14:10 Exeter

Monday 1 January 2024

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

Thurlestone Hotel 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:12 | Winning time: 5m 0.17s

Blue Ridge Hill⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater

8/1

Maiden pointer but displayed plenty of ability in bumpers at the end of 2022. Ran to a fair level when third on 2m Sandown hurdle debut in February and seemingly stretched by 2½m on his Carlisle return. May strip fitter for that and retains potential now back at slightly shorter.

Form: 4/2223-5

Cloudy Flamingo^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke

66/1

Winning pointer but well beaten in a listed novice chase at Cheltenham and novice hurdle in recent months.

Form: 1P4P-P5

Contramar^p1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

200/1

Well held in maiden/novice hurdles at Wincanton and Taunton. First-time cheekpieces need to spark major improvement.

Form: 00

Cool View³²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: T R George

250/1

Telescope gelding. Held back by inexperience when sixth of 9 in course bumper on debut in February. More needed on hurdles debut.

Form: 6-

Daring Plan¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

50/1

Maiden Irish pointer. Showed ability when mid-field in a pair of 17f maiden hurdles here last month but likely more one for handicaps.

Form: 2P6P-87

Geezer Rockstar¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: H Fry

9/2

Won 13-runner Taunton bumper on debut in April. Fair form when beaten just under 15 lengths into fourth on his hurdle debut at the same venue 18 days, leaving the impression the stiffer stamina test he faces this afternoon will be in his favour. Stable seeking a fourth successive win in this race.

Form: 1-4

Iris Des Issards¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 107

4/1

Twice third in points. Remote fourth on course hurdle debut but stepped up on that when 2 lengths second in a maiden hurdle back here (17f, heavy) 19 days ago, with the reopposing Moorefields back in fourth. That effort sets the standard here.

Form: 363-42

Killigarth

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

14/1

Telescope gelding. Dam fairly useful 2m/19f hurdle winner (stayed 3m). The betting should help guide to expectations with this newcomer.

Form:

Moorefields¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down

7/1

Irish point recruit who was backed at long odds and showed promise when fourth of 15 in 17f course maiden hurdle 19 days ago, although the reopposing Iris des Issards was 4½ lengths ahead in second. Entitled to progress and needs considering.

Form: 344-4

Our Nobby^h¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: P Gundry

250/1

Didn't offer much in pair of bumpers for Tom George during early 2022 and down the field in Taunton maiden hurdle on recent return from a long absence for his new yard.

Form: 7P/0

Paddy In The Caddy²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

15/2

£55,000 buy after finishing runner-up on his sole start in Irish points in May. One to note in the betting on hurdle debut.

Form: 2

Pentire Head¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| BF

5/2

Placed all 3 starts in bumpers last season. Better effort in hurdles at Wincanton this season when 11 lengths second in 15f maiden 13 days ago, not for the first time looking a bit ungainly under pressure. Step back up in trip will suit.

Form: 322-52

Rangatira Jack⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Miss L Blackford

33/1

Well held in 2 bumpers last spring and remote fifth on 17f course hurdle debut 6 weeks ago. Looks more one for the longer term.

Form: 80-5

Soir De Gala^t⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls

10/1

Promise on Wincanton bumper debut in April. Well held at Cheltenham 6 months later but retains potential for top stable now switching to hurdles.

Form: 3-0

Swearer¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tickle

200/1

Successful in a point in April 2021. Showed a bit when fifth in a Ludlow novice claiming hurdle in November 2022 but absent again until pulling up at Fakenham 13 days ago.

Form: 61/5-3P

Wotastunner^v1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: M Blake

250/1

Pulled up in Chepstow novice last month on his first start for a new yard after a long absence. A first-time visor needs to have a transformative effect.

Form: 0U/P-P

Forecasts

Pentire Head (5/2), Iris Des Issards (4/1), Geezer Rockstar (9/2), Moorefields (7/1), Paddy In The Caddy (15/2), Blue Ridge Hill (8/1), Soir De Gala (10/1), Killigarth (14/1), Rangatira Jack (33/1), Daring Plan (50/1), Cloudy Flamingo (66/1), Contramar (200/1), Swearer (200/1), Wotastunner (250/1), Cool View (250/1), Our Nobby (250/1)

IRIS DES ISSARDS is taken to confirm recent course superiority over Moorefields and make it third time lucky over hurdles. Harry Fry's very good recent record in this contest makes Geezer Rockstar a must for the shortlist, while Pentire Head may not be entirely straightforward but should still have a say for Paul Nicholls.