15:20 Exeter

Friday 25 February 2022

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5016:20

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 6m 13.4s

Le Musee^v²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 119

8/1

Four-time Flat winner in 2020. Best run in handicap hurdles since returning from absence when fourth of 11 in 3m Taunton handicap in December. Unsuited by drop to 19.5f at Doncaster since.

Form: P00/845

Young Butler³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 118

17/2

Winner of a maiden at Chepstow (19.5f) in November and novice at Plumpton (20.5f) in January. Ran poorly in very competitive Ascot handicap in between but this is a bit easier.

Form: 4-31P1

Carlow Farmer^t⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 118| D

7/1

Not straightforward but he has fared better since returning to hurdles, winning 23f Uttoxeter maiden on New Year's Eve. It's likely more will be needed if he's to follow up back in a handicap.

Form: PP-UP21

Crossing The Bar¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117

13/2

Fairly useful Flat winner who came good at the fourth time of asking over hurdles in 2½m Ffos Las handicap 15 days ago. Raised 9 lb for that but he is unexposed.

Form: 43P1

Father John⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 116

20/1

Bumper winner who left previous hurdles form well behind when scoring at Worcester. Solid third on 2½m Carlisle handicap debut in November. Not up to a warm race at Ascot since but this a bit easier.

Form: 8-5P139

Dan McGrue^p,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 115

17/2

Has largely struggled for present stable and got to be a chance his latest third of 4 in a conditions race at Lingfield flatters him.

Form: 45-P733

Little Red Lion^b¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 114| D

22/1

Three-time winner over fences/hurdles last term but hasn't been in the same form in 3 chases this term. Return to hurdles needs to help spark a revival.

Form: F1F-P6P

Last Quarter^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 113

22/1

Bumper winner (for Colin Bowe) who ran to a fair level when second on his Chepstow hurdle debut in November. Has taken a couple of backward steps since but is unexposed now handicapping.

Form: 1-7245

Dynamite Kentucky^b¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 109| BF| CD

9/4

Point/bumper winner who has improved over hurdles since stepping up to around 3m, winning a pair of handicaps in January (inclouding here). Another good run when second at Plumpton 11 days ago.

Form: 462112

Raddon Top^p²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 107| CD

5/1

Multiple point winner who has improved over hurdles since switched to handicaps, winning twice here. Well suited by the step up to this trip when leading late on for latter success. Leading claims.

Form: 188511

Forecasts

Dynamite Kentucky (9/4), Raddon Top (5/1), Crossing The Bar (13/2), Carlow Farmer (7/1), Le Musee (8/1), Young Butler (17/2), Dan McGrue (17/2), Father John (20/1), Little Red Lion (22/1), Last Quarter (22/1)

RADDON TOP likely has more to offer at this trip and is taken to defy the handicapper again and complete a hat-trick. Dynamite Kentucky is another with a progressive profile in handicaps so he's feared most ahead of Father John and Young Butler, who should find this a bit easier than the big-field Ascot race they contested in their sole previous handicap.