15:00 Exeter

Tuesday 22 October 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:10

Savona Foodservice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 5m 39.4s

As I See It⁵⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 125

14/1

Soft ground maiden hurdle winner at Huntingdon (3m1f) in March 2018. Well held at Cheltenham a month later, but not seen since. Returns on a 5lb lower mark for just his second handicap, and a market check is suggested.

Form: 542310/

Putting Green^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 123

33/1

Dual Perth winner (both 3m; good/good to soft) in the summer. 5lb higher than the latter. Well held on the Flat since, but clearly can't rule him out, although he will need some improvement.

Form: P25-011

Merry Milan^p1¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 122| D

8/1

Won a Bangor maiden hurdle (2m7f, good to soft) in April 2018, on just his second rules start. Has run some good races in defeat since then, including when 7L second from today's mark on his recent return from a break. Contender.

Form: F4730-2

Thegoaheadman^p¹⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 119

10/1

Came good at the eighth attempt over hurdles at Downpatrick last time (2m5½f, good). Never easy to equate his Irish mark to those set in Britain, but he should be capable of better over this longer trip, and not surprise to see him go close.

Form: 0702P-1

Jubilympics¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 119

4/1

Heavy ground Wincanton novice hurdle winner (2m5½f) last year, when with Seamus Mullins. Went very close on debut for this trainer at Warwick (2m5f, good) last time. Up 2lb, so more needed, and also needs to prove herself over this trip.

Form: 02579-2

Quiz Master^t¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117

18/1

10lb higher than his sole win in a Fontwell handicap hurdle (2m5½f, good to soft) in February 2018. Went close from this mark after that, at Warwick (good) and after an abortive couple of attempts over fences, he tries his luck hurdling again.

Form: 2/223P9-

Espalion¹⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 117

8/1

Arrives seeing a hat-trick after back-to-back successes post-wind surgery, both at Chepstow in the spring (2m3½f, including on good). Returns from a break 3lb higher, up in grade and also in trip (should suit). More needed, but respected.

Form: 460P11-

Max Forte^p¹⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 116| BF| CD

12/1

Dual hurdles winner, including over C&D (good) last year from today's mark. Ran well in a similar race back here in May. Has run well when fresh, without yet winning, and not ruled out now back over hurdles.

Form: 7682-23

Golden Sovereign²²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116

8/1

Showing steady improvement over hurdles, and although this initial mark looks a bit on the stiff side for his handicap debut, he looks open to improvement now upped in trip and should be competitive if he can find some.

Form: 3/8354-

Oathkeeper¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 115

50/1

Won a couple of bumpers and a maiden hurdle (all on good) earlier in the career in Ireland. Ran well enough in two chases on his first two starts for this in-form stable, and is interesting back over hurdles from this mark, with 7lb claimed.

Form: 38F-43P

Landofsmiles¹⁹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 111

7/1

Nine-race maiden who stays well, acts on good, and is on a competitive mark. Looks likely to be heavily involved again.

Form: 647623-

Cracker Jak¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 109| BF| C

5/1

Won both at Newbury (3m, good to soft) and here (2m5½f, good) in the spring, the latter when 7lb lower. Found out from this mark when stepped up in grade at Uttoxeter recently, after a break. May have needed that but will need to improve on it here.

Form: 93211-5

Pres¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 107

33/1

Well held in all three hurdles runs. Step up in trip could help, but not easy to fancy him from this initial mark.

Form: 3/6366-8

Non-Runners

Jasmin Des Bordes²⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: D Pipe J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Jubilympics (4/1), Cracker Jak (5/1), Landofsmiles (7/1), Golden Sovereign (8/1), Espalion (8/1), Merry Milan (8/1), Thegoaheadman (10/1), Jasmin Des Bordes (10/1), Max Forte (12/1), As I See It (14/1), Quiz Master (18/1), Putting Green (33/1), Pres (33/1), Oathkeeper (50/1)

Another interesting contest, where the suggestion is to side with handicap newcomer JASMIN DES BORDES, who could begin to improve from what looks a workable mark. Merry Milan returned in good shape from a break last time, and looks a danger, as potentially does Jessie Harrington's raider Thegoaheadman. Oathkeeper, Landofsmiles, Jubilympics and Quizmaster all add to what looks likely to be a competitive race, while the presence of As I See It after a layoff adds a further potential twist.