17:50 Exeter

Tuesday 8 May 2018

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Horse And Groom Heavitree Mares' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 4m 15.5s

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Selected odds by:

Arthur's Queen²⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Robert Hawker⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 72

100/1

Won four times on the Flat in France for Robert Collet in 2015/15 but hasn't transferred that ability to hurdles and remains a maiden after seven starts. Looks to be up against it in this company.

Form: 6F84P/8-

Celtic Style²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Blackford

100/1

Craigsteel mare who has shown little if any ability in three starts so far in bumpers. Very hard to envisage her playing a major role in proceedings on hurdles bow.

Form: 6/00-

Dubai Dirham²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: Miss S Smith

10/1

Went close at Lingfield AW in January on second of four bumper starts but weakened quickly from 2 out on hurdles bow and may need more time.

Form: 5/8307-

Kentford Mallard⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

40/1

Comes from a successful jumping famly but has shown very little in her two runs so far, finishing last of nine in Lingfield AW bumper in January. May do better over timber for good yard though, so worth a market check.

Form: 79-

Mrs Miggins⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

10/1

Looks one of the yard's lesser lights on evidence of two runs so far in heavy ground bumpers. Not disgraced when third at Exeter on debut in January but ran poorly last time. Others are preferred.

Form: 38-

Never Go Short⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: T R George

25/1

Midnight Legend mare with just the one run under her belt so far, not showing a great deal when distant ninth in Warwick bumper three motnhs ago. Entitled to improve for that experience though but more needed to figure on hurdles debut.

Form: 9-

Oborne Lady¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

50/1

Best effort from six stars came when third in bumper on debut last year but has done nothing since, including in two starts over hurdles. Hard to enthuse over on that evidence.

Form: 308888-

Quite Right⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry

66/1

Pulled up on Rules bow at Exeter in December, then beaten over 100 lengths when tailed off at Kempton in March. Looks to have a mountain to climb.

Form: 5/P8-

Secret Escape²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

1/3

Won bumpers at Stratford and Perth last summer and was fourth in listed bumper at cheltenham in November. Very creditable sixth in Grade 2 Aintree bumper last month and may well be good enough to score at first time of asking over hurdles.

Form: 11446-

Spirit Of Mendip^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Represents top yard but has shown nothing in three outings, inlcuding when never sighted on hurdles debut at Taunton recently. May be better for that experience though so improvement not ruled out by any means given connections.

Form: 000-

Tillythetank¹⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

7/2

Second and third in two point to points last summer before sold for £30,000. Shaped with some promise when sixth on hurdles bow at Exeter in November but not seen since. Has place prospects if building on last effort.

Form: 3/26-

Non-Runners

Admiral's Sunset²¹⁶

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: D Weston J: David Bass

Forecasts

Secret Escape (1/3), Tillythetank (7/2), Mrs Miggins (10/1), Dubai Dirham (10/1), Admiral's Sunset (10/1), Never Go Short (25/1), Spirit Of Mendip (33/1), Kentford Mallard (40/1), Oborne Lady (50/1), Quite Right (66/1), Celtic Style (100/1), Arthur's Queen (100/1)

There is very little strength in depth in this event so it looks a good opporutnity for decent bumper performer SECRET ESCAPE to make a winning debut over hurdles. Admiral's Sunset is an interesting recruit from the Flat and wouldn't be without a chance if taking to timber, while Tillythetank should improve on her fair first effort six months ago. Spirit of Mendip and Never Go Short are others worth a glance.