13:05 Exeter

Thursday 16 December 2021

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:4515:15

Feeling Festive Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:09 | Winning time: 4m 36.17s

Martinhal^p1,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| CD

11/1

Won maiden/novice hurdles on heavy ground here last winter. Bombed out in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham on final start last term and needed to see more on reappearance. Cheekpieces reached for.

Form: 44110-9

Birds Of Prey^t⁶⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127| D

16/1

Useful Flat performer who got act together over hurdles in 2018/19, winning maiden/novice events at Taunton. Versatility in evidence with a bumper/Flat win early in 2020 but off since.

Form: 116731/

Champagne Court^p,t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 126

7/1

Useful chaser but shaped pretty encouragingly back off his lower hurdles mark after 6 months off at Fontwell, clear of rest. Failed to build on it at Sandown since.

Form: 402-323

Eamon An Cnoic^b,t⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 124

28/1

Classy chaser on his day and proved a lot more reliable in a busy spell earlier this year. Behind when pulled up at Ascot on return and now back hurdling.

Form: 1203-2P

Dan McGrue^p,t²²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: B Barr| OR: 124| D

150/1

Weak finisher but wasn't disgraced behind the promising Bear Ghylls on second start for this yard here in January. Pulled up at Warwick in May and off since.

Form: 86/545-P

West To The Bridge^t⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123

9/1

Useful on his day but he has something to prove for now after a trio of poor runs returning to action this autumn. Tongue tie replaces usual hood.

Form: P50-485

Deeper Blue⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 122

4/1

Fair form in two bumpers and left opening hurdles run behind when second to a good prospect at Chepstow in October. Has to be of interest in this quick switch to handicaps.

Form: 25-32

Guernesey⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| CD

5/2

Has returned an improved model, opening his account over C&D in September and placed all 3 outings since. Wasn't seen to best effect at Taunton and of serious interest from same mark.

Form: 7-41232

Pol Crocan³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117

40/1

Bright start over hurdles when landing pair of Wincanton maiden/novice hurdles (15.3f) last winter. Disappointing start to life in handicaps 8 months apart,

Form: 0/611P-9

Investment Manager²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115| BF

9/2

In good hands and left previous efforts behind when making a winning handicap debut at Newton Abbot, showing a likeable response to pressure. Matched that form when second at Chepstow.

Form: 5582-12

Trans Express^p¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 102| CD

14/1

Six-time winner here but ended last term with a bit of a whimper and has hardly hit the ground running this term. Down in the weights and return to this venue offers hope.

Form: 1666-50

Forecasts

Guernesey (5/2), Deeper Blue (4/1), Investment Manager (9/2), Champagne Court (7/1), West To The Bridge (9/1), Martinhal (11/1), Trans Express (14/1), Birds Of Prey (16/1), Eamon An Cnoic (28/1), Pol Crocan (40/1), Dan McGrue (150/1)

Having won a C&D handicap in October, GUERNESEY has continued in good heart with a trio of placed efforts and from the same mark as Taunton he is just about the most persuasive option. The market will help assess Birds of Prey on reappearance, with veteran Trans Express another to consider back at Exeter.