16:30 Exeter

Wednesday 1 February 2023

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

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 6m 0.00s

Padleyourowncanoe⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: M Blake| OR: 122| C

22/1

Useful hurdler/chaser at best for Colin Tizzard and, after 15 months off, made positive start for Dan Skelton when third in handicap hurdle at Haydock (24.3f) in December 2021. However, form has gone the wrong way since. Risky proposition on stable debut.

Form: P874-FP

Top Of The Bill^p1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120

9/2

Improved to open his account in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f) in December, suited by the step up in trip. Creditable fourth of 8 at Newcastle on his next outing and he's respected with cheekpieces now on first time.

Form: 444-214

Sacre Coeur^h³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118

9/1

Fairly useful hurdle/chase winner in France and gained her first British success when scoring in handicap hurdle at Haydock (24.3f) 33 days ago, battling well. Can give another good account.

Form: F2F0-61

Astigar^t⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 116

8/1

After 20 months off (had wind op) and in first-time tongue tie, shaped as if possibly needing the run when eleventh of 18 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (21f) in November. Could have more to offer on only his second start in a handicap.

Form: 22P2/0

Oscars Moonshine⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 116| CD

15/2

Completed a hat-trick sent handicapping in October 2020, including a success at this C&D. Lighly raced since but has shaped better than the distance beaten on both starts since returning from a year off in November. Could fare better back up in trip.

Form: 111/2-56

Sporting Ace³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 115

11/8

Jumped well when landing maiden at Warwick (25f) on hurdle debut in May and has progressed in each of his 3 starts since, finishing third in handicap at the same course (26f) on New Year's Day. Major player back down in trip.

Form: 21-1223

Longshanks²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 113| C

22/1

Off the mark over fences in handicap here (19.2f) last March but failed to go on as hoped from that effort. Back over hurdles, in the process of running better before departing 2 out at Wincanton (21.4f) last month, though looking held at the time.

Form: 214-PUF

Buckhorn George^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 108

25/1

Failed to convince in 4 starts over fences, losing place quickly early final circuit when pulled up at Chepstow last time. Back over hurdles but has enough to prove at present.

Form: PP2P-4P

Chloe's Court^p,t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 102| C

9/1

Stepped up on her reappearance when runner-up at Lingfield (23f) in November, headed close home having made mistake at the last. However, ran one of her lesser races when well held at Hereford last month. Others more persuasive.

Form: 164-427

Non-Runners

What About Time³⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 9

T: C E Longsdon J: B Roberts

Forecasts

Sporting Ace (11/8), Top Of The Bill (9/2), Oscars Moonshine (15/2), Astigar (8/1), What About Time (8/1), Chloe's Court (9/1), Sacre Coeur (9/1), Padleyourowncanoe (22/1), Longshanks (22/1), Buckhorn George (25/1)

SPORTING ACE has been going the right way over hurdles this season, again running well when third at Warwick last time, and he can return to winning ways with the drop back in trip set to suit. Top of The Bill could have more to offer in first-time cheekpieces and heads the list of dangers, ahead of Sacre Coeur.