Racecards
15:30 Exeter
Devon National Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 3m 6f 110y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £22,000 added
- Form 2137U6
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Michael Murphy
held up towards rear, headway 11th, went 3rd 16th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
- Form F480-23
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 122
mid-division until 15th, soon behind, pulled up after 17th
- Form 5839P1
- Age 11
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer C Roberts
- Jockey Paul Moloney
11 until 2nd, prominent, led 12th until 15th, gradually faded, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form UB3U6R
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey R Thornton
mistake 15th, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
- Form P21232
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
ran in snatches, mid-division, mistake 9th, behind from 13th, tailed off
- Form 3P-11PP
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
hit 1st, mid-division, ridden 11th, weakened after 13th, pulled up before next
- Form P0PP-FP
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
prominent, led 6th until 12th, led 15th, ridden and hard pressed from 2 out, stayed on well from last, ridden out
- Form 57-612P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer G R I Smyly
- Jockey M Bradburne
mid-division, ridden after 13th, soon behind, pulled up after 15th
- Form RUR5-82
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey Christian Williams
prominent until weakened after 13th, pulled up before next
- Form 33P341
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
towards rear, slow jumps 1st and 2nd, headway to chase leaders next, mistake 6, dropped rear quickly 10th, pulled up before next
- Form 21-2486
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer R H & Mrs S Alner
- Jockey D A Jacob
tracked leaders, went 2nd 16th, ridden after 4 out, every chance from 2 out, no extra from last
Ibberton
46- Form F4-233P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer R H & Mrs S Alner
- Jockey R Walford
always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
- Form 751-9P2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer K Bishop
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, ridden after 17th, soon weakened
Crank Hill
13- Form 30-3537
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up behind, headway after 13th, ridden approaching 17th, 5th and beaten when pulled up before 4 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
A valuable prize which may go the way of SANDHURST ahead of Notabotheronme and Natoumba. This is the sort of test that should suit Crank Hill but he hasn't gone on as might have been expected just yet. Teeming Rain looked less than enthusiastic in a Hunter Chase but couldn't be confidently ruled out given his connections. Samsbro is one of the least exposed horses in the field and has a 12lb swing with Notabotheronme for their running at Chepstow in December where Topless was back in third. Victory Gunner got the better of Notabotheronme at Chepstow but he has always reserved some of his best efforts for the Welsh track and makes little appeal here. The Hobbs runner has also been a regular visitor to that track and has done most of his racing on heavy ground; it remains to be seen how he takes to this track and the quicker conditions. He was slightly below his best when third to Natoumba at Warwick when the winner was getting his head in front for the first time in almost two years. Given Natoumba's profile, there has to be a concern as to whether he can reproduce that form under contrasting conditions. The selection may not be as well handicapped as some of these but he has run sound races the last twice and shapes as though he'll see this extreme test out. He has few miles on the clock so is conceivably open to improvement and we'll take Sandhurst to take command.
Formwatch
Lysander (GER) 25-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 6 out, no impression from 5 out, 6th of 19, 20l behind Jass (10-9) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Sandhurst (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Held up, headway to chase leaders 11th, hit 4 out when weakening, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Hopkins (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 11-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, reminders after 1st and lost place 3rd, ridden 7th, outpaced 9th, stayed on from 4 out, led 2 out, all out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb beating Notabotheronme (10-2) by 1l, 7 ran.
Topless (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) refused in race won by Russian Trigger (11-11) at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Notabotheronme (IRE) 9-4fav (10-2) Mid-division, headway approaching 5 out, soon ridden and outpaced, rallied again 3 out, took 2nd flat, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Victory Gunner (9-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb.
What A Scientist (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Behind, close order after 15th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Fair Question (11-12) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Teeming Rain (IRE) 9-1 (12-8) Chased leaders early, not fluent 1st and 4th, gradually lost place, behind when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Back Nine (12-3) at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (6) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Plum Pudding (FR) 9-4 (11-5) Held up, headway 5th, not fluent next, pecked 8th, not fluent 4 out, soon struggling, weakening when blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Woodlands Genpower (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in J.
Samsbro (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led, ridden after 3 out, mistake next, headed flat, held when slightly hampered near finish, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Notabotheronme (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
Natoumba (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Soon in touch, hit 7th, reminder 10th, led 3 out, clear approach 2 out, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan beating Chopneyev (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Present M'lord (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) With leaders, led 7th to 9th, hit 15th, soon dropped rear, rallied before 16th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, 16l behind Le Beau Bai (11-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Ibberton 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 4th, ridden 8th, held when pulled up 4 out in race won by Supreme Keano (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 18 ran.
Wild Ground (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden and headway after 11th, led approaching 3 out, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Borero (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Crank Hill 5-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 15th, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 13, 22l behind Ultimate Limit (10-12) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Autumn Red (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 4th to 5th, remained handy until ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Ultimate Limit (10-12) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.