15:52 Exeter

Sunday 26 March 2023

All14:0714:4215:1715:5216:2717:02

Devon Stayers Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 8m 5.36s

Revels Hill^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: H Fry| OR: 135

3/1

Ended last term with back-to-back wins in staying handicaps at Taunton and creditable in frame efforts all 3 starts this term, finding the test inadequate when third in first-time cheekpieces at Ascot (23.8f) just over 5 weeks ago. Big player back up in trip.

Form: U11-243

Coolvalla^p¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 130

8/1

Hurdles winner who has improved markedly for switch to chasing, completing 4-timer at Fontwell (27.7f) in January, in command when forging clear from 3 out. Not up to task in National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham (29.9f) but this a much more realistic assignment.

Form: 5-1111P

Copperhead^p⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 127| C

11/2

Grade 2 novice chase winner in early-2020. His career has been rather disappointing since though, faring little better back chasing in cheekpieces (retained) at Wincanton (25f) early last month.

Form: 0/P-U546

Poppa Poutine^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 127

13/2

Edged out at Haydock in November and ran at least as well in a stronger event when fourth at Cheltenham (26.3f) on New Year's Day. Let down by jumping when tailed-off last at Sandown (24.2f) last month but can get back on track returned to this marathon trip.

Form: 4-35247

Young Bull^p1⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 123

6/1

Yet to add to his 3 hurdling wins (in 2019) in this sphere but he resumed after 10 months off with a creditable third in 2m6f Haydock handicap in December. Cheekpieces go on now and not entirely dismissed trying a marathon trip for the first time.

Form: 232/34-3

Gwencily Berbas^b²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 119| CD

9/1

Isn't the force of old but he'd become well handicapped (11 lb below last winning mark) and opened his account for the season in Devon National over C&D last month. Found things tougher just 10 days later at Wetherby and probably now too high in the weights.

Form: 564513

Favori De Sivola^p,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 118| BF| CD

9/1

Successful over C&D in December but added to a patchy record when well held on his last couple of outings, tailed-off in Devon National over C&D last month. Temperament is now under suspicion, so percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 53-4176

Samuel Jackson^p¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 115| CD

9/2

Won the 2021 Devon National and has run with credit when third over 3m at Bangor (chase) and back at this venue (hurdles) this winter. Needs to leave a poor effort behind at Warwick (29.2f, soft) a fortnight ago but return to this track is at lease a small plus.

Form: 4P-3P3P

Non-Runners

Cyclop¹

Weight: 12-4| Age: 12

T: David Dennis J: Non Runner

Pontresina⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 10

T: B Lund J: Ellis Collier

Forecasts

Revels Hill (3/1), Samuel Jackson (9/2), Cyclop (5/1), Copperhead (11/2), Young Bull (6/1), Poppa Poutine (13/2), Coolvalla (8/1), Gwencily Berbas (9/1), Favori De Sivola (9/1), Pontresina (33/1)

This return to a marathon trip should be right up REVELS HILL's street so Harry Fry's 8-y-o is fancied to notch a third success over the larger obstacles. Young Bull has seemingly been hard to train but he may emerge as the main threat having shaped as though he's sure to relish this extreme test, with Coolvalla and Poppa Poutine a couple of each-way alternatives.