17:10 Exeter

Thursday 12 October 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Devon Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 4m 24.35s

Coolnaugh Haze¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 121| BF

9/2

Improved when making a winning start for new yard at Worcester (2m, good to soft) in August and ran respectably from a 10 lb higher mark at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft, 7/2) 9 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 223414

Nibras Gold^p,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁸⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 118

11/4

Won in tidy fashion from the front at Ffos Las in May and hasn't finished any worse than third in 4 outings since, again running to form when second of 6 in handicap hurdle (4/1) at Warwick (21f, good) 17 days ago. Others are perhaps better treated but he's not discounted with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 5-13222

Fat Sam²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 112| D

9/1

Took a heavy fall over fences at Newton Abbot on his penultimate outing and was perhaps still feeling those effects when down the field at Uttoxeter last time. Others are easier to fancy on his return to hurdling.

Form: 36-32F5

Pop The Champagne^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Slatter| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 109

33/1

Bumper winner who was well placed to land 4-timer in novice hurdles at around 2m for Fergal O'Brien last summer. May well have won at Stratford if jumping better on her penultimate hurdles outing but proved far too free at Uttoxeter last month. Comes with risks attached.

Form: 118-324

Copshill Lad^t¹⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 109| BF

5/2

Yet to really build on the promise of his impressive bumper success but would have finished a clear second when falling late at Fakenham when last seen and worth another try at handicapping after a summer break.

Form: 13453-F

Cabrakan^p⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 105

9/2

Successful twice last winter, latterly a Hereford handicap off this mark in February. Back to form when third of 11 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f, good to soft, 7/2) 9 days ago and isn't taken lightly if usual errors don't prove too much of a hindrance.

Form: 3-25043

Lucky Lover Boy^p,t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 101

28/1

Won 4 times in the first half of last season but hasn't fired over hurdles or fences this term and needs a revival.

Form: 12-5596

Thahab Ifraj²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 96| D

22/1

Won over hurdles at Fontwell last summer but nothing to shout about in this sphere since and latest Flat effort was also below par. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 167-766

Non-Runners

Byzantine Empire⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Jack Hogan

Forecasts

Copshill Lad (5/2), Nibras Gold (11/4), Coolnaugh Haze (9/2), Cabrakan (9/2), Fat Sam (9/1), Byzantine Empire (10/1), Thahab Ifraj (22/1), Lucky Lover Boy (28/1), Pop The Champagne (33/1)

COOLNAUGH HAZE showed improved form when making a winning debut for James Owen in August and wasn't beaten too far from a much higher mark at Southwell last time, so he appeals as the most solid proposition ahead of Cabrakan, who is more than capable from this kind of mark provided his jumping holds up, whilst Copshill Lad is also intriguing on his second handicap start.