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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
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 36.50s
  • 15 Ran
1
Silk - Plum, White sleeves, Emerald Green cap
  • Form 3551/P3-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 95

mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 10th, weakening when mistake 13th, pulled up before 4 out

2
Silk - Orange, Dark Blue and Orange striped sleeves and striped cap

Laharna

57 BFD
7/1
  • Form 0/86334-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 93

held up mid-division, headway after 9th, led and blundered next, headed 13th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out

3
Silk - Gold, Blue and Gold quartered cap
14/1
  • Form 0/U18P0-
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 87

behind, hampered 10th, headway next, ridden after 12th, one pace after next

4
Silk - Light Blue, Dark Blue braces and sleeves, Dark Blue and Light Blue hooped cap
16/1
  • Form 12/2738-
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-1
  • Official Rating 84

towards rear, blundered 10th, soon well behind

5
Silk - Brown, Orange epaulets and star on cap
33/1
  • Form 8/48045-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-9
  • Official Rating 78

chased leaders, mistake 2nd, reminders after 6th, lost touch 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out

6
Silk - Black, White cross belts, Yellow sleeves, Black spots and spots on cap
11/2
  • Form 7F2P43-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-9
  • Official Rating 78

led after 2nd, blundered next, headed 10th, close up, ridden approaching 4 out, every chance when mistake 3 out, kept on

7
Silk - Light Blue, Scarlet hoop and cap
12/1
  • Form 042/4F9-
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-8
  • Official Rating 77

mid-division, mistake 8th, behind 10th, pulled up after 13th

8
Silk - Royal Blue, Royal Blue and White quartered cap
  • Form 27245P-
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-8
  • Official Rating 77

chased leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching 3 out

9
Silk - Royal blue, pink and royal blue chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap
7/1
  • Form 5/54P74-
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-7
  • Official Rating 76

behind, ridden and headway after 13th, stayed on to go 4th approaching last, never trouble leaders

10
Silk - Yellow, Purple triple diamond, Purple sleeves, Yellow armlets, Yellow cap, Purple diamond
28/1
  • Form P/PP637-
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-2
  • Official Rating 71

hampered and unseated rider 1st

11
Silk - LIGHT GREEN, BLACK sleeves, BLACK and LIGHT GREEN quartered cap
16/1
  • Form 00/000F-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-2
  • Official Rating 71

held up towards rear, steady headway from 5th, tracked leaders 13th, lead approaching 2 out, stayed on well

12
Silk - Maroon, Yellow hollow box, armlets and star on cap
  • Form 6PPP9-5
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 68

led until 3rd, chased leaders, led 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra

14
Silk - Royal Blue and White check, Orange sleeves

Lady Wurzel

26 v D
33/1
  • Form 096PP9-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 64

chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up after 13th

15
Silk - Yellow and Emerald Green (halved), chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap
  • Form P2/60P0-
  • Age 6
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 64

raced keenly, prominent, ridden after 13th, weakened next, pulled up before last

16
Silk - Royal Blue, Pink star, diabolo on sleeves, Royal Blue cap, Pink star
50/1
  • 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

13
NR
  • Form 9PPPP5-
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-0
  • Official Rating 65

Nonrunner

In depth

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.