15:35 Exeter

Tuesday 22 October 2019

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

Prydis Love Devon Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 53.30s

Reikers Island¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| D

3/1

Looked decent when winning a Wincanton handicap chase (3m1f, good) by 6L last December, from a mark of 124. Ran well next time in Newbury's Mandarin, from today's mark, but held twice since. Yet to win when fresh, but can't rule that out.

Form: 5/3146P-

Another Stowaway^t²¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 136WS

10/1

Won a Leicester novices' handicap (2m6½f, good to firm) in February, when 9lb lower. Ran well from this mark here over C&D next time, before being below par over shorter. Had wind surgery since, goes well fresh, is unexposed and has claims.

Form: P/2P136-

Cresswell Legend^t¹³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 135| BF| D

4/1

Goes well on good ground and won on it in a Ludlow handicap chase (3m) in April. Pulled up when last seen from today's mark in a better race at Perth in June, but has claims if he can bounce back with useful 5lb taken off.

Form: P/2291-P

What A Moment⁷⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 135

16/1

Dual 3m1f Cheltenham winner (on good/good to soft) over fences in 2016 and 2017. Not seen since the latter, almost two years ago. Returns from 3lb higher mark. Can't rule him out if retaining that ability, but this is no easy comeback. Market check.

Form: 155PP1/

Viens Chercher^p,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 129| D

25/1

Goes well on good ground and scored on it at Perth (3m) in June, when 4lb lower. When close back there from today's mark, and in today's headgear, next time. Out of sorts since, however, so needs to bounce back.

Form: 212P57

Above Board³⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127| D

6/1

Dual good ground chase winner a couple of seasons ago. Well held of late, but slipping down to a competitive mark again, and with stable going well, a revival can't be ruled out.

Form: 132766-

Golden Sunrise^b1¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125| C

7/1

2m2½f (heavy) novices' hurdle winner here last year. Performed with credit over fences a couple of times last season, at up to 3m. Not ruled out from this mark on his handicap debut, now back from a break, although perhaps wants slower ground.

Form: 32/P43-5

Midnight Chill^t¹⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 124WS

7/1

4lb higher than his Ludlow (2m4f, good) win in March. Held next time at Market Rasen, and has had wind surgery and a decent break since. Optimism that he could get this trip on a sound surface, and a market check looks prudent.

Form: 112213-

Le Boizelo²¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 122

8/1

Heavy ground Wincanton novices' handicap chase winner (2m4f) last year, when just 1lb lower. Career-best came over C&D in January, but yet to win when fresh, and probably needs cut in the ground.

Form: F32P86-

Portway Flyer^t¹²⁶⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryony Frost| T: Ian Williams| OR: 120| BF| C

20/1

1-5 over fences, having scored at Kempton (2m4½f, good) on his penultimate start. However, not seen since May 2016. Returns from 6lb lower mark and has claims on old form, but unproven over this far and would want to see market confidence.

Form: 937P12/

Non-Runners

Indy Five⁵³⁵

Weight: 11-6| Age: 9

T: David Dennis J: David Bass

Forecasts

Reikers Island (3/1), Cresswell Legend (4/1), Above Board (6/1), Golden Sunrise (7/1), Midnight Chill (7/1), Le Boizelo (8/1), Another Stowaway (10/1), Indy Five (12/1), What A Moment (16/1), Portway Flyer (20/1), Viens Chercher (25/1)

Several of these return from lengthy layoffs, which could muddy the waters for punters. Among those are Portway Flyer, What A Moment and Indy Five, and money for any of those would suggest that they could be primed for their comeback. All would have claims if retaining their former ability, with perhaps What A Moment just preferred. Reikers Island and Midnight Chill are both of interest, but the suggestion is ANOTHER STOWAWAY, who is back from wind surgery, goes well fresh, acts here and on a sound surface.