Racecards
16:50 Exeter
Andrew West Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £15,000 added
- Winner: £9,495
- 2nd: £2,805
- 3rd: £1,402
- 4th: £702

- Form 418-41F
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
chased leader until ridden before 11th, weakened quickly, tailed off 12th, pulled up soon after

- Form 452-324
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
led, hit 14th, driven and headed before last, finished tired but kept on for 2nd

- Form 1-31174
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey L Heard
in touch, pushed along and struggling in rear after 10th, tailed off 11th, soon pulled up

- Form 1-24PPP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
behind, slight peck and reminder 6th, mistake next, pushed along and struggling before 11th, tailed off next, pulled up soon after

- Form 104-1U4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leaders, 2nd before 11th until after 14th, chased leading pair, 3rd and held before 4 out, mistake next, finished tired

Salmanazar
14- Form 2/P0-3FU
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer A King
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up and behind, steady headway approaching 11th, 2nd after 14th, ridden to lead before the last, stayed on well

- Form 5-4114P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up, headway approaching 11th, chased leaders 13th, weakened after next, poor 4th when pulled up before 4 out

- Form 1323-33
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
chased leaders, pushed laong after 9th, mistake next, not fluent 12th, tailed off 14th, left poor 4th and blundered 4 out, tailed off
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Having beaten Ballyculla by eight lengths at Chepstow at the start of December, Minellahalfcentury then fell when leading at that track in the race won by Cogry just after Christmas. Ballyculla was a one-paced fourth in that contest while Minella On Line was pulled up. Salmanazar is having problems with his jumping but Tinker Time is interesting eased in grade and Big Society has place claims again, though has edged up the weights without winning. TOP WOOD ran a cracker over hurdles at Warwick last month off a 6lb higher mark. Hopefully that will have given him the confidence to tackle fences again as he's a potential blot on the handicap here. Tara Road still has to prove he stays this far.
Formwatch
Minellahalfcentury (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, fell 10th, in a race won by Cogry (10-13) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Ballyculla (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake and reminder 3rd, headway 10th, 3rd when mistake 5 out, not much room when mistake next, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 9, 41l behind Cogry (10-13) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (3) hvy in Dec.
Tinker Time (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent until bad mistake 13th, not recover and well held after, last of 4, 31l behind Masters Hill (11-1) at Exeter 3m grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs.
Minella On Line (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway after 4th, mistake 7th, went close up 8th, mistake 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Join The Clan (10-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Top Wood (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced by winner after 3 out, no extra flat, 4th of 11, 13l behind Join The Clan (10-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Salmanazar 6-1 (11-3) In touch when blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Ballyheigue Bay (10-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs, 9 ran.
Tara Road 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place before 12th, weakened next, pulled up after, in a race won by Sego Success (11-0) at Warwick 3m lst nov chs (1) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Big Society (IRE) 4-1fav (11-9) Mistake 1st, chased leaders, 2nd and not fluent 7th, left in lead next, narrowly headed approaching 4 out, every chance when lost 2nd next, soon ridden, not fluent and no extra after next, mistake last, kept on to hold 3rd, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Monkerty Tunkerty (11-1) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.