13:50 Exeter

Friday 4 November 2022

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:08

Betway 'Challenger' Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 16.7s

Mulberry Hill^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

6/1

Opened her account in a Worcester maiden at the end of last summer and doubled her tally on the back of a wind op at Carlisle last month, seemingly benefiting from being kept in closer touch than usual. 3 lb rise certainly not insurmountable so fancied to be in the mix.

Form: 422451

Betty's Banjo¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 114

22/1

Won sole outing in Irish points and left hurdling debut form behind after 6 months off when running out an authoritative winner of an 8-runner novice at Uttoxeter (19.9f) back in May. Not suited by the drop in trip next time and she's one to look out for on return/handicap debut.

Form: 17-12

Shirocco's Dream^t²⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 111| C

17/2

£260,000 purchase who has scored twice over hurdles and looked back on song when third of 5 at Wincanton back in March. However, she disappointed for the third time in her last 4 starts when last seen 6 months ago, but does return with yard firing in the winners. Interesting.

Form: 116733-

Martha Brae¹⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 111| CD

15/2

Well backed when making winning return on yard debut in this corresponding event last year but hasn't really gone on since, Nevertheless, mark has dropped slightly and she may bounce back returned to this venue.

Form: 6/5165-4

Malina Jamila¹⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 110| BF

16/1

Stepped up on previous efforts when 40/1 winner of a listed bumper at Huntingdon in December and made a successful debut over hurdles in workmanlike fashion back there in May. Failed to progress when a well-beaten second later that month and she makes return/handicap debut today.

Form: 3154-12

Russian Rumour¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Portman| OR: 110

12/1

Fair stayer on the Flat who made a winning start over hurdles at Lingfield (19.5f) last November. No progress in 3 subsequent starts but arrives on the back of a good second on the Flat at Newbury a fortnight ago.

Form: 1545-

Whisky Express²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 109| D

9/1

Bumper debut winner who had plenty up her sleeve when scoring on her third start over hurdles at Newton Abbot back in March. Handicap debut today and she's a likely contender with further improvement on the cards.

Form: 1/651-

Flying Nun¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 106| D

14/1

Landed back-to-back wins at Fontwell and Taunton earlier this year and ran at least as well when second at Hereford in March. No surprise should she go well returning from 6 months off the track.

Form: 981123-

Jersey Lady¹⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: O Sherwood| OR: 105| D

33/1

Produced a career-best to narrowly score at Ffos Las in April and backed that up when 5 lengths second over 21f at Warwick since. Not so good when last seen at Worcester 5 months ago so will need to hit the ground running to feature.

Form: 3741-25

Head And Heart^h²⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 105

33/1

Runner-up on first outing over hurdles and ran close to that level at the second attempt when third in a Wincanton novice in February. Hood back on for this handicap debut/reappearance and will need to take a step forward.

Form: 2/6263-

Lady Pacifico²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: D Weston| OR: 103

66/1

Made a winning start over hurdles at Leicester last November but took a step back in the right direction after a breathing op when sixth at Warwick last month. More required to land this.

Form: 18495-6

Ma Belle Noire^t²²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 100| BF

13/2

Definite encouragement in pair of bumpers and similar story both starts over hurdles, runner-up at Chepstow (2m) in March. Opening mark looks fair on that evidence and returns with yard in good order. Big chance under talented 7-lb conditional.

Form: 3442-

The Height Of Fame^p³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 99| D

7/2

Has improved upped in trip this season, landing back-to-back handicaps at Fontwell (21.8f) in May. Landed the hat-trick on return at Newton Abbot in September (dead-heated with her stablemate) and she's fancied to be in the shake-up once again.

Form: P24-111

Sadie Hill^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Ralph| OR: 96

33/1

Modest form at best in 3 hurdle starts for Katy Price but showed more than previously upped in trip on yard/handicap debut when runner-up at Fontwell (19.2f, good) just over a fortnight ago. Could build on that effort today.

Form: 27355-2

Bonnie Bresil²²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 93

11/1

Just modest form in bumpers/over hurdles so far but could prove a different proposition now moving into handicaps significantly upped in trip.

Form: 6/0664-

Non-Runners

Lady Kk²¹⁷

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: J Scott J: Lorcan Williams

Forecasts

The Height Of Fame (7/2), Mulberry Hill (6/1), Ma Belle Noire (13/2), Martha Brae (15/2), Shirocco's Dream (17/2), Whisky Express (9/1), Bonnie Bresil (11/1), Russian Rumour (12/1), Flying Nun (14/1), Lady Kk (14/1), Malina Jamila (16/1), Betty's Banjo (22/1), Head And Heart (33/1), Sadie Hill (33/1), Jersey Lady (33/1), Lady Pacifico (66/1)

Cases can be made for several but preference is for MA BELLE NOIRE. Harry Fry's mare stepped up on her hurdling debut effort when runner-up at Chepstow back in March and with better to come now handicapping, she's fancied to get off the mark. Similar comments apply to stablemate Whisky Express so she heads up the opposition, with Mulberry Hill, Shirocco's Dream and last year's winner Martha Brae another handful worth considering.