14:10 Exeter

Sunday 10 January 2021

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

MansionBet's Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 50.10s

Dan McGrue^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 132| D

100/1

Scored at Plumpton last season but he's a weak finisher and failed to see his race out on his next three starts for Paul Nicholls. Debut for this stable following wind op wasn't all that promising.

Form: 21086-5

Clemencia^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 131

18/1

2m hurdle winner for Brendan Duke in December 2019. Back to form when fourth in handicap at Cheltenham 30 days ago but others look better treated.

Form: 1445-F4

Bear Ghylls⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 130

10/11

Unbeaten in a bumper and two novice hurdles, again having plenty in hand when scoring at Ffos Las in late-November. More to come, so fancied to outclass his rivals.

Form: 1-11

Potters Venture⁴³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125

14/1

Ex-pointer who left hurdling debut form well behind when making all in a novice at Chepstow 14 months ago. Not seen since but form has a solid look to it and opening mark seems fair.

Form: F43/31-

Bean In Trouble²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

22/1

Signed off last term by landing a Ludlow handicap in February. Found test too sharp reverted to hurdles following a couple of unsuccessful attempts over fences this season so this trip should help.

Form: 721-546

Stormy Flight³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 123

15/2

Taunton maiden hurdle winner and shaped better than the distance beaten suggested when third at same course last month, left with too much to do and finishing with more to give. Definite claims.

Form: 631-373

Elysian Flame^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: P J Brennan| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 114| BF

9/2

Useful on the Flat and has shown plenty over hurdles, mistakes and unsuited by the way things developed when narrowly denied at short odds at Kelso last time. More strongly-run race will suit.

Form: 355-22

Trans Express^p²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 113| CD

11/2

Course specialist who confirmed previous encouragement to capitalise on reduced mark in determined style at this track 24 days ago. Rarely runs a bad race here, so another solid showing on the cards.

Form: 4-87621

Non-Runners

And The New³⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 10

T: J Farrelly J: K Brogan

Song Of The Hunter²⁴

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: Miss G Haywood J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Bear Ghylls (10/11), Elysian Flame (9/2), Trans Express (11/2), Song Of The Hunter (11/2), Stormy Flight (15/2), And The New (12/1), Potters Venture (14/1), Clemencia (18/1), Bean In Trouble (22/1), Dan McGrue (100/1)

The unbeaten BEAR GHYLLS hasn't finished improving and there's a strong case for saying he's better than an opening mark of 130, so he's preferred to Potters Venture, another progressive sort who, admittedly, hasn't been seen for a while. Another bold showing seems assured from course specialist Trans Express.