Racecards
18:55 Exeter
Raleigh Gilbert Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 5)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Good in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 3551/P3-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey Paul Moloney
mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 10th, weakening when mistake 13th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 0/86334-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
held up mid-division, headway after 9th, led and blundered next, headed 13th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 0/U18P0-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer Mrs S M Johnson
- Jockey R Johnson
behind, hampered 10th, headway next, ridden after 12th, one pace after next
- Form 12/2738-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey Mr T J O'Brien
towards rear, blundered 10th, soon well behind
River Indus
16- Form 8/48045-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey W T Kennedy
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, reminders after 6th, lost touch 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
- Form 7F2P43-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey A Thornton
led after 2nd, blundered next, headed 10th, close up, ridden approaching 4 out, every chance when mistake 3 out, kept on
- Form 042/4F9-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer Mrs A Barclay
- Jockey Antony Evans
mid-division, mistake 8th, behind 10th, pulled up after 13th
- Form 27245P-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Christian Williams
chased leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 5/54P74-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Miss Tor Sturgis
- Jockey L P Aspell
behind, ridden and headway after 13th, stayed on to go 4th approaching last, never trouble leaders
- Form P/PP637-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer N G Ayliffe
- Jockey M Nicolls
hampered and unseated rider 1st
Eveon (IRE)
50- Form 00/000F-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up towards rear, steady headway from 5th, tracked leaders 13th, lead approaching 2 out, stayed on well
- Form 6PPP9-5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer P C Ritchens
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
led until 3rd, chased leaders, led 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra
- Form 096PP9-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer J G Cann
- Jockey James Davies
chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up after 13th
- Form P2/60P0-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Mr Rhys Hughes
raced keenly, prominent, ridden after 13th, weakened next, pulled up before last
- Form 3/PP7PP-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 63
soon chasing leaders, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Ellie Moss
64- Form 9PPPP5-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Stephen Craine
Nonrunner
Verdict
The three main contenders in this competitive handicap are Zimbabwe, Moorland Monarch and Espresso Forte with the vote going to the last named. Although the selection has top weight to carry his form looks good enough. He landed a little handicap last March and looked in need of his first outing when pulling up. His latest start was encouraging and if improving once more can win again. Zimbabwe was a decent horse on the flat without winning and is proving the same over hurdles. He has in the past run some fine races but is not one to trust so is therefore worth avoiding. Moorland Monarch is another with ability but tends to keep it in reserve. So with more questions than answers it may be worth sticking with Espresso Forte.
Formwatch
Espresso Forte (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) In touch, blundered badly 15th, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, kept on flat, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Party Games (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) gf in Apr.
Laharna 7-2jt-fav (11-10) Prominent, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 10l behind Picot de Say (10-1) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
Over Bridge 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, 10th of 14, 40l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Dante's Promise (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Always behind, 8th of 10, 39l behind Meehan (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Zimbabwe (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Started slowly, rushed up to lead 1st, headed 3rd, stayed prominent until ridden 12th and one pace from next, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Sissinghurst Storm (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Apr.
Gerrard (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 10th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 14, well behind Lubinas (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Moorland Monarch 7-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, driven along after 9th, weakened from next, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Lord Rodney (11-10) at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Dr Mann (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, stayed on from 3 out without being dangerous, 4th of 18, 7l behind Blazing Batman (9-9) at Chepstow 3m sll hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.