15:40 Exeter

Thursday 7 October 2021

All13:2313:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Celebrating Both Equine & Human Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 11.17s

Opine^p⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 99

18/1

Below form when last seen in this sphere and latest Flat efforts haven't been all that convincing. That said, he remains with a bit of potential with cheekpieces on for the first time over jumps.

Form: 2F257-

Right Destination¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 95

40/1

Still looking for first success and disappointed on chasing debut at Warwick 16 days ago. Plenty to prove back over hurdles.

Form: 5-83443

Guy De Guye^t1¹³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 89

17/2

Well-bred sort who improved on previous efforts when third in a novice at Warwick 134 days ago. Tongue tied for return and opening mark seems fair, so well worth considering.

Form: 7-63

Gerard Mentor^p,t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 87

18/5

Fair in bumpers and, while generally disappointing over hurdles, he upped his game in first-time cheekpieces when second in a handicap at Newton Abbot 37 days ago. Claims if the headgear works again.

Form: 076-P52

Blood Eagle^p1³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 85

15/2

Fairly useful on Flat. Yet to get close to that level over hurdles but two of his last 3 efforts have been more encouraging. One to note with cheekpieces on for the first time.

Form: 003-28U

Serjeant Painter⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Kevin Brogan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 83

3/1

Career best when winning 14-runner handicap hurdle (13/2) at Stratford (18.7f, good) 49 days ago, driven out. 5 lb rise seems fair if he's able to back up that improvement.

Form: 94-2331

Boundsy Boy^p,t³²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 100

12/1

Modest on Flat and similar level of form over hurdles, just third in a juvenile at Perth a month ago. Gets a big weight allowance from his elders on handicap debut, but needs to improve nonetheless.

Form: 2263

Rathnure Ranger^h¹⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 77

10/1

Confirmed more positive signs when getting off the mark in determined style at Ludlow (15.7f) in May, but disappointed at Worcester next time and will probably need this first run for 109 days.

Form: 3P93-18

Antidote^p,t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 76

66/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and hasn't cut much ice over hurdles to date.

Form: 5P0-770

Mi Laddo^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 75

10/3

Scored for first time over hurdles at Taunton in April and arrives in decent nick, fifth of 14 in handicap at Stratford (18.7f, good) 49 days ago. Not ruled out off 2 lb lower mark now.

Form: 12-7455

Forecasts

Serjeant Painter (3/1), Mi Laddo (10/3), Gerard Mentor (18/5), Blood Eagle (15/2), Guy De Guye (17/2), Rathnure Ranger (10/1), Boundsy Boy (12/1), Opine (18/1), Right Destination (40/1), Antidote (66/1)

GUY DE GUYE showed more under a positive ride when third in a novice at Warwick 4 months ago and a first-time tongue strap could be the catalyst for further progress on handicap debut, so he gets the tentative vote. Serjeant Painter is a big player if in the same form as when successful at Stratford last time, while Blood Eagle likely remains with a bigger effort in him over hurdles.