15:15 Exeter

Friday 24 February 2023

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:1716:50

Virgin Bet Devon National Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 7m 40.03s

Coup De Pinceau^b¹¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr George Hiscock⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 127| C

16/1

Back up in trip he shrugged aside some below-par runs to resume winning ways in a 4m Cheltenham hunter last April. Creditable third in another race over a marathon trip at Musselburgh in November. Certainly won't fail for lack of stamina.

Form: 555-133

Raddon Top^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 122| C

5/1

Landed hat-trick of handicap hurdles here last term and built on promising chasing debut when landing an 8-runner course handicap (3m) last month. Ran poorly at Chepstow 3 weeks ago but he's not the type to stay down for long.

Form: 2-23315

Favori De Sivola^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 120| CD

10/3

Successful over C&D in December. Added to a slightly patchy record when well held over 3m here last month but perhaps the return to a longer trip will help.

Form: 453-417

Gazette Bourgeoise^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: B I Case| OR: 118

5/1

Likeable mare who scored twice over hurdles last season and has largely run with credit in handicap chases this term, finishing third over 25f at Catterick latest. Has dropped to a workable mark.

Form: 44-2423

Gwencily Berbas^b¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 113| CD

13/2

C&D winner last winter but has yet to find his best form this term. Well handicapped if a return to a marathon trip helps to spark a revival.

Form: 59-5645

D'jango^b,t¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: D Pipe| OR: 106

17/2

Third win of a busy campaign when seeing off 7 rivals at Lingfield last week. Very hard to predict so remains to be seen whether he backs that up.

Form: 57P341

Premier D'troice^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Katy Price| OR: 112

5/1

Capitalised on a much-reduced mark when landing a Uttoxeter handicap in June. However, his subsequent starts have been laboured, never posing any threat when fifth of 12 at Chepstow 3 weeks ago.

Form: 218435

The Macon Lugnatic²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Lorcan Williams| T: B Pauling| OR: 108| BF

13/2

Unreliable individual. Did start the campaign with creditable thirds over hurdles and fences but he's been below par on both completed starts since. Last win was nearly 2 years ago.

Form: 5-33F45

Non-Runners

Copperhead²²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: J Tizzard J: Brendan Powell

Samuel Jackson²³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 11

T: R Mitford-Slade J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Favori De Sivola (10/3), Premier D'troice (5/1), Gazette Bourgeoise (5/1), Raddon Top (5/1), Gwencily Berbas (13/2), The Macon Lugnatic (13/2), Samuel Jackson (7/1), Copperhead (15/2), D'jango (17/2), Coup De Pinceau (16/1)

Given his consistent overall record RADDON TOP can probably be forgiven his slightly disappointing run last time and is taken to bounce straight back returned to the scene of his 4 wins under Rules. Gazette Bourgeoise is starting to look well treated and could pose a threat, while Samuel Jackson is also respected as a former winner of this race.