14:45 Exeter

Wednesday 1 January 2025

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

Thurlestone Hotel Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 4m 28.73s

Crest Of Fortune²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 125

4/5

Bumper winner who made a winning start over hurdles at Ffos Las in November. Couldn't live with a smart prospect at Haydock since but remains capable of better and the one to beat here.

Form: 15-12

Kap Vert²⁶

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

6/4

Runner-up in a point and promising start over hurdles in recent months, building on debut fifth to the reopposing Crest of Fortune at Ffos Las when staying on well to win a C&D novice 26 days ago. Definitely more to come.

Form: 9-251

Devon Blue⁴⁰

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

100/1

Well held in a bumper (for Victor Dartnall) and maiden hurdle 9 months apart.

Form: 8-0

Eric Gorcombe²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Godfrey| T: J D Frost

200/1

No show in points and likely outsider on hurdle debut.

Form: 8-PP

Peacenik³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price

7/2

Promise when runner-up in a pair of bumpers in the mud early last year. Also shaped quite well when fourth in a warm Newbury maiden on hurdle debut in November and entitled to come on for that run.

Form: 22-4

Tractor Jack^t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

50/1

Well held in novice hurdles at Newton Abbot and over C&D nearly 7 months apart (had wind surgery in between).

Form: 90

What U Wanna Do Is¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: B Lund

125/1

Well held in 2 bumpers (trained by James Owen first occasion) and a C&D maiden hurdle. Almost certainly booked for another struggle.

Form: 596

Winnaretta^h,t1⁴⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Conor Ring| T: G Harris

150/1

Modest maiden handicapper on Flat (stays 1¼m), below form last 3 starts. Not an obvious one to make a winning start to her hurdle career.

Form:

Non-Runners

Pink Eyed Pancho²²⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: D Brace J: C Brace

Forecasts

Crest Of Fortune (4/5), Kap Vert (6/4), Peacenik (7/2), Tractor Jack (50/1), Pink Eyed Pancho (66/1), Devon Blue (100/1), What U Wanna Do Is (125/1), Winnaretta (150/1), Eric Gorcombe (200/1)

This might develop into a straight fight between previous hurdle winners CREST OF FORTUNE and Kap Vert. The former had Kap Vert around 10 lengths behind him when the pair clashed at Ffos Las in November and can confirm his superiority over Ronnie Bartlett's charge. Peacenik is clear best of the rest.