15:15 Exeter

Tuesday 16 April 2019

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

Join Racing TV Now Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 9.30s

Granitic³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 112

10/1

Debut winner of a maiden bumper at Towcester (good to firm) last May. Ran well at Sandown last time, when considering he was a 100-1 shot, a 17L third was respectable. Faster ground should help, but looks more one for handicaps.

Form: 1003

Here's Bingo³³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Gardner

50/1

Best effort so far came here on debut in a heavy-ground bumper last year. Has struggled over hurdles so far, and a watching brief is advised.

Form: 37-76

Melekhov³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

5/6

Dual bumper winner on soft last season. Beaten favourite on hurdles debut at Bangor in October, which was his only run on good ground. Returned from a break in much better form last time, and he's a strong contender if handling the ground.

Form: 211-42

Nineohtwooneoh²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

16/1

Has shown very little in three runs in maiden/novice hurdles. Represents stellar connections, so any support for him would be interesting, but hard to fancy on what we have seen from him on the racecourse.

Form: 805

Raving Bonkers⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

100/1

Fast ground Towcester bumper winner on debut last season, but that was a moderate contest. Held in both completed starts over hurdles this season, including after wind surgery. Can only watch.

Form: 15-86F0

Rococo River⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams

7/2

Was well supported prior to falling on debut at Hereford last spring. Off the track from then until January, when a staying-on sixth of 16 here over C&D. That should have helped regain some confidence and a big run could now be on the cards.

Form: F-6

Vinnie Rouge¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland

250/1

Big prices and well beaten in all four starts so far and impossible to recommend him on that evidence.

Form: 9070

Woodukheleyfit⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle

100/1

AW winner over 7f in 2016, when with Sylvester Kirk, but form tailed off last year. 50-1, jumped tentatively and tailed off on stable/hurdles debut at Southwell last month. Can only watch.

Form: P

Salazar¹⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies

250/1

7f debut winner at Ascot (good) on the Flat in 2017, when with Kevin Ryan. Went backwards thereafter, and was last of 14 and beaten a long way on debut for this trainer in November. Watching brief advised on his hurdles debut.

Form:

First Destination⁶¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens| D

33/1

10-1 winner of a bumper on debut at Market Rasen (good) in August 2017. Not seen since then. Hard to know what to expect over hurdles, given her Flat pedigree, but there is obviously some ability there and a market check is advised.

Form: 1-

Quick Wave⁴⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 114

5/1

Showed ability in France, despite not winning. Has raced only on testing ground so far, so will need to prove she handles this faster surface, but after a respectable British debut at Catterick last month, she can't be ruled out in a weak race.

Form: 5/54244-

Trysor Ynys¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams

150/1

Well held or pulled up in a bumper and two novices' hurdles. In good hands, but can only watch at present.

Form: 0P-0

Timassini²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

20/1

Showed glimpses of ability on debut, when 66-1 and an 8L fifth at Taunton (2m3f, good) in February. Was supported in to 3-1 last time, but looked very novicey at the first flight and was back pedalling when a late faller. Bit to prove.

Form: 5F

Non-Runners

Corruption¹⁵⁷

Weight: 10-11| Age: 5

T: Alexandra Dunn J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Melekhov (5/6), Rococo River (7/2), Quick Wave (5/1), Granitic (10/1), Nineohtwooneoh (16/1), Timassini (20/1), First Destination (33/1), Here's Bingo (50/1), Corruption (50/1), Raving Bonkers (100/1), Woodukheleyfit (100/1), Trysor Ynys (150/1), Salazar (250/1), Vinnie Rouge (250/1)

A weak contest where few have genuine claims on what they have achieved so far. The most obvious contender is Melekhov, who came back to form last time, but he is unlikely to represent much in the way of value, and he does still have to prove himself on good ground. Therefore, the suggestion is ROCOCO RIVER, who was clearly expected to do much better than he did on debut last year, and may now be able to fulfil that promise after a better effort when last seen. First Destination would have to be considered if ready after a lengthy absence, with Quick Wave and Timassini others of interest.