16:00 Exeter

Thursday 1 January 2026

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Racing Blogger Open Maiden NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

4YO to 6YO | Class 5 | 2m 161y | 12 Runners | Turf

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton

€55,000 Poet's Word gelding who is probably a budding stayer but definite encouragement to glean from his debut third in a Ffos Las bumper (15.8f) in October, keeping on well to take that place dying strides. In top hands and there's undoubtedly better to come.

Form: 3

Blackswan D'oroux

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

€155,000 3-y-o, Tunis gelding. Half-brother to smart hurdler/useful chase winner Blueking d'Oroux, stays 3m, and useful hurdler/chaser Path d'Oroux. Dam 17f hurdle winner in France. Of obvious interest on debut for top stable.

Elusive Pb^h1

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: Nick Scholfield

Elusive Pimpernel gelding out of an unraced sister to unreliable but useful hurdler/chaser Out Sam and half-sister to useful hurdler/fairly useful chaser Honest John. Likely to need more time and distance. Wears hood.

I'm Wide Awake²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

Fair form when runner-up both starts to date, latterly in 15-runner bumper at this C&D (heavy) 27 days ago. Likely to be competitive again.

Form: 22

Kiptanuy

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: W J Burke

Jeu St Eloi gelding. Brother to fairly useful 15f French hurdle winner Sainte Candy and and half-brother to 4 winners, including smart hurdler/high-class chaser Pic d'Orhy. Rare UK runner for Irish-based trainer (first since 2014) and needs a close look in the betting.

Le Cold Grey

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls

€95,000 3-y-o, Cokoriko gelding. Half-brother to bumper winner/17f hurdle winner in France Hardi du Mesnil and smart hurdler/very smart staying chaser Gaillard du Mesnil. Stable’s first-timers merit plenty of respect.

Valiant Soldier

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: J Tizzard

£32,000 3-y-o, Soldier of Fortune gelding. Brother to a point winner. Dam (h105), bumper winner, half-sister to useful hurdler (stayed 25f) Teescomponents Lad and fairly useful hurdler/fair chaser (stayed 21f) Teescomponentsyess.

Fountains Gala

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: Claire Hitch

Passing Glance mare. Sister to 4 winners, including useful hurdler/smart chase winner Fountains Windfall and bumper winner/fair 19f hurdle winner Fountains Blenheim.

Hotter Than Dubai

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: C Honour

Dartmouth filly. Half-sister to useful chaser Tile Tapper, stayed 4¼m, and fair hurdler Hot Ryan, stayed 3¼m. Dam (c107/h93) 23f chase winner. Bred to stay long distances.

Rob's Spirit⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Scholfield

Maxios filly who was sent off at 200/1 and looked clueless when a well-beaten tenth of 11 in bumper (200/1) at Chepstow (16.1f, soft) on debut 41 days ago.

Form: 0

Topsham Tide²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: C J Down

Showed nothing in a C&D bumper on debut last month.

Form: 0

Up The Hill

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Kimber| T: P Gundry

Getaway filly. Dam (h115), 2½m hurdle winner, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler (stayed 25f) As I See It out of smart 2m-21f hurdle winner Chomba Womba. Bred more for stamina than speed.

Forecasts

Blackswan D'oroux (2/1), Big John Ollie (7/2), I'm Wide Awake (4/1), Le Cold Grey (9/2), Valiant Soldier (10/1), Elusive Pb (14/1), Kiptanuy (14/1), Up The Hill (25/1), Hotter Than Dubai (50/1), Fountains Gala (50/1), Rob's Spirit (100/1), Topsham Tide (150/1)

BLACKSWAN D'OROUX has a good pedigree and could be up to making a winning start for a yard that continues in fine fettle. Big John Ollie showed definite promise on his debut at Ffos Las in October and can be expected to improve, with Le Cold Grey and Irish-raider Kiptanuy two other debutantes to note.