13:00 Exeter

Wednesday 1 February 2023

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

Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 38.70s

Kingofthewest^t⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 117| C| D

7/1

Already a dual hurdles winner at Taunton and Exeter in February. Not disgraced at Worcester 3 months ago but needs more if he's to defy this mark.

Form: 2/1210-3

Lime Drop³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Godfrey| T: H D Daly| OR: 115

18/1

Five-time winner last season and back to form when runner-up at Newbury a month ago. Likely to make her presence felt.

Form: 1214-82

Forrard Away⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Chapman| OR: 114

100/1

22/1 and blinkered for 1st time, fifteenth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.3f, good to soft) 64 days ago. First run for yard after leaving J. T. R. Dreaper. Doesn't make much appeal.

Form: 6487-80

Hititi^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 109| BF| C

4/1

Ended last season over hurdles on a high, winning handicaps at Fontwell and this course. Best effort over fences when third in the mud back here on New Year's Day and 1 lb lower returned to timber.

Form: 211-U43

Naturally High⁴²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108

28/1

Dual Flat winner who opened hurdles account in good style and followed up in similarly decisive fashion at Sandown. Has a 14-month absence to overcome, but he's worthy of interest.

Form: U/7611-

Colonial Empire⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 108| C

11/4

Bumper winner who has got firmly on track in handicaps this season, off the mark at Leicester (15.5f) and building on that to record a facile success at Ffos Las (15.8f) late last month. Assessor applies further pressure but he may yet have more to offer.

Form: P-52211

Gingerbred²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Martin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 106

10/1

Was in the process of showing improved form when falling at this course last time and could make an impact if able to build on it.

Form: P-R595F

Scrappy Jack³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 105

150/1

Winner of 2 juvenile hurdles at Newton Abbot in July 2021 but off the track 16 months and pulled up on December's return to action.

Form: 4114-P

Pleasant Man^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁸⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 105| BF

18/5

Useful stayer on Flat who was picked up from Roger Charlton for 175,000 gns. Easily best effort so far over hurdles when third in a novice at Taunton 23 days ago. Looks potentially well treated off 105 with cheekpieces back on.

Form: P-63

Wavering Down^p⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 105

14/1

Better than ever when winning at Newton Abbot in October and ran respectably at Fontwell next time. Off 89 days since.

Form: 2475-13

Bonza Boy^p1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Prichard| T: J Scott| OR: 104

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH Rules who despite still looking a bit raw, running best race when runner-up on return/handicap debut at Hereford (21.7f) in November. Disappointing both starts since, though.

Form: 452-255

Global Agreement^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁶⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 100

16/1

Won 3 times last season, latest at Carlisle in February. Often looks hard work but he went with a lot more zest when runner-up in a 16.7f course handicap 22 days ago.

Form: 452-342

Karakoram^p,t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 90| CD

22/1

Consistent performer who scored at Exeter in December and backed it up with a good 8¼ lengths third of 15 to Fame And Fun in handicap hurdle at Taunton 33 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 432413

Forecasts

Colonial Empire (11/4), Pleasant Man (18/5), Hititi (4/1), Kingofthewest (7/1), Gingerbred (10/1), Wavering Down (14/1), Global Agreement (16/1), Lime Drop (18/1), Karakoram (22/1), Bonza Boy (25/1), Naturally High (28/1), Forrard Away (100/1), Scrappy Jack (150/1)

PLEASANT MAN is well treated on Flat form off a mark of 105 and looks the one to beat after an encouraging third at Taunton. Hat-trick seekers Colonial Empire and Naturally High are both dangers.