether this shorter trip will help this Albert Bartlett entry.

Form: 7/1-2251

Umbrigado⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

5/2

Cost £160,000 after finishing 2nd in his only Irish point-to-point and that has looked like money well spent. The form of his win at Southwell has been upheld since and he must be considered a leading contender.

Form: 2-11

Alfie Corbitt⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

66/1

Won an Irish point-to-point at the third attempt in May and bought for £68,000 shortly after. Tailed off in two attempts over hurdles and highly tried here.

Form: 3-3178

Bindon Lane³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: V R A Dartnall

150/1

Son of Arvico out of a mare who was placed over hurdles. Only beat one home on bumper debut and it would be a major surprise if he proved good enough.

Form: 0

Born To Sting³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: T R George

100/1

Has not looked the finished article in either start and this looks too stern a test on his hurdling debut.

Form: 60

Buster Moon³³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott

33/1

Has been off 11 months since a much improved run at Chepstow. Still looks short of this standard and may need the run.

Form: 6/F43-

Come On Teddy⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: T R George

33/1

Highly promising debut in a bumper here a year ago when splitting a pair who have franked the form. Disappointing on return and highly tried on hurdling debut.

Form: 2-0

Fly To Mars³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 127

6/1

Has chased home a couple of 131-rated horses at Plumpton and that makes hime one to fear here in receipt of the allowance.

Form: 6262

Gibb Hill³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler

250/1

Well held in all four starts in bumpers and eventually succeeded in losing his rider at the fifth on hurdling debut.

Form: 5-079U

Haldon Hill³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B J Geraghty| T: V R A Dartnall| C

4/1

Made all to win a heavy ground bumper here in December. Handled these quicker conditions when second on hurdling bow, but needs to step up in what is undoubtedly a much stronger race.

Form: 4-12

The Ibbster¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: B Forsey

250/1

Dual point-to-point winner has been tailed off on both starts under rules and now finds himself in above-average race.

Form: 542/17-5

Shelcomeonfordrun³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: M G Nolan| T: K Woollacott

150/1

Point-to-point form amounts to more than he has achieved under rules. Tailed off on return last month and out of her depth in a better race here.

Form: 750810

Forecasts

Ask Dillon (9/4), Umbrigado (5/2), Haldon Hill (4/1), Fly To Mars (6/1), Accomplice (7/1), Come On Teddy (33/1), Buster Moon (33/1), Alfie Corbitt (66/1), Born To Sting (100/1), Shelcomeonfordrun (150/1), Bindon Lane (150/1), Gibb Hill (250/1), The Ibbster (250/1)

Accomplice, Umbrigado and Ask Dillon all bring winning from to the table but shoulder penalties accordingly. Haldon Hill showed a good attitude last time, but preference is for FLY TO MARS who has bumped into decent sorts at Plumpton and looks the type to be suited by this stiffer track.