15:00 Exeter

Sunday 7 April 2024

All14:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:18

Exeter Racecourse Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 31.73s

Behind The Curtain¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 109

11/1

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland who failed to complete in pair of chase starts returning from a lengthy absence for new yard but back to form when running out a 50/1 winner over hurdles at Wincanton (21.4f, heavy) 11 days ago. Possibilities if backing that up returned to this longer trip.

Form: 254/FP1

Rivers Corner¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 105| BF

7/2

Well served by step up in trip when opening his account at Wincanton (24.7f) in February and followed up from 10 lb higher at Taunton later that month. Creditable third following another hike in weights at Newcastle (23.7f) 12 days ago and this 6-y-o remains pretty low mileage.

Form: 684113

Bobo Mac^p⁶⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: T Symonds| OR: 105

9/1

Veteran campaigner who has confirmed he retains a fair level of ability this season, regaining the winning thread at Ffos Las (23.9f, heavy) 66 days ago. 4 lb rise fair and claims again under Harry Cobden.

Form: 45-2231

Raddon Top^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-13| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 104| CD

7/1

C&D winner but more miss than hit since a chase win here last January, well held fourth returned to this C&D 3 weeks ago. Mark continues to ease at least.

Form: 8-24P74

Jemura^p1⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 100

9/1

Mahler gelding who stepped up on previous exploits in this sphere when third of 9 on handicap hurdle debut at Fontwell (21.7f) in January. Unpromising start over fences at Plumpton followed 6 weeks ago but not one to write off back in this sphere with cheekpieces now enlisted.

Form: 66-4335

Ri Na Cuirte^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 95

10/1

Runner-up on second of 2 starts in Irish points who was first off the bridle before plugging on for second on handicap debut at Doncaster (24.4f, heavy) 5 weeks ago. Fitting of cheekpieces may help on that evidence and he remains less exposed than most.

Form: 62-5662

Caspers Court¹²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 94| C

33/1

Won back-to-back around 21f at Wincanton/here at the start of 2023 but has failed to hit the same heights since. Did at least take a step back in the right direction over 19f at Taunton in November and return to further rates a plus back from a break.

Form: 9857P7

Getupearly²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 94

10/1

Ended the last campaign with a respectable effort in a C&D handicap 12 months ago and yet to be asked for his effort when brought down 3 out at Taunton (23.9f) 4 weeks ago. This should reveal more.

Form: 520P6-B

Mister Barclay¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jordan Nailor| T: T Symonds| OR: 91| BF

9/1

Maiden who wasted no time getting back to form when 7 lengths second of 9 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (24.1f) 3 weeks ago. Looks a live each-way player again. Yard also saddle Bobo Mac.

Form: 3-72372

Malago Rose¹³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 89

5/1

Malinas mare. Improved gradually over hurdles to date, running just about her best race yet and shaping as if this longer trip could unluck further progress when third in handicap hurdle here (21.6f) back in November.

Form: 0-54433

Newtonian^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 73

11/1

Remains a maiden after 19 runs but he posted a respectable fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (25.5f, soft) 29 days ago. Cheekpieces back on but more on his plate from out of the weights here.

Form: P2P444

Non-Runners

Blackacre²⁰

Weight: 10-4| Age: 5

T: Evan Williams J: Isabel Williams

Forecasts

Rivers Corner (7/2), Malago Rose (5/1), Raddon Top (7/1), Mister Barclay (9/1), Jemura (9/1), Bobo Mac (9/1), Getupearly (10/1), Ri Na Cuirte (10/1), Blackacre (10/1), Newtonian (11/1), Behind The Curtain (11/1), Caspers Court (33/1)

BLACKACRE remains lightly-raced granted this sort of test and ran his best race yet when runner-up at Fontwell 3 weeks ago, making his effort from further back than ideal in a falsely-run race. He could just be worth chancing to build on that in a wide-open contest from such a lowly mark. Recent-winner Bobo Mac and in-form Rivers Corner head up the dangers, with Behind The Curtain and Jemura completing the shortlist.