13:10 Exeter

Tuesday 5 November 2019

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:15

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Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 5m 29.30s

Ambion Hill²²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard

16/1

Showed some ability here in a bumper in March and should be suited by this step up in trip for his hurdles debut. No surprise to see him make an impact.

Form: 74-

Cat Tiger²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| BF| D

5/6

Dual Grade 3 chase winner in France last year, after which he changed hands for €180,000. Beaten odds-on favourite on his British/stable debut at Worcester last month. Scope for improvement now back up in trip and should go close if bouncing back.

Form: 31341-2

Espressino^h¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: C J Down

100/1

100-1 on debut in a Warwick maiden hurdle in May (2m3f, good), but beaten under 7L there, showing some promise. Needs to step up on that bare form and also has it to prove on soft.

Form: PPPU-5

Normandy Soldier²²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade

40/1

Won a maiden open point (second start) in March (2m4f, good). Half-brother to two winners, one who stayed 3m4f. Probably one to watch on his rules debut.

Form: 51-

Rufio^t1³⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

16/1

Has shown some promise in a couple of bumpers, the latter here (good to soft) when last seen in January. Plenty of stamina and some hurdles success in his pedigree. Tongue-tie goes on. Should be capable of a good debut in this sphere.

Form: 33-

Saint De Reve²⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

14/1

Improved with each of three bumper runs, but unable to get close to winning any of them (all on good to soft). Brother to a couple of winners over hurdles, so open to doing better now he tries this discipline and goes up in trip.

Form: 9/44-

Unwin Vc²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 127| C

9/4

Debut bumper winner here (soft) in February 2018, and followed up under a penalty at Wincanton. Again ran well here twice in novice hurdles last season. Drops back in trip for reappearance and should be a big player if ready.

Form: 11/9392-

Welsh Saint¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| BFWS

7/1

Won a maiden bumper at Warwick (third start; good) in March. Fell when a beaten second at Huntingdon on hurdles debut in May. Had wind surgery since then, and as a brother to four winners, no surprise if there is improvement to come.

Form: 421-F

Lady Kingsmill¹⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis

250/1

Big prices and well beaten on both starts so far. Can only take a watching brief.

Form: P32/U-7

Forecasts

Cat Tiger (5/6), Unwin Vc (9/4), Welsh Saint (7/1), Saint De Reve (14/1), Ambion Hill (16/1), Rufio (16/1), Normandy Soldier (40/1), Espressino (100/1), Lady Kingsmill (250/1)

Unwin Vc has the best form over hurdles going into this and will be a huge player if ready first time, but he didn't resume at his beat last season, so has a little to prove. Saint De Reve and Cat Tiger are both of interest for the Ditcheat team of Paul Nicholls, and neither would be surprise winners. Welsh Saint could improve for his wind surgery, while Ambion Hill is another from a top yard who should be in the mix. However, RUFIO has run well here and should be suited by this step up in trip. He is the suggestion on his hurdles debut.