15:35 Exeter

Wednesday 1 January 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Happy New Year 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 4m 53.53s

Apache Creek³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill

100/1

Has shown little in both a bumper and on his hurdles debut at Ludlow in November. Can only watch for the time being.

Form: 70

Buckhorn George²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard

4/1

Improved with each run so far, and was a keeping-on 8L second here (2m1f, soft) last month, on his hurdling debut. Step up in trip ought to suit, and he looks a contender.

Form: 052

Darsi Rose¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: L Hurley

100/1

Modest form in Irish points and well beaten at triple-figure odds in both starts here under rules last month. Readily opposed.

Form: 42P6-06

Escrime D'Art¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford

12/1

Runner-up in a French bumper in 2018, and improved significantly on his hurdles debut here when upped in trip at Hereford (2m3½f, soft) last time. Should be capable of joining battle for some prize money again.

Form: 45/29-03

Espressino^h⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: C J Down

66/1

Failed to complete in four point runs, but made an encouraging start under rules when 6½L fifth of eight at Warwick in May. Well below that level when tried here over further in November, so returns with a bit to prove.

Form: PPPU-59

Eurowork⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

50/1

Point winner (fourth start) last spring, but 66-1 and beat just two out of 16 runners home on his hurdles debut at Chepstow in October. Much more needed.

Form: 442-10

Exit Plan²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Joshua Newman⁽⁷⁾| T: K Woollacott

33/1

Placed in a couple of points on good ground. 50-1 and raced prominently until weakening and pulled up on rules debut at Chepstow last month. Can only watch this time.

Form: 7/32-P

Felix D'autry³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

20/1

Has shown some promise on both starts, the first in a Fontwell bumper and the more recent in a Kempton novices' hurdle (2m, good) in November. Will need to be significantly better again here.

Form: 28

Field Master⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: L Heard| T: R G Hawker

100/1

Runner-up in a couple of points (good/good to soft), but 100-1 and pulled up after losing a shoe here on his rules debut in November. Others push much stronger claims.

Form: 09/262-P

Grey Getaway²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117

14/1

Irish point runner-up who showed promise on his rules/stable debut in an Aintree maiden hurdle (2m4f, soft) in October. Some way short of that form in two subsequent runs, so arrives with a bit to prove.

Form: 26-687

King Roland^h³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| BF

2/7

Showed a decent level of form in bumpers, winning both he contested. Sent off 2-1 favourite on his hurdles debut at Newbury in November, and was 1L second to one of the market leaders for Saturday's Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle. The one to beat.

Form: 1/11-2

Thunderstruck⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| BF

5/1

Won only Irish point and showed promise in bumpers, prior to stepping up on that on his hurdles debut at Wincanton in October (2m4f, good). May not have been as well suited by soft ground when well held at Chepstow. Ability, but a bit to prove.

Form: 122-26

Williams Overture²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kieron Edgar| T: David Dennis

100/1

66-1 and well beaten on debut in a Southwell bumper, and was then 150-1 and a first hurdle faller on debut in this sphere at Taunton on Monday. Can only watch if he takes his chance.

Form: 0F

Cheeky Perry¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost

100/1

Well beaten in two point runs and then triple-figure odds and never in contention in three starts under rules so far, the last two here over hurdles. Others preferred.

Form: 57-00P

Non-Runners

Springfield Fox²⁹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: T R George J: Lorcan Williams

Forecasts

King Roland (2/7), Buckhorn George (4/1), Thunderstruck (5/1), Springfield Fox (8/1), Escrime D'Art (12/1), Grey Getaway (14/1), Felix D'autry (20/1), Exit Plan (33/1), Eurowork (50/1), Espressino (66/1), Apache Creek (100/1), Darsi Rose (100/1), Field Master (100/1), Cheeky Perry (100/1), Williams Overture (100/1)

This looks a very good opportunity for KING ROLAND to get back to winning ways. At the time of writing, his Newbury conqueror Son Of Camas is joint second-favourite for the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown. There was only 1L in it at the Berkshire track, and Harry Fry's gelding meets nothing that has yet shown that ability in this field. Thunderstruck has the ability to pick up some prize money, though Buckhorn George might improve enough to give the selection most to do. Grey Getaway is not written off.