15:30 Exeter

Friday 11 March 2022

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Virgin Bet Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 30.5s

Hit The Rocks²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-4| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 102

10/1

Off the mark over timber when taking 7-runner handicap hurdle at Lingfield (16f, heavy, 9/2) 24 days ago, responding well. 5 lb higher now but remains low mileage in this sphere.

Form: 652-501

Per Vino Veritas¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 96

10/1

Lightly-raced maiden who offered more when sixth of 16 on handicap debut at Taunton (19f, good to soft) 17 days ago. Claims if building on that.

Form: 5-6F66

No No Tonic^b,t⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 89

7/2

Justified strong support when easily winning 8-runner handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy, 2/1) 9 days ago. Looks well treated under a 7 lb penalty.

Form: 2-34631

Eppleton Collier^p1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 95

33/1

Still without a victory and fared little better on handicap debut at Leicester 37 days ago. Cheekpieces on for first time.

Form: 6-0U4P4

Bert Wilson^p,t1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 94

33/1

Found improvement when fourth at Ffos Las last month but seemed amiss when pulled up at Hereford since and wears tongue strap for first time now.

Form: 97684P

Good Bye^b²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: A E Jones| OR: 92| BF

10/1

Turned in best effort of season when third of 12 in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f, good) 29 days ago. Just 1 lb higher now and is one of the likelier contenders.

Form: 2-87343

Percy Veering³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 88

50/1

No real impact in 3 starts overs hurdles, going in snatches at Ludlow latest. May do better now sent handicapping, though.

Form: 0680

The Denholm Bandit^t,v1⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: W S Kittow| OR: 86

14/1

Good third at Carlisle on final start last season but offered little in a couple of outings this term and first-time visor now reached for. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 85P3-0P

Light Of Athena^h,t⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: R Harris| OR: 85

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who was well positioned when an improved third in an uncompetitive novice at Chepstow in November. Held when falling on handicap debut at Leicester since, however.

Form: 00/453F

The Generous Joker²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 81

13/2

Limited impact in bumpers 9 months apart and well held completed starts over hurdles. However, remains open to improvement on switch to handicapping

Form: 9-9U04

Kayf Baha¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 79

125/1

Finished nearer last than first all 3 starts thus far and remains to be seen if handicapping brings about improvement.

Form: 41000

Imperial Joe⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: T Dennis| OR: 77

2/1

Took his form up a notch when second of 11 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, heavy) 8 days ago. Remains low mileage and merits consideration off same mark here.

Form: 2-05532

Kapitaliste^b1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: J E Moore| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 76

10/1

Respectable sixth at Fontwell last month but is still without a victory and makes limited appeal.

Form: 27-6P26

Letter At Dawn^h,t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Page Fuller| T: C J Down| OR: 75

22/1

Modest maiden under both codes who was well held on debut for new yard at Taunton 8 days ago. Tongue strap now reapplied.

Form: 5P8-6P7

Non-Runners

Hymn And A Prayer²⁷³

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: Mrs F M Shaw J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Imperial Joe (2/1), No No Tonic (7/2), The Generous Joker (13/2), Good Bye (10/1), Kapitaliste (10/1), Per Vino Veritas (10/1), Hit The Rocks (10/1), The Denholm Bandit (14/1), Letter At Dawn (22/1), Eppleton Collier (33/1), Hymn And A Prayer (33/1), Bert Wilson (33/1), Percy Veering (50/1), Light Of Athena (100/1), Kayf Baha (125/1)

IMPERIAL JOE is going the right way and gets the nod in a tricky-looking handicap. No No Tonic and Per Vino Veritas head the list of dangers.