14:10 Exeter

Tuesday 9 April 2019

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1517:50

Follow racingtv On Twitter Novices' Selling Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 31.95s

Big Fred^b1⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 102

6/1

The jockey booking and the addition of blinkers (first-time) may well be the significant factors for a bigger display from this one who drops to this level for the first time. Needs to reproduce his Ffos Las novice hurdle form in reality to go close.

Form: 05392-P

Black Anthem²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 87

6/1

Took advantage of a plummeting handicap mark to score in a low-grade Wincanton handicap chase earlier in the year. Predictably not in the same form next time, now back over hurdles down in grade but poorly off at the weights.

Form: 7F0417

Cybalko^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 115

2/1

Shown his best form at Southwell over fences; failed to build on any recent promise when flopping badly last time at Fontwell again over the larger obstacles. Not had much racing; returns to hurdles, favourably in at the weights if performing.

Form: 4225F4

Dream Free^p¹³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 92

3/1

With a career record of 1-33; 0-7 over hurdles his chances don't look that obvious although he hasn't run badly in handicaps of late (may just have failed to get home last time; 2m4f). Beaten in this grade before though, returns from an absence.

Form: 755654

Kahdian^t,v⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 76

12/1

Finally opened his account with a last time out chasing win scoring at the 31st attempt (given the way he travels should have scored before that). Needs a sound pace to operate off but will have to step up on his last run to have a chance here.

Form: 263UU1

L'Equinoxe

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: G & J MooreWS

14/1

Slightly worrying to see him start his career at this level having a decent pedigree (cost £25,000 as a three-year-old). Wind surgery already carried out which hints that he may have already had problems; market to provide vital clues.

Form:

Shades of Silver^b1¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: L Heard| T: Alexandra Dunn

50/1

Five-time Flat winner but the last of those victories came in June 2015 and his recent AW form for this yard is questionable to say the lease. One previous try (for former yard) over hurdles, blinkers on first-time, not one to be confident about.

Form: P-

Tilson^p1³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn

100/1

Completed once in point-to-points (remote third) but pulled-up the last time he was seen in that sphere (last month). Cheekpieces on for the first-time but very hard to construct a cogent case on what he's shown so far.

Form: P3/P

Cold Fusion¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: D L Williams| OR: 85

12/1

Unreliable and temperamental sort who was well backed and ran her best race to date last time out when runner-up in a similar event here over 2m1f. Chased home the favourite but has to be relied on to repeat that sort of form and that's not a given.

Form: PP/6652

Dora's Field^b,t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: W S Kittow| OR: 84

16/1

Finished behind Cold Fusion last time in a similar event faring better than she had of late although that form still amounts to very little. A reproduction of that run may be enough to see her squeeze in the frame again but others are preferred.

Form: 5603

Opera Buffa^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: James Best| T: L Hurley| OR: 66

150/1

Looks very limited on the evidence so far having shown very little under both codes for a 0-25 combined career record. Hard to see her winning this on past form.

Form: 44-5F0P

Forecasts

Cybalko (2/1), Dream Free (3/1), Black Anthem (6/1), Big Fred (6/1), Kahdian (12/1), Cold Fusion (12/1), L'Equinoxe (14/1), Dora's Field (16/1), Shades of Silver (50/1), Tilson (100/1), Opera Buffa (150/1)

An uninspiring start to an otherwise interesting eight-race card not many having shown the form or ability to win at anything above this level. Cybalko should have a good chance back over hurdles with the weights in his favour but he does have to overcome a poor run last time, he shouldn’t be far away though. BIG FRED was pulled-up last time but the addition of first-time blinkers, and easier grade and Richard Johnson doing the steering point to a better display being expected. Cold Fusion and Dream Free are capable of winning at this modest level while a market watch is advised on the newcomer L’Equinoxe who has some decent jumping relations; comes from a yard who know what they are doing.