13:45 Exeter

Tuesday 11 April 2023

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:15

Dr Peter Hennis 1833 Haldon Duel Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 5m 30.70s

Bumpy Johnson^p,t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 117

17/2

Fontwell bumper winner who opened his hurdles account following a second breathing op at Ffos Las (2½m) in February. Consistency not his strong suit but he shaped as if still in good form following a 4 lb rise at Doncaster (24.4f) since.

Form: 24-4414

Riskintheground³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116| D

15/2

Has been a bit disappointing over hurdles given his earlier promise in bumpers, underperforming at Cheltenham and Ludlow prior to opening his account in a weak race at Fontwell (21.8f) 34 days ago. More required back in a handicap.

Form: 6-53861

King's Threshold⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 114

15/2

Well held in bumpers but has shaped with promise when in the frame both starts over hurdles. Step up in trip will suit now handicapping but his opening mark could have been kinder.

Form: 38-34

Sporting Mike^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 114

10/3

Point winner who made a successful handicap debut in this sphere at Southwell (20.4f) in November. Shaped really well from 10 lb higher in his follow-up bid at Wetherby and looked back in form following a mini blip when fourth at Newbury (24.2f) 18 days ago. Not dismissed.

Form: 312474

Tikitov¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 111

22/1

Finished runner-up for the fifth start in succession in 5-runner novice at Ludlow (21.2f) 19 days ago. Doesn't look obviously well treated on handicap debut.

Form: 3322-22

Exmoor Forest²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 109

18/1

Left previous efforts well behind on first run since leaving Ben Lund when third in 10-runner novice at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft, 200/1) 23 days ago. Makes handicap debut and it remains to be seen if he's able to back that up.

Form: 577-893

Gingerbred²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 108| C

7/2

Confirmed previous promise when winning a handicap here (18.5f) in February and returned to a similar level when third in 19f event at Taunton 22 days ago. Step up in trip likely to suit and must enter calculations.

Form: 95F173

Commander Of Ten¹²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 108WS

50/1

Has gone backwards from an encouraging hurdling debut/return in the autumn, albeit out of his depth on most recent outing. Has had another breathing operation ahead of this switch to handicaps and longer trip should suit, but his opening mark looks on the stiff side.

Form: 64-386

Saturday Song²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 103| BF

17/2

Placed on the first of his 2 starts in bumpers for Gary Brown and stepped up on his hurdling debut form after 19 months off when second in Uttoxeter maiden (15.7f) in January. Not seen to best effect back up in trip on his Doncaster handicap debut subsequently, so worth another chance.

Form: 38/3-24

Marmalaid²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 103

14/1

From the family of Katchit and left her hurdles debut form behind when off the mark in a thin race at Ffos Las (20f) last spring. Shaped as if needing the run after 10 months off when second in another small-field novice at Plumpton 3 weeks ago and looks to have been allotted a fair opening mark.

Form: 5/8-12

Bombay Sapphire^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Max Kendrick| T: N J Henderson| OR: 102

14/1

Fair bumper winner in Ireland. Yet to reach that level over hurdles, though again showed promise after 3 months off when fourth in 6-runner novice at Plumpton (20.5f) 29 days ago, fading only late. Into handicaps now in a refitted tongue strap and remains capable of better.

Form: 1-534

Arthalot^p,t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 87

16/1

Fair on Flat but beaten a long way on his completed starts over hurdles in maiden/novice company and needed to see more on February's handicap debut. Difficult ask from 2 lb out of the weights.

Form: 5-0U7

Non-Runners

St Patricks Bridge¹¹¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: C Brace

Forecasts

Sporting Mike (10/3), Gingerbred (7/2), King's Threshold (15/2), Riskintheground (15/2), Bumpy Johnson (17/2), Saturday Song (17/2), St Patricks Bridge (10/1), Marmalaid (14/1), Bombay Sapphire (14/1), Arthalot (16/1), Exmoor Forest (18/1), Tikitov (22/1), Commander Of Ten (50/1)

An open-looking handicap but there's a strong argument that SPORTING MIKE has the best piece of form on offer. He was thwarted only by the progressive Santos Blue at Wetherby on Boxing Day and is sure to benefit from a return to around 2½m, so he's put forward as the answer. Gingerbred, Saturday Song and Marmalaid are a trio of others to consider.