14:45 Exeter

Wednesday 1 February 2023

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 53.00s

Not Another Muddle³⁰⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 12-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 112| D

18/1

Had a good 2019 but was pulled up in the Plate at Cheltenham on his sole outing following season and well held in 4 outings in 2020/21. Not seen since.

Form: P455/43-

Windance^t⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 109| D

4/1

Big improver in handicap hurdles in 2021, winning at Taunton and Fontwell (25.8f) in the space of a week. Never better than mid-division sent chasing after 19 months off at Uttoxeter 8 weeks ago, though shaped as if retaining ability and is entitled to do better for the run/experience.

Form: 6011/3-5

Lagonda³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 109

13/2

Showed promise in pair of bumpers for Tom Lacey back in 2020/21. Off 23 months ahead of current season and built on her comeback/stable debut when third in mares novice at Warwick (21f) 32 days ago. Interesting that she's switched to fences for handicap debut (point winner).

Form: 2122-43

Destin D'Ajonc^t²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 108| D

28/1

Dual winner over fences at Chepstow but took little interest both starts this term.

Form: 5143-8P

Blue Ribbon⁴⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: R Chapman| OR: 103

125/1

Won a Worcester handicap hurdle in May 2021 but disappointed on his next 5 starts. Makes chase debut. Off 15 months (sold from Dr Richard Newland £2,500 in October 2021).

Form: 148U64-

Judex Lefou^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 91| CD

10/3

Only one win to his name from 26 starts but it came in this race off 5 lb lower a year ago and he was right back on track when second of 10 in handicap chase at Ludlow latest. Big run expected.

Form: 12P-382

Lazy Sunday^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 90

11/2

Didn't always look an easy ride over hurdles last term but showed an aptitude for this game when third on return/chase debut at Worcester (23f). Caught too far back when seventh at Hereford on completed start since and retains potential as a chaser.

Form: 244-3F7

Tudors Treasure²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens| OR: 88| CD

14/1

Bit of an all-or-nothing profile and ran poorly on his recent return to action at Ffos Las. Needs to leave that well behind.

Form: P6354-P

Eros³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 86

6/1

Modest chaser who made promising return to action when third at Hereford. However, failed to build on that next 2 starts and others are more persuasive.

Form: 42F-33P

Kingsmill Gin³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 82

6/1

Placed at 3m+ on both completed starts this term and has dropped to 1 lb lower than when successful over 3¼m at Taunton last winter. Shorter trip asks a different question, though. 2 lb out of weights.

Form: 455-3U3

Forecasts

Judex Lefou (10/3), Windance (4/1), Lazy Sunday (11/2), Eros (6/1), Kingsmill Gin (6/1), Lagonda (13/2), Tudors Treasure (14/1), Not Another Muddle (18/1), Destin D'Ajonc (28/1), Blue Ribbon (125/1)

JUDEX LEFOU got right back on track when runner-up at Ludlow so is taken to repeat last year's success in this. The lightly-raced Lagonda switches to fences for her handicap bow and may emerge as the biggest threat ahead of Windance, who showed enough at Uttoxeter to suggest he retains his ability after an absence.