14:05 Exeter

Tuesday 16 April 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Follow racingtv On Twitter Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 22.10s

Ask Dillon³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 137| D

2/1

Stayed on well to win an Ascot maiden hurdle (soft) over a similar trip in December. Bettered that effort here in defeat (2m2f) next time, under a penalty, before being found out in the Ballymore at Cheltenham latest. Should be a leading player.

Form: 225120

Boldmere³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 127

8/1

Returned from a short break to win at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) in February, and not disgraced when 9L ninth in a Sandown Grade 3 last time. Slightly longer trip looks within range, but will need some improvement to win in this field.

Form: 5-9619

Dolphin Square²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| C

2/1

Irish point winner who was easy to back when 7-1 and making all to win on rules debut here over 2m2f (soft) last month. Penalised for that today, but highly likely that this longer trip will play more to his stamina strengths. Looks a major player.

Form: P-4811

Mr Pumblechook⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 129

9/1

Scored easily on soft ground at Plumpton (2m4f) in maiden company in December. Has taken a couple of backward steps since then. Longer trip could help, but needs both improvement and also to prove that he acts on a sound surface.

Form: 6-32164

Blackjack Kentucky²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

3/1

Heavy ground Irish point winner in November 2017 and changed hands for £100,000 soon after. Built on a respectable rules debut when beaten 2¼L at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) last month. Should be thereabouts if handling quicker ground.

Form: 6/1-83

Officernisi^h1¹⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

200/1

Showed some ability in one of his three bumper runs, but well held on his hurdles debut here in January. Hood now fitted, but he looks one to consider more closely when he goes handicapping in time.

Form: 0-760

Spanish Starling¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies

250/1

Last of six on debut in a Ludlow bumper and then 100-1, lacked fluency in his jumping, and pulled up back at that track on hurdles debut recently. Can only watch.

Form: 6/P

Flowing Cadenza²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: James Best| T: R H Buckler

250/1

Well beaten in three runs in bumpers. Has a stamina-laden pedigree, and dam won a chase over this trip, so it's a good starting point over hurdles, but this looks like a very tough introduction.

Form: 038

Oyster Perch²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: C Gethings| T: R H Buckler

250/1

Well held in two bumpers and when fifth of six on her hurdles debut at Hereford last month. Readily opposed.

Form: 785

Forecasts

Ask Dillon (2/1), Dolphin Square (2/1), Blackjack Kentucky (3/1), Boldmere (8/1), Mr Pumblechook (9/1), Officernisi (200/1), Flowing Cadenza (250/1), Oyster Perch (250/1), Spanish Starling (250/1)

Ask Dillon may have come up short at the highest level last time, but he has some very solid form to his name and should appreciate the drop back to this level. He can go close, but he looks vulnerable to the potential improver DOLPHIN SQUARE. The five-year-old's debut success came over an inadequate trip, and with almost half a mile further to travel in this race, his proven stamina should be an asset. Blackjack Kentucky receives weight from the aforementioned pair. He has to prove himself on good ground, but if he handles it, he could be a player. Mr Pumblechook is not written off.