14:20 Exeter

Thursday 10 October 2019

All14:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:0517:35

Join Racing TV Now Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:22 | Winning time: 4m 30.10s

Carntop^b,t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 122

25/1

Must improve from recent run at Newton Abbot (2m; good to soft) when he was tailed off. That was an unusual run given the consistent profile he held previously, including when winning at Southwell (1m7f; good) only two starts ago.

Form: 4-34216

Back On The Lash^h1¹⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 119

12/1

Bounced back from Cheltenham (2m4f; good) disappointment when runner-up at Market Rasen (2m4f; good) in April. Now has first start since then, and has only had the six starts, so is still completely unexposed. Interesting contender.

Form: 1314P-2

Higgs²⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 118

6/5

Makes seasonal return on first run for new stable who are subsequently in flying form at present (5-11 in past fortnight). Trainer excels with eking out more improvement from new recruits, and a market check is advised with this one.

Form: 427658-

Grageelagh Girl⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117| BF| D

25/1

Tried chasing over the summer, but is now 0-4 in that sphere. Returns to hurdles off a 3lb lower mark than when fifth at Perth (2m4f; good) in April. Place claims at best in what is a competitive affair.

Form: 65-2524

Sizing Tara^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Kimber⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117| D

7/2

Made it 2-2 at Newton Abbot (2m2f; good) when travelling powerfully throughout to win in fine style last month. Talented apprentice retains the ride, and with his claim, he is effectively still 2lb well in. The one to beat in hat-trick bid.

Form: 364411

Working Class¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harrison Beswick⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 115| D

10/1

Raised 3lb after producing another good effort to finish second at Warwick (2m5f; good to firm) last month. Likely to be bang there if in the same form, and is one of the main contenders.

Form: 742-412

Chirico Vallis^h,t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115WS

33/1

It was slightly more encouraging last time, when he managed to complete to finish sixth (although well-beaten) at Worcester (2m4f; good) when returned to hurdles. Needs to build on that, and has plenty of convincing to do before one can trust him.

Form: F2/3P-P6

Eclair Des Sablons¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 115

8/1

Handicap newcomer who was a good second to Skandiburg at Huntingdon (2m3f; good) when last seen in April. Hot race to start handicap career off in, but should have a minor role to play if fit enough to do himself justice.

Form: 251622-

Airton^p,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 114

25/1

More exposed than his rivals, and he was tailed off on return from a short break at Stratford (2m4f; good) last month. Yet to win a handicap in six attempts this year, and is unappealing.

Form: 30-97F5

Dontcounturchikens^t¹¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 112

28/1

Not out of the first three in any of his four starts this year, including when runner-up at Uttoxeter (2m; good to soft) last time out. Little bit to find on that bare form. Now makes handicap debut off fair mark.

Form: 3/023-32

Norab^b²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 112| D

40/1

One of two runners in this for the stable. Made reappearance after long absence in May and now has first run over the smaller obstacles since October 2017. Fit from the flat and plenty of races to be won with him in handicaps, but not one for today.

Form: 438143/

Arty Campbell^b³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 108

25/1

Returns to hurdles for the first time since May when he was third at Ffos Las (2m4f; good) in a slightly higher grade contest than this one. 8lb above last winning mark, but he could run into a place.

Form: 6/0612-3

Forecasts

Higgs (6/5), Sizing Tara (7/2), Eclair Des Sablons (8/1), Working Class (10/1), Back On The Lash (12/1), Carntop (25/1), Airton (25/1), Arty Campbell (25/1), Grageelagh Girl (25/1), Dontcounturchikens (28/1), Chirico Vallis (33/1), Norab (40/1)

This opening race looks to be at the mercy of SIZING TARA, who travelled like the winner all the way through the race when winning easily at Newton Abbot most recently. He is still 2lb well in with his jockeys claim taken into consideration, and he can achieve the hat-trick with the minimum of fuss. His main danger is likely to be Working Class, who is compiling a consistent few runs together in this sphere, and only found the progressive Misty Bloom too strong when second last time out. One of the more interesting contenders in the race is Higgs. He makes his stable debut for Dr. Richard Newland who excels with these types and is currently operating at a 45% strike-rate.