15:00 Exeter

Tuesday 3 March 2020

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Read Davy Russell's Exclusive Blog At starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 41.30s

Big Meadow^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 99| D

8/1

Now back on his last winning mark and conditions fine for him today, tends to wear his heart on his sleeve and gives it a go from the front; may find this easier than a few tasks he's been asked this season too, and has chances of making all.

Form: 14P442

Kilcrea Bridge^b1,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: R G Hawker| OR: 96| BF| CD

7/1

Stays very well and acts in heavy ground but form this season (placed last four times) rather suggests the handicapper has him right where he wants him; conditions ideal once again and ought to be on the premises,

Form: 7-53334

Ballybreen^b²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 93| CD

7/2

On a rill and has won his last three starts, showing he stays this trip and handles heavy ground in the process; not always fluent in his jumping so will need more from a 5lb higher mark, and yard struggling for a winner at present.

Form: 83P111

Steel Express³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 92| C

11/1

Lurking on a dangerous mark if he can turn things around, having got nowhere near in his last three starts this calendar year and is starting to show some signs of temperament too; others make stronger cases.

Form: 22-88U5

Great Tempo^b,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 92

8/1

Ground it out to score ver 26f at Taunton two starts ago, apparently improving for a wind operation and a break, but couldn't follow that up here in heavy ground last time and now has a few questions to answer.

Form: 548417

Kiwi Myth^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 85| CD

7/1

No issue with the ground and stays the trip well, but not the most consistent around and is still 5lb higher than his last win in November; on the plus side, has a C&D win in heavy ground to her name, which counts for something here.

Form: 414-134

Moreece^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: J L Flint| OR: 85| D

50/1

Not seen out since last August, hard to win with at the best of times (yet to actually score under Rules, has three point-to-point wins to his name) and has shown a preference for good ground; not a lot to recommend him here, then.

Form: 5-2P32P

Inspireus⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 84

10/1

Battled on well to force a dead-heat at Lingfield last time out, and has wisely been given a bit of time to get over that gruelling effort; handicapper sensible with a 3lb rise, handles heavy, and has chances.

Form: 5-45441

Big Time Frank⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: James Best| T: P Gundry| OR: 81

5/1

Bounced back to form when just denied at Fontwell latest but not for the first time, managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, throwing it away late; ability is there and conditions fine but can't be trusted to put it all in.

Form: 306862

General Girling^b²⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 10-7| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 80| D

33/1

Back from a long absence to finish a respectable third at Cheptow in January but then threw in a stinker at Uttoxeter latest, never travelled and pulled up; capable of popping up again but predicating when is a guessing game.

Form: 332/6-3P

Touch Screen^p1⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: David Noonan| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 77

28/1

Dead-heated with Inspireus at Lingfield two starts ago when getting a great ride but awful at Fakenham last time out, soon detached and well beaten; not the most consistent around but small yard going okay, and not discounted.

Form: 9537-16

Sunny Ledgend²⁸

Age: 15| Weight: 10-3| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 76| D

66/1

Got to go back to 2017 to find the last time he got his head in front and seems in a rapid decline at present, never really sighted in two starts this year; the pipe and slippers are calling him at the age of 14, and others make more appeal.

Form: 455/P-47

Ruffling Feathers^p1,t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 71

16/1

In good hands but going nowhere quickly at present, yet to even hit the frame in twelve starts and now connections give cheekpieces a try; hard to know what his conditions are as yet, but is at least young enough to improve.

Form: 7556P5

Midnight Mustang^p²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 71| D

25/1

There's the odd efforts on his card in the last twelve months to make you believe he could be competitive off this mark, but he hasn't scored for over a year and has never been the most consistent; no more than outside place chances.

Form: 5-64P39

Forecasts

Ballybreen (7/2), Big Time Frank (5/1), Kiwi Myth (7/1), Kilcrea Bridge (7/1), Big Meadow (8/1), Great Tempo (8/1), Inspireus (10/1), Steel Express (11/1), Ruffling Feathers (16/1), Midnight Mustang (25/1), Touch Screen (28/1), General Girling (33/1), Moreece (50/1), Sunny Ledgend (66/1)

Ballybreen keeps on defying the handicapper and is looking to make it four wins from his last four starts. Conditions are fine but the form of the yard os a bit patchy and he might not be one to be taking a short price about. Ruffling Feathers lurks at the foot of the handicap for a yard that have plenty of winners here and he could improve plenty for the cheekpieces today, so must be respected, but maybe this offers BIG MEADOW a chance to get his head back in front. He had no chance against an easy winner last time (who has won again since) but could take these from start to finish. Big Time Frank has thrown races away too many times to be trusted.