16:05 Exeter

Saturday 1 January 2022

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:05

Jockey Club Cheltenham And SW Syndicate Open Maiden NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 4m 29.14s

Astronomic View⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

8/1

Third of 10 in bumper (40/1) at Newton Abbot (16.8f, heavy) on NH debut 72 days ago. That form looks pretty solid, and he should benefit from the experience, so he's capable of taking a hand.

Form: 3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Ben Bulben

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

9/5

Yeats gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including useful hurdler/smart chaser Angels Breath and bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler Outofthisworld. Highly respected on debut.

Form:

Knowsley Road²²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls

6/4

€62,000 3-y-o, £135,000 4-y-o, Flemensfirth gelding. Dam (h99), maiden hurdler (stayed 2¼m), half-sister to useful chaser (stayed 25f) Jovial Joey. Second in a point and interesting here.

Form: 2

Merry Monty²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: C J Down

40/1

Well held both starts to date and set for another struggle.

Form: 70

Lady Wilberry²⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Alan Johns| T: Kieran Burke

50/1

Out of a winning hurdler/chaser but only minor promise on both outings last season, so up against it once more returning from 9 months off.

Form: 85-

Regal 'n Bold

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Houlihan| T: C J Down

33/1

Royal Anthem filly. Half-sister to modest hurdler Puzzle Cache. Dam 6f winner. Others preferred.

Form:

Hasty Parisian³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| BF

7/1

Half-brother to a bumper winner and made a pleasing start when fourth at Wincanton a month ago. More to come, so should go well for a stable enjoying a fine season.

Form: 4

Mountain Grey

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

14/1

Mount Nelson gelding. Brother to fairly useful hurdler Nelson's Touch, and half-brother to useful hurdler The Pink'n. Makes some appeal on paper.

Form:

Non-Runners

Dom Bosco²⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: T R George J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Knowsley Road (6/4), Ben Bulben (9/5), Dom Bosco (3/1), Hasty Parisian (7/1), Astronomic View (8/1), Mountain Grey (14/1), Regal 'n Bold (33/1), Merry Monty (40/1), Lady Wilberry (50/1)

BEN BULBEN has an eye-catching pedigree and represents a stable that should have him ready to go, so he gets the marginal vote ahead of Dom Bosco, who shaped well first time out. Knowsley Road, an expensive purchase from points, is another one to consider starting out under Rules for a top yard.