15:33 Exeter

Sunday 9 February 2025

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3316:0816:43

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:33 | Winning time: 6m 3.97s

Hititi^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 135| C

10/1

Course winner. Developed into useful hurdler last season and has matched that level when runner-up twice back over fences this winter, including here. Beaten quickly when a below-form sixth at Windsor last month and now reverts to hurdles.

Form: 20-2P26

Push The Button^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

9/1

Bumper winner. Went 2-3 in novice hurdles last season and has improved again in handicaps this time round, bouncing back quickly from a poor run at Haydock when narrowly denied at Windsor (3m good to soft) in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 3 weeks ago. Raised 4 lb but still much respected.

Form: 141-5P2

Jeriko Du Reponet⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| BF

10/3

Point winner who also landed first 3 starts over hurdles last season, including a Grade 2. Played up beforehand when running no sort of race on Sandown chase return but shaped okay back hurdling at Newbury since. Remains unexposed but the much longer trip is an unknown (all Rules starts around 2m).

Form: 111P-P5

Lossiemouth^p⁷²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Stan Sheppard| T: P Gundry| OR: 134

22/1

Three-time hurdle winner for Tom Lacey at the end of 2021 and showed he retains plenty of ability when fourth of 11 in 3m Newbury handicap on return from a near 3-year absence in November.

Form: 01115/4

Phantomofthepoints²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 133

13/2

Shaping up well in staying handicaps this season, winning at Wincanton (3m, soft) last month, pleasingly showing no sign of the waywardness which had proved costly at Chepstow over Christmas. There could be even more to come.

Form: 216-341

Harsh^p⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

18/1

Creditable sixth of 20 in handicap hurdle (18/1) at Leopardstown (2½m, good) 42 days ago. Tackles around 3m for the first time now. Top Irish stable's runners always merit respect.

Form: 1-60946

Excello²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

14/1

French import who showed useful form when winning a 21f Ascot graduation chase last winter. Placed in 3 novices back hurdling this winter but his handicap mark looks tough on those exploits.

Form: 10P-223

Keable²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 124| C

6/1

Very lightly raced for his age and going the right way, winning over 21.5f here on New Year's Day and following up over 3m at Newbury a fortnight later, both under Callum Pritchard. Raised another 8 lb but further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 4P-5211

Catch Him Derry³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123

10/1

Won 3 of his first 4 handicaps, including hard held on 21.5f Newton Abbot reappearance in October. Disappointing when pulled up in the valuable Betfair Stayers at Haydock ion November but shaped as if back in form when sixth to Strackan at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

Form: 121-1P6

Strackan³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: H D Daly| OR: 123| D

8/1

Has returned an improved performer, completing a hat-trick on soft/heavy when seeing off 8 rivals at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Was well positioned the way that race unfolded so will need more again off 6 lb higher.

Form: P9-2111

Mofasa^p,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122

40/1

Has lost his way over fences (pulled up last 3 starts) so needs a return to hurdles to spark a revival.

Form: 155P-PP

Mayhem Mya²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 119| C

15/2

Landed an 18.5f course handicap hurdle in December and backed that up when a good second over fences at Windsor (2½m) last month. Stamina a concern racing beyond 2½m for the first time.

Form: 4-4PF12

Forecasts

Jeriko Du Reponet (10/3), Keable (6/1), Phantomofthepoints (13/2), Mayhem Mya (15/2), Strackan (8/1), Push The Button (9/1), Catch Him Derry (10/1), Hititi (10/1), Excello (14/1), Harsh (18/1), Lossiemouth (22/1), Mofasa (40/1)

PHANTOMOFTHEPOINTS could easily have more to come and is taken to follow up last month's Wincanton success, perhaps at the main expense of Push The Button who ran a cracker in a competitive event at Windsor recently. The thriving Keable is a must for the shortlist, while Jeriko du Reponet could have a big say if his stamina holds up markedly in trip.