14:00 Exeter

Friday 21 February 2025

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:05

South West Rail Solutions Ltd Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 37.98s

Ambion View²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 123| C

6/4

Modest form in trio of bumper starts but different proposition switched to this sphere, winning maiden here (18.5f) in October. Fell next time (travelling well at the time) and ran up to best when second in a Wincanton novice (15.2f) 3 weeks ago. Possibilities again.

Form: 633-1F2

Mythical Moon²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 121

11/4

Fair form when runner-up on second of 2 starts in bumpers and took to this discipline well after 6 months off when bagging 14-runner novice hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) in October. Solid placed efforts have followed over C&D/Doncaster since and he ought to be thereabouts again.

Form: 72-132

South Omo Zone³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy

9/4

Promising sort who landed bumper at Hereford for Anthony Charlton and followed up for his new handler in 8-runner novice at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) on hurdles bow 36 days ago. Has more to offer so he's a likely player.

Form: P27/1-1

Berkshire Lad¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy

50/1

Fair form in bumpers and showed benefit of hurdles debut experience when third of 10 in maiden at Southwell (15.8f) 18 days ago. Needs to take another step forward if he's to feature here, though.

Form: 0-3563

Stinginhisstep¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Gardner

250/1

Headstrong sort who finished down the field all 3 starts in bumpers and similar story when midfield in 12-runner novice hurdle at Chepstow (2m) 12 days ago, tiring 2 out. Best watched.

Form: 8606

Zainy Champ^h³⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott

16/1

Hooded for debut, offered something to work on when third in 4-runner bumper at Doncaster (16.6f) on debut back in March. Represents a yard firmly amongst the winners now hurdling back from 11 months off and the betting can prove a useful guide.

Form: 3-

Close Combat²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke

12/1

Well-beaten on his only start in bumpers but C&D hurdles debut effort not without hope and he duly took a step forward when second of 6 in juvenile hurdle at Chepstow (16f, heavy) 24 days ago. That may not prove his limit and he's in receipt of weight all round here.

Form: 762

Non-Runners

Kap Vert²⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: P Hobbs & J White J: M G Nolan

Forecasts

Ambion View (6/4), South Omo Zone (9/4), Mythical Moon (11/4), Kap Vert (5/1), Close Combat (12/1), Zainy Champ (16/1), Berkshire Lad (50/1), Stinginhisstep (250/1)

SOUTH OMO ZONE has few miles on the clock and made a smooth transition to hurdling when successful on yard debut at Wincanton 5 weeks ago. Open to improvement, he's narrowly selected to follow up. Mythical Moon and Kap Vert may be the pair to give Olly Murphy's 7-y-o most to think about.