14:40 Exeter

Sunday 10 January 2021

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

MansionBet App Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 5m 3.5s

Eclair Surf^h²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 131| C

6/4

Winning pointer/hurdler who didn't take long to open his account in this sphere, building on chasing debut to score at Hereford 24 days ago. There's more to come and he boasts leading claims.

Form: 1/1F4-21

Flinck³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127| D

5/1

Fairly useful hurdler who returned with fine third in 19.5f Silver Trophy at Chepstow before non-staying 7th in 3m Cheltenham handicap. Underperformed on chase debut but could improve.

Form: 115-378

Francky Du Berlais^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 122

6/1

Looked as good as ever when winning Newton Abbot handicap hurdle on return. Runner-up all 3 starts over fences since and he's likely to give it another good shot.

Form: 27-1222

Le Milos^t1³³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 122WS

20/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler last term who found competition too hot at Ascot (19.2f) on final run of last term. Since undergone a wind op and first-time tongue strap applied for this chase debut.

Form: 8/13040-

Midnight Midge^t1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: R J Hodges| OR: 122| D

16/1

Fairly useful winner over hurdles and progressive first 3 runs over fences, second at Newton Abbot latest. However, ran poorly after 4 months off at Wincanton on Boxing Day and tongue strap now on.

Form: 1P-542P

Fly To Mars³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 120

10/1

Fairly useful maiden over hurdles during 2018/19 season and, on the back of a considerate return from 21 months off at Aintree in December, he could well do better now chasing. Not dismissed.

Form: 2624F/4

Brianstorm⁶⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118WS

4/1

Once-raced chaser who returns from a lengthy absence on a potentially lenient mark based on hurdling form. Has undergone wind surgery and interesting to see what the market has to say.

Form: 11P654/

One More Fleurie⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 107

40/1

Still a maiden, and down the field in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby 72 days ago. Hard to make a case for switched to chasing.

Form: 2358-P0

Non-Runners

Lieutenant Rocco¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: Nick Mitchell J: Non Runner

Smarty Wild¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: P Hobbs & J White J: T J O'Brien

Vinnie The Hoddie⁷²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: O Sherwood J: D A Jacob

Welsh's Castle¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: B I Case J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Eclair Surf (6/4), Brianstorm (4/1), Flinck (5/1), Francky Du Berlais (6/1), Lieutenant Rocco (13/2), Vinnie The Hoddie (15/2), Smarty Wild (15/2), Fly To Mars (10/1), Welsh's Castle (12/1), Midnight Midge (16/1), Le Milos (20/1), One More Fleurie (40/1)

ECLAIR SURF looked a chaser to follow when comfortably scoring at Hereford and, with more to come, he's fancied to follow up. Francky du Berlais is proving really consistent and should go well again. Market support for Brianstorm would need taking seriously.