16:35 Exeter

Thursday 10 October 2019

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

Timeform Premium Ratings Available At racingtv.com Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 3m 59.10s

Verbitude¹⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 12-6| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 102

12/1

Apprentice jockey takes a handy 7lb off his back, and he looks the type to improve for the switch to handicaps after having a quiet year in juvenile maiden hurdles last season. Opening mark is no gift, but he should be there or thereabouts.

Form: 654-

Raving Bonkers^h1,t1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 94WS

5/1

Not fully exposed over hurdles just yet. Seems to be progressing with each start in handicaps. However, he has work to do to reverse the form with Never A Word who he finished 16-lengths behind when last seen.

Form: F05-4S3

Veiled Secret^p,t¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: David Dennis| OR: 90

9/2

Signed off last season in great style when he broke his maiden duck over hurdles at the 10th attempt. Arrives here on seasonal reappearance off what is a 7lb higher mark, but should be open to more progress this season. Not ruled out.

Form: 0P6P21-

Chatelier^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 88

8/1

Unseated his rider in early stages of his seasonal comeback at Worcester (2m4f; good) last month. Still 5lb above last winning mark, but he should have place claims if he runs up to his true ability.

Form: 18P43-U

Trogir^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 88

50/1

Offered very little in four starts since joining this stable. Pulled-up at Worcester (2m7f; soft) where he was tailed off in a selling hurdle. Ground may have been to blame, but even his record before that would leave him with plenty to find.

Form: 0-0360P

Never A Word^b,t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 86

11/4

19-race maiden over hurdles, but hard to knock either of his latest two efforts at both Fontwell (2m1f; good to firm) and Sedgefield (2m4f; good) most recently. Has to enter considerations if in similar form for yard operating at 30% strike-rate.

Form: 845F22

Ladies Dancing⁴⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-13| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 81| D

14/1

Admirable 13-year-old who is having his 80th career start. Back down to the mark he scored off at Newton Abbot (2m1f; good) in June, but needs to bounce back from majorly disappointing effort at that same track in August.

Form: 4-81040

Minnie Escape^b³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 75

13/2

Posted probably her best run yet when third behind the upwardly mobile Sizing Tara (runs in the 2.20pm) at Newton Abbot (2m1f; good to soft) at the beginning of last month. Place claims at best.

Form: 4-0P653

Chance It^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 72

13/2

Still chasing his first won over hurdles after 27 attempts. Ran well for a 22-1 shot though, when only just failing to make the frame at Newton Abbot (2m1f; good). Still difficult to recommend in a race where there are less exposed sorts.

Form: 6-7P954

Non-Runners

Here's Bingo¹²⁷

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: Mrs S Gardner J: Lucy Gardner

Forecasts

Never A Word (11/4), Veiled Secret (9/2), Raving Bonkers (5/1), Chance It (13/2), Minnie Escape (13/2), Chatelier (8/1), Verbitude (12/1), Ladies Dancing (14/1), Here's Bingo (20/1), Trogir (50/1)

A low-grade handicap in which minimum stakes are advise for those having a monetary interest in this contest. The lightly raced Verbitude progressed with each of his three starts in juvenile hurdles last season. However, the handicapper may have overreacted to his overall form by handing him a stiff opening mark. Never A Word has been in consistent form the last twice, & should be bang there again after finishing second to the in-form Akkapenko at Sedgefield recently. We'll take a chance on the fitness of VEILED SECRET who returns to the track for the first time in 189 days, but posted a career best when last seen and should have some more improvement in him this season.