Racecards
14:00 Exeter
Virgin Bet Novices' Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 48y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £18,000 added
- Winner: £9,040
- 2nd: £4,165
- 3rd: £2,082
- 4th: £1,042
- Form 3814FU
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer Mrs J Williams
- Jockey Chester Williams
jumped poorly, close up when mistake 1st, soon dropped towards rear, lost ground 6th, soon ridden along, took closer order approaching next, lost place before 8th where slow and dropped to rear, struggling when pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
- Form 41F-F71
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
led, headed before 3rd, nudged along before 3 out (usual 4 out), soon weakened, pulled up before last
- Form 1/322-33
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
prominent, nudged along before 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden approaching last, kept on flat
- Form 0-0P6P4
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Mrs S Leech
- Jockey Cillin Leonard
mid-division, pushed along 9th, blundered next, ridden 3 out (usual 4 out), never dangerous
- Form 13-3U22
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Rex Dingle
midfield, jumped left 2nd, jumped right 5th and 6th, dropped towards rear before 7th, headway next, not fluent 10th, pushed along before 3 out (usual 4 out), went third approaching 2 out, plugged on one pace
- Form 110-156
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Brendan Powell
towards rear, headway to lead before 3rd, in control when mistake 2 out, pushed along flat, ran on well
Upton Road (IRE)
736- Form 1F/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up, smooth headway to chase leaders 8th, pushed along 3 out (usual 4 out), lost third approaching 2 out, no extra
Verdict
MIDNIGHT RIVER beat a good yardstick in Pay The Piper at Wetherby in only his second run over fences and there should be plenty more to come. Gustavian is more exposed and isn’t really improving and Coconut Splash is also in danger of becoming disappointing being 0-5 over the larger obstacles. Gladiateur Allen won over course and distance in December but has failed to complete the last twice, albeit in better company. The Widdow Maker has won three times over hurdles but makes his chasing debut at a decent level.
Formwatch
Gladiateur Allen (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Raced keenly tracking leaders, blundered and unseated rider 7th, at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Midnight River 2-1 (11-2) Led, swerved right at 1st, ridden 2 out, headed narrowly at next, rallied gamely to lead again close home, (limited visibility), won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Pay The Piper (11-8) by nk, 4 ran.
Coconut Splash (IRE) 6-4jfav (11-2) Chased winner on inside or handy, ridden after 4 out, held 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 4, 14 1/4l behind Kiltealy Briggs (11-2) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) hvy in Dec.
Cracking Smart (FR) 22-1 (11-5) Always last, hit 7th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and beaten before next, last of 4, 32 3/4l behind Orrisdale (11-0) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Gustavian (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Held up on outside, mistake 8th, headway to challenge 11th, mistake 14th, every chance when pecked 2 out, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Moroder (10-4) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
The Widdow Maker 18-1 (11-10) Raced keenly, chased leader, led turning in, ridden and headed before the last, weakened run-in, 6th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Cormier (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Upton Road (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, fell 8th, at Warwick 2m 5f (4) gs in Feb.