17:20 Exeter

Friday 21 February 2020

All14:1514:4715:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Be Wiser Insurance Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 4m 29.60s

Mountain Leopard³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams

8/1

Heavy ground bumper winner over an extended 2m1f at Plumpton (heavy) in December and finished a fair fifth over this C&D subsequently. Vulnerable under a penalty.

Form: 315

After The Fox⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Williams

12/1

Showed promise when finishing runner-up in a 2m point-to-point bumper on soft ground in December. Changed stables since and interesting to see how he fares on Rules debut.

Form: 2

Majestic Merlin

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: R J Hodges

22/1

Unraced Midnight Legend gelding and a full-brother to multiple winner Midnight Midge. Dam a winner over 2m and he is probably best watched on debut for a yard who are 0/13 in bumpers in recent seasons.

Form:

Mocacreme Has³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B J Geraghty| T: C L Tizzard| BF

3/1

Sent off favourite when finishing 16½L third in a heavy ground bumper over C&D a month ago. Likely to have improved for the experience and is a leading contender in this event.

Form: 3

Sam Barton

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle

9/2

Unraced Black Sam Bellamy gelding bought for £12,000 at the sales as a foal in January 2016. Dam won a point-to-point and he is worth a check in the market on racecourse debut.

Form:

The Big Sting³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry

12/1

Raced prominently prior to weakening into fourth when beaten 19L in a bumper over this C&D on heavy going a month ago. Interesting contender for a useful stable.

Form: 4

The Denholm Bandit

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kieron Edgar| T: W S Kittow

25/1

Unraced gelding by Kayf Tara cost connections £38,000 as a three-year-old. Half-brother to Flat winner Black Hole Sun and interesting to see how he performs on debut.

Form:

Doyannie^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber

9/1

Finished third on both starts to date including when beaten 10½L in a mares only event over an extended 2m at Taunton (heavy) last month. Hood worn for the first time that day is retained.

Form: 33

Let Me Entertain U

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore

20/1

Unraced Saint Des Saints gelding bought for £23,000 in May last year. Dam won over fences in France and market support would be notable on first racecourse appearance.

Form:

Midnight Wave^t⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: W G M TurnerWS

150/1

Well held in two bumpers last year including in a first time tongue tie (retained) over 2m at Hereford (soft) in December. Had wind surgery since his most recent start.

Form: 06

Sheldon³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: D A Jacob| T: J W Mullins

11/4

Showed promise when finishing third in a bumper over an extended 2m at Newbury (heavy) when making his debut last month. Improvement likely and he is an interesting runner in this event.

Form: 3

Non-Runners

Thebudinpundit⁷⁸

Weight: 10-7| Age: 4

T: Mrs S Gardner J: Lucy Gardner

Forecasts

Sheldon (11/4), Mocacreme Has (3/1), Sam Barton (9/2), Mountain Leopard (8/1), Doyannie (9/1), The Big Sting (12/1), After The Fox (12/1), Let Me Entertain U (20/1), Majestic Merlin (22/1), The Denholm Bandit (25/1), Thebudinpundit (66/1), Midnight Wave (150/1)

MOCACREME HAS showed ability when placed in a bumper here on debut and he can get off the mark at the second time of asking by taking the concluding bumper. Sheldon ran well when placed at Newbury on his racecourse debut last month and he can claim second spot ahead of Doyannie who has placed on both of her previous starts.