16:00 Exeter

Friday 10 November 2023

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Betway 'Challenger' Stayers' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 6m 27.30s

Collectors Item²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132

7/1

Dual novice hurdle winner last season. Also good third in 23f Uttoxeter handicap on final start. Presumably needed the run when a remote last of 4 in 19.5f Chepstow listed novice chase on reappearance and could prove a different proposition now.

Form: 15123-4

Notachance^p²³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 130| CD

22/1

Not quite the force of old but largely acquitted himself well last term, culminating with third of 17 in Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter in March. Contender if primed for this reappearance.

Form: 23/4373-

Hidden Heroics¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| CD

20/1

C&D winner on chase debut a year ago and followed up in a small field at Cheltenham next time. Subsequent efforts have been disappointing, though, including pulling up back at Cheltenham last month. Bounce back needed.

Form: 1155-5P

Ask Me Early^t²¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Megan Bevan⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 130| BF| C| D

12/1

Progressive novice chaser in 2020/21 and also scored twice over hurdles in late 2021. Didn't go on from a promising reappearance third last season but capable when fresh and on a dangerous mark if staging a revival.

Form: 1U/3P6D-

Broomfield Present^v²³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 127| D

7/2

Useful hurdler last season, winning a Ffos Las maiden and 3m Haydock handicap from only 3 starts. Returns with his yard in form and his point background suggests he could do even better over fences. Very interesting runner.

Form: P41/121-

Le Cameleon^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 127| D

40/1

Returned to form to win a 3m Ludlow handicap in March. Ended last season with a couple of creditable third places but he was a long way below form when a distant fourth on his Ludlow reappearance a month ago.

Form: 75133-4

Run To Milan^t²²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 124| CD

11/1

Former C&D winner. Showed he's still capable of quite useful form when placed 3 times last season but suspicion he might prove vulnerable to younger legs in this line-up on his first outing for 7 months.

Form: 0/P3372-

Make Me A Believer^t²²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 124WS

10/1

Bumper/novice hurdle winner. Unable to make a significant impact in handicap chases last winter but it's still fairly early days and it's possible a wind op since last seen will have had a positive effect.

Form: 213/664-

Foxboro^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 123

33/1

Struck twice last season but looked rusty when a well-held seventh on his Chepstow reappearance 10 days ago. Stamina not assured either.

Form: 8561P-7

My Silver Lining²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 120

18/5

Made it 3 wins in her last 4 starts when seeing off 6 rivals at Wincanton (25f) on reappearance 3 weeks ago. She did that readily but it was an uncompetitive race and more will be needed off 7 lb higher in a deeper affair.

Form: 35151-1

Iberio^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 113| D

7/2

Bumper winner who opened his account over hurdles at Taunton (3m, heavy) in March. Creditable fourth on his C&D chase debut/reappearance, although he didn't look entirely straightforward (hung left).

Form: 25214-4

Coral⁴⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 106

66/1

Won over fences at Worcester in autumn 2021 but absent since finishing fourth there in July 2022 (final start for Fergal O'Brien). Given a chance by the handicapper but watching brief is the percentage call after such a lengthy absence.

Form: 1P3/244-

Non-Runners

Just A Dime²⁸²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: Ben Clarke J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Broomfield Present (7/2), Iberio (7/2), My Silver Lining (18/5), Collectors Item (7/1), Just A Dime (8/1), Make Me A Believer (10/1), Run To Milan (11/1), Ask Me Early (12/1), Hidden Heroics (20/1), Notachance (22/1), Foxboro (33/1), Le Cameleon (40/1), Coral (66/1)

Although BROOMFIELD PRESENT lacks experience for a race like this his yard is in good form and a point win at the start of his career provides plenty of hope that he can translate his useful hurdle ability to fences. Collectors Item has the potential to leave his Chepstow chase debut behind and is second choice ahead of Ask Me Early, who has a decent record fresh and has been given a chance by the handicapper.