16:05 Exeter

Friday 11 March 2022

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

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 13.5s

Longshanks²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 112

2/1

Lightly-raced winning hurdler who posted just about his best effort yet over fences when runner-up at Ffos Las (19.4f) last month. On a good mark and likely to make a bold bid to go one better here.

Form: 51-3342

Red Happy^b,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 111| D

28/1

Three-time winner over fences for Gabriel Leenders in France, scoring twice in November. However, he has made an underwhelming start for new connections on this side of the Channel.

Form: 511P4P

Fulgurix²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 109

4/1

Bettered what he showed on his first 2 starts over fences when finding just one too strong at Leicester (15.9f) last time. Nudged up 2 lb for that, but should give another good account.

Form: 46-8442

Getmegold³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 108| CD

5/1

Lightly-raced sort who struck at the second time of asking over fences in a C&D handicap in January. Not so good at Chepstow next time, but possibilities if he puts his best foot forward back here.

Form: 3-60514

Roccowithlove^v⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: W Greatrex| OR: 105

12/1

Newbury hurdles winner in February 2020. Chase debut effort was uninspiring, but went with more zest prior to falling in a first-time visor (retained here) at Leicester and he's worth a second look.

Form: 2F1/3PF

Paradise Island^b,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 105| D

33/1

Three-time hurdles winner in France, but he hasn't shown much in 2 starts on this side of the Channel, including back in this sphere following a wind op at Chepstow 13 days ago.

Form: P-1279P

Endless Flight^p1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 105| CD

12/1

Successful over hurdles here in January 2020 and wasn't disgraced back at this course on return/chase debut in November. However, no show at Chepstow since and now tried in cheekpieces.

Form: P3/9P-6P

Affoburg^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 105| D

80/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser in France, but pulled up both starts (over hurdles) for new connections on these shores and now has plenty to prove.

Form: 2255PP

Morfee³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins| OR: 101

3/1

Fair maiden hurdler/chaser who was unlucky to bump into such a well-handicapped rival when runner-up over this C&D last time. Down another 1 lb and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 22-33P2

Non-Runners

Madera Mist¹⁴⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Menapian¹²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 11

T: Mrs H R J Nelmes J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Longshanks (2/1), Morfee (3/1), Fulgurix (4/1), Getmegold (5/1), Madera Mist (13/2), Endless Flight (12/1), Roccowithlove (12/1), Red Happy (28/1), Paradise Island (33/1), Menapian (66/1), Affoburg (80/1)

The one with the most appealing claims is LONGSHANKS, who put in a more assured round of jumping on his fourth start in this sphere when finding just one too good last time at Ffos Las where subsequent winner Yggdrasil was four lengths adrift in third. Morfee's latest effort here represented a step back in the right direction and he is second choice ahead of Getmegold and Fulgurix.