13:35 Exeter

Monday 1 January 2024

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Rhino.Bet Charge Up Your 2024 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 4m 28.06s

Royal Jewel¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| CD

5/6

Runner-up in an Irish point and built on debut promise when landing 15-runner novice hurdle over C&D (heavy) 19 days ago. Open to further progress. Leading claims despite conceding weight all round.

Form: 7-2251

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Chauffeur Driven¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

17/2

Won his only start in points and started encouragingly in this sphere when third in 2m Ffos Las maiden. Came in only 11th in 2m Taunton novice hurdle 18 days ago though. Remains with potential.

Form: 1830

Diamatiste²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott

20/1

€7,500 3-y-o, Diamond Boy gelding. Dam cross-country chaser (2¾m-3¼m winner) in France. Fourth both starts in points (latest Dec 3) so a respected newcomer.

Form: 44

Gentleman²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C Boultbee-Brooks

22/1

Hinted at ability when furth of 11 in novice hurdle at Chepstow (19.4f, heavy, 80/1) on hurdles bow 23 days ago. Needs to build on it.

Form: 94

Iron Wings⁶⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

28/1

Only modest form shown in three bumpers for Nigel Hawke, off 22 months before ninth of 10 at Taunton. Lots to prove now going over hurdles.

Form: 649/

Nedzor³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryan Carver| T: Henry Oliver

7/1

Runner-up in a point and had a wind op before posting an encouraging third of 7 in novice hurdle (9/1) at Chepstow (16f, soft) on NH debut 38 days ago. Can take a step forward.

Form: 2-3

Rivers Corner²⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: S Hosie| OR: 88

18/1

Modest in bumpers and similar standard over hurdles. Hard to warm to after 9 months off.

Form: 75458-

Ruith Le Tu⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry

200/1

Fair handicapper on Flat but became increasingly temperamental in that sphere and has shown nothing in 3 runs over hurdles, refusing to race at Taunton last time. Others much preferred.

Form: P7R

Storming Nelson¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

10/3

Unpromising in points but showed fair form when third of 18 in novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy) 13 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 5P-6583

Summerleaze²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: T Dennis

66/1

Down the field in a Chepstow bumper in March 2021. Far from obvious winner on hurdles debut.

Form: 222/4-42

Forecasts

Royal Jewel (5/6), Storming Nelson (10/3), Nedzor (7/1), Chauffeur Driven (17/2), Rivers Corner (18/1), Diamatiste (20/1), Gentleman (22/1), Iron Wings (28/1), Summerleaze (66/1), Ruith Le Tu (200/1)

ROYAL JEWEL posted a fairly useful effort when going in over C&D last month and with further improvement very much on the cards he looks more than capable of defying a 7 lb penalty. Chauffeur Driven could emerge as the chief threat if shrugging off a lesser effort at Taunton, with Storming Nelson and Diamatiste appealing as the pick of the remainder for minor honours.