Racecards
14:20 Exeter
Bathwick Tyres 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,249
- 2nd: £954
- 3rd: £477
- 4th: £238
- Form 08-U442
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer Miss J Du Plessis
- Jockey James Best
chased leader until before 4th, went 2nd again after 4th, led before 2 out, strongly pressed when mistake last, soon headed, dropped to 3rd and one pace flat
- Form 8
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Matt Griffiths
chased leaders, weakened 5th, soon lost touch, tailed off when blundered and sprawled badly 2 out
Hot Pepper
12- Form 00
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey James Davies
took keen hold and held up in rear, reminders after 4th, losing touch when mistake next, tailed off
- Form 4-564
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey Giles Hawkins
took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden and hung left from 2 out, went poor 4th before went left and unseated rider last
- Form 3S2112
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer R Woollacott
- Jockey D A Jacob
chased leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, driven to challenge last, led soon after, stayed on well, ridden out
- Form 2-113
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
took keen hold, made most until headed before 2 out, lost 2nd soon after 2 out, soon weakened, left poor 4th and blundered last
Rafafie
38- Form 41-806
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Lucy Gardner
took keen hold tracking leading pair, went 2nd before 4th until awkward 4th, chased leading pair until 3 out, soon beaten, left poor 5th and hampered last
- Form 958
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 5th
- Form 53-6424
- Age 4
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer R Walford
- Jockey Felix de Giles
chased leaders, went left 3rd, stayed on to 2nd flat, driven and stayed on same pace
In depth
Verdict
PLEASANT COMPANY was far from disgraced in a better race at Ascot in December. He's been given plenty of time to recover and can add a hurdles victory to his portfolio which already includes wins in a point-to-point and a bumper. Sun Wild Life arrives off the back of a decent run at Kempton having only lost out by half-a-length at Fontwell on his hurdles bow. Five of Cool George's career starts have been here and he was only beaten a length-and-a-quarter over track and trip last month while three-times points winner was second on his hurdling debut at Taunton and can improve.
Formwatch
Cool George 3-1 (10-9) Close up, led from 3rd, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Knight Of Noir (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Exmoor Challenge 66-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, well beaten from after 6th, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Toubeera (11-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Hot Pepper 100-1 (11-4) In touch until 6th, 11th of 14, well behind Arthur's Oak (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Know More Oats (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, reminders and weakened from 3 out, 4th of 5, well behind Royal Player (11-11) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft.
Liberty One (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division, jumped slowly 5th, some headway from next, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 11l behind Milo Man (11-11) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Pleasant Company (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Led until 1st, led again before 3rd, ridden and headed well before 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd and no chance with leading duo, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Royal Boy (11-0) at Ascot 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Rafafie 66-1 (10-9) Always behind, reminders before 4 out, never dangerous, 6th of 15, well behind Royal Player (11-0) at Exeter 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) sft in Jan.
Sand Artist (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, weakened 4 out, 8th of 10, well behind Cole Harden (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Sun Wild Life (FR) 5-2 (10-12) Led, dived at 4 out, headed 3 out, lost 2nd well before next, outpaced approaching 2 out, plugged on to modest 4th between last 2, 4th of 8, 16l behind Goodwood Mirage (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan.