12:55 Exeter

Friday 6 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:3014:0514:3515:0515:40

British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 20.7s

Sporting John³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| CD

1/4

Followed up a point-to-point win at Borris House (3m, soft) in March with a victory over this C&D in similar conditions on stable and Rules debut just over a month ago. Strong claims of maintaining his unbeaten record.

Form: 1-1

Ambion Hill³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard

25/1

Signs of ability on second of two bumper starts at this venue but finished well beaten on hurdling debut over an extended 2m5f on soft ground here last month. Probably best watched dropping in distance.

Form: 74-6

Buckhorn George³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard

20/1

Improved on sole bumper effort when finishing fifth in a 2m maiden hurdle at Chepstow (soft) a month ago. Represents a useful stable and is worth a check in the market in this contest.

Form: 05

Darsi Rose³⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: L Hurley

200/1

Placed in a point-to-point on good ground in Ireland in October last year. Well held on only completion from two subsequent starts in that sphere and is probably best watched on Rules debut following more than a year off the track.

Form: FP42P6-

Five Star Getaway¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams

150/1

Subsequently disqualified following a point-to-point win in the spring and has failed to figure in two Rules starts to date. Others make more appeal at present.

Form: PD-P0

Flagrant Delitiep²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford

100/1

Fair fourth in a 1m4f bumper at Lignieres (good-to-soft) in France at the end of June. Well beaten fifth on stable and hurdles debut over an extended 2m3f at Lingfield (heavy) last month however.

Form: 745

Frisco Bay³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

66/1

Good 4L second in a 3m point-to-point at Monksgrange (yielding-to-soft) in April. Wellk beaten 26L sixth in a 2m bumper at Chepstow (good-to-soft) on Rules debut at the end of october and more needed on hurdling debut.

Form: 4-26

Gastara²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly

100/1

Placed second in a bumper at Chepstow (good-to-soft) in April but has failed to build on that in two starts in similar races this autumn including when 42L 12th of 13 at Newbury (good-to-soft) a month ago. Others make more appeal on hurdles debut.

Form: 2-00

General Probus

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kieron Edgar| T: J Scott

100/1

Unraced home-bred Geordieland gelding out of a mare who won on the Flat and over hurdles. Worth a check in the market on first racecourse appearance.

Form:

Guy¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

12/1

Sent off favourite when finishing 14½L third in a five runner novice hurdle at Market Rasen (soft) last time out. Hails from a good yard and is an interesting runner dropping in trip.

Form: 2-63

Howaboutrightnow²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: W S Kittow

50/1

Finished fifth on both starts in bumpers most recently when beaten 11L in an 18 runner contest at Wincanton (good-to-soft) last month. Likely more needed on hurdling debut.

Form: 55

Lamanver Bel Ami^h1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber

66/1

Couple of promising efforts in bumpers last season including when fourth on heavy ground when debuting here 12 months ago. Well beaten on hurdling debut over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton (soft) last month however and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 45-7

Le Cameleon²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Williams

5/1

Run well on both starts to date including when finishing 1¾L third in a 2m novice event at Ffos Las (soft) on hurdling debut last month. Interesting and remains open to improvement.

Form: 6-3

Percy Pops^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

80/1

Fair effort when finishing 25L sixth in a bumper at Chepstow (soft) on Rules and stable debut a month ago. Hood worn that day is absent on hurdles debut.

Form: 0/6

Starsky¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls

6/1

Placed on three of his four starts to date including when 5¾L third in a 2m maiden hurdle at Huntingdon (good-to-soft) a fortnight ago. Represents a top yard and is one to note in this contest.

Form: 23-63

Cheeky Perry²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: J D Frost

250/1

Held in a couple of point-to-point bumpers for previous stable and was beaten 28L when finishing 15th of 18 on Rules and stable debut at Wincanton (good-to-soft) last month. Others make more appeal on hurdles debut.

Form: 57-0

Havacuppa¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

200/1

Signs of ability in two bumper starts earlier this year including when third in a six runner event over an extended 2m1f Fontwell (good-to-soft) in June. Held on both hurdles starts however and is probably best watched at present.

Form: 6340

Just Go For It²⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: K Bishop

150/1

Beaten 93L when finishing tenth on Rules debut in a novice hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Wincanton (good) in February. Others hold stronger claims on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 0-

Forecasts

Sporting John (1/4), Le Cameleon (5/1), Starsky (6/1), Guy (12/1), Buckhorn George (20/1), Ambion Hill (25/1), Howaboutrightnow (50/1), Lamanver Bel Ami (66/1), Frisco Bay (66/1), Percy Pops (80/1), General Probus (100/1), Flagrant Delitiep (100/1), Gastara (100/1), Five Star Getaway (150/1), Just Go For It (150/1), Darsi Rose (200/1), Havacuppa (200/1), Cheeky Perry (250/1)

SPORTING JOHN made a winning Rules debut here last time out and he with similar conditions forecast he can register a second Rules victory with a success in this big field novices' hurdle. The selection can get the better of Guy who showed promise when placed last time out while third can go to Starsky who represents the stable who took this race with a useful individual 12 months ago.