13:40 Exeter

Wednesday 2 February 2022

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:45

Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 45.37s

Neon Moon^p,t⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 116

10/3

Off the mark in 20f novice hurdle at Wincanton after wind op/in tongue tie in March and shaped well on return on handicap debut at Cheltenham (21f) in November. Down 4 lb and high on the shortlist.

Form: P/1461-0

Morgenstern^b,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Armson⁽⁶⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 112

11/1

Fair 3-time winning hurdler in France who ran his best race in Britain in a change of headgear under a positive ride when second at Wetherby last month, headed close home. Needs to back that up.

Form: 5P4602

Steady The Ship⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111

11/1

Has shown fair form in bumpers/over hurdles but well beaten in handicaps 8 months apart and might need more of a push from the assessor.

Form: 33247-0

Coal Stock^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Theo Gillard| T: H Brown| OR: 111| D

33/1

Dual 19f hurdle winner once the blinkers were fitted last term. Well held since and he'll find easier openings.

Form: 0115-P6

Earth Business^p1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 109

15/2

Maiden who continues to shape well in handicap hurdles. Cheekpieces go on but suspect he'll want more of a test than this.

Form: 83-423P

Hope You Do⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Martin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 106

5/2

Perfect start in French bumper in May 2020 and ticking over nicely over hurdles for new connections, shaping well on handicap debut here (16.7f) in November on return. More to come and lots to like.

Form: 1553-3

Born In Borris^p1⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 105

33/1

Point/novice hurdle winner who continues to struggle but has dropped a long way in the weights. Cheekpieces replace blinkers.

Form: 3P-4PP9

Lettie Lutz^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam Harrison| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 102

6/1

Looks capable of winning a race, keeping on for third in 2m Chepstow handicap hurdle last month. One to note.

Form: 2-3453

Bari Breeze^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Kevin Jones| T: M F Harris| OR: 102

9/1

Bumper winner not so good in 2 handicaps after a fine second in 17.7f Fontwell maiden hurdle in November, including in a tongue tie/after wind op latest. Handicapper has dropped him 5 lb.

Form: 125268

Novus Aditus³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Kieren Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 100

40/1

Showed fair form on his best run in juvenile hurdles in 2019 but offered little in a Wincanton handicap on return from a long absence on Boxing Day. Hard to fancy up in trip.

Form: 095/0

Justshortofabubble¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Conor Ring| T: G Harris| OR: 87

20/1

Looks a modest maiden hurdler and is eligible for much weaker handicaps than this.

Form: F0887

Forecasts

Hope You Do (5/2), Neon Moon (10/3), Lettie Lutz (6/1), Earth Business (15/2), Bari Breeze (9/1), Steady The Ship (11/1), Morgenstern (11/1), Justshortofabubble (20/1), Coal Stock (33/1), Born In Borris (33/1), Novus Aditus (40/1)

There is more to come from HOPE YOU DO and he makes plenty of appeal stepped up in trip. Neon Moon shaped well in first-time cheekpieces on his return/handicap debut at Cheltenham and must be considered, while Lettie Lutz is another to note.