16:00 Exeter

Tuesday 24 October 2023

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:05

Exeter 'Challenger' Staying Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:03 | Winning time: 5m 57.70s

Itso Fury^t¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| BF

4/1

Won his first two starts over hurdles and shaped with encouragement on each of his handicap outings. Type to do better this season, so one to note if the market speaks in his favour back from 6 months off.

Form: 2/11235-

Go Chique^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123| D

22/1

Resumed winning ways in 5-runner handicap hurdle at Market Rasen in August but bit to prove after a tame showing at Newton Abbot since.

Form: 12-601P

Gentleman Valley^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 123| D

9/1

In rude health earlier this year, completing the hat-trick in a 7-runner handicap hurdle at Worcester (23f, good) in July. In the process of running creditably when departing at Warwick earlier this month and should be on the premises if none the worse for that.

Form: 4-1114F

Royal Pretender³²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 122

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Below best when last seen at Chepstow 10 months ago but remains unexposed over staying trips, so worthy of interest if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 22/3U24-

Moka De Vassy^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 126| BF

18/1

Acquitted himself well in defeat on several occasions over hurdles last season. Probably needed his return at Warwick 19 days ago, so expected to be back on his game.

Form: P53FP-5

Ajp Kingdom²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121| BF| D

4/1

Went close in a Ludlow novice back from a 5-month absence in April and odds-on winner of his next 3 starts at up to 23.3f. Latest effort (tough conditions) is easy to excuse and he remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 2-1112P

Goshhowposh²⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 117| BF

11/4

Promise in each of his three outings last winter and looks the type to up his game now handicapping faced with a stiffer test, so worth a chance to make a successful return from 9 months off.

Form: 243-

Exmoor Forest¹⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: N J Hawke| OR: 117

16/1

Has improved since joining this yard, placed in a Chepstow novice/Exeter handicap prior to opening his account in a Warwick maiden in May. Disappointing in handicap at Market Rasen 5 months ago and mark demands improvement.

Form: 8934-1P

Brave Starlight^t¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: David Dennis| OR: 109

14/1

Winning Irish pointer who showed fair form in novice hunter chases in the summer. Back from a break/switched to hurdling, so worth a market check.

Form: 3PP1-32

Oceanline^b¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 109

15/2

Made perfect start for new connections when a smooth winner at Worcester last summer. Hasn't fired in this sphere since but blinkers helped when landing a Flat handicap at Ascot recently, so not dismissed.

Form: 2/17-6P6

Non-Runners

The Imposter²⁰⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: N J Hawke J: Tom Buckley

Forecasts

Goshhowposh (11/4), Itso Fury (4/1), Ajp Kingdom (4/1), The Imposter (6/1), Oceanline (15/2), Gentleman Valley (9/1), Royal Pretender (12/1), Brave Starlight (14/1), Exmoor Forest (16/1), Moka De Vassy (18/1), Go Chique (22/1)

GOSHHOWPOSH caught the eye on a couple of occasions in novices and is very much the type to up his game switched to handicaps, so he might be up to completing a successful return. Itso Fury has a bigger effort in him and deserves respect, while Gentleman Valley seems likely to give a good account.