Racecards
12:40 Exeter
Tim Hailstone Late Birthday Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £3,500 added
- Winner: £2,274
- 2nd: £668
- 3rd: £334
- 4th: £167
- Form 54P315
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer David Dennis
- Jockey Mr Shane Quinlan
tracked leaders, closed 5th, ridden and one pace 3 out, blundered next, no extra before last
- Form 7866/3-6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Mrs S Leech
- Jockey Killian Moore
jumped left, led until 5th, lost place next, pulled up and dismounted before 3 out
- Form 60-9621
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey M G Nolan
held up in rear, headway 4th, led next, jumped left from 3 out, headed last, stayed on, no impression towards finish
- Form 6-P07
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer K Bishop
- Jockey James Best
held up in rear, jumped left, not fluent 4th, headway before 7th, challenged 3 out until last, no extra final 150 yards
- Form 8-7842
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey J McGrath
mid-division, headway 6th, one pace when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
Witchesintune
270- Form 404/09P-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer Mrs H R J Nelmes
- Jockey Conor Ring
tracked leader, hampered 4th, not fluent 5th, outpaced 3 out, no extra next
- Form U4626-4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey Kieron Edgar
tracked leaders on outside, hampered and lost place 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 964523
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey Giles Hawkins
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, not fluent 3 out, switched right before next, led last, ridden and stayed on flat
Verdict
Positive Vibes only won by a short-head at Wincanton and is 5lb higher here. Steel Summit's victory at Wetherby last month came over fences and he's been well beaten over hurdles since at Chepstow but Unefille De Guye has been knocking on the door lately and it's probably only a matter of time before she gets her head in front. KENTFORD HEIRESS is from solid jumping stock and her latest second at Towcester was a much-improved performance. Though 6lb higher here, she may be good enough to open her account.
Formwatch
Steel Summit (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Led until headed and dropped to 3rd approaching 4 out, mistake and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 16l behind Flintham (11-9) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Piano Concerto (USA) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 17l behind Thundering Home (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f con hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Positive Vibes 5-1 (10-10) Held up in last pair, headway 6th, went 2nd before 2 out, every chance last, ridden to challenge flat, stayed on to lead narrowly towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov beating Flashy Star (10-4) by shd, 8 ran.
Precious Ground 150-1 (10-12) Mainly towards rear, never on terms, 7th of 14, 31l behind Taj Badalandabad (10-12) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Kentford Heiress 25-1 (10-8) Not always fluent, held up in rear, headway from 8th, led 2 out, soon headed, stayed on but no impression on winner from last, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Agent Fedora (10-2) at Towcester 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Nov.
Witchesintune 50-1 (10-5) Mid-division, lost place and soon in rear 8th, pulled up after next, in a race won by Dont Do Mondays (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 11 ran.
Pagham Belle 9-2 (11-1) Led until 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 7, 15l behind Rouquine Sauvage (11-11) at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Nov.
Unefille De Guye (FR) 7-2 (9-12) Held up in touch on inside, headway 4 out, led next, ridden and hard pressed when edged left flat, headed toward finish, no extra, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Bredon Hill Lad (10-11) at Exeter 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.