14:05 Exeter

Friday 22 February 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:2016:5017:20

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 52.1s

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Selected odds by:

Minella Rocco^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 150

33/1

Has failed to win since his Festival success thee years ago. Tailed off on return and hard to fancy on first run over hurdles for four years.

Form: 2/4P4F-5

Thomas Campbell⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147

5/1

Was one of the leading contenders for the final of this series last year. Has slipped below his last winning mark and encouraging signs last time. Impossible to ignore.

Form: 0P-4124

Boyhood⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: T R George| OR: 143

10/1

Still looked green when scoring at Newbury despite hanging markedly. Beaten off this 13lb higher mark since but the potential to improve is most certainly there.

Form: 14/141-2

Culture De Sivola³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 141| D

12/1

Beat a relaible yardstick at Kempton over Christmas before trying her luck in a Grade 2. Out of her depth there but still has a bit to prove off this mark in this company.

Form: 311-315

Robin Waters¹⁰⁴

9/1

Beat the 127-rated Coningsby by a very easy 11L at Wetherby before finishing a creditable sixth in the Albert Bartlett. Made mistakes and burst a blood vessel on chase debut and having first run since. Worth a check in the market.

Form: 13316-2

Buckhorn Timothy¹⁰³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Kimber⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 141| C| D

16/1

Scored impressively under this rider on reappearance three months ago. Has more to do here off a career high mark in a much stronger race.

Form: 00/11P-1

Bailarico^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 135

20/1

Beat an unreliable sort at Kempton in a race where most of his rivals made serious errors. Out of his depth last time and has plenty to find again.

Form: 51-1314

Flemcara^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133| C

5/1

Ran right up to his best in a Sandown Grade 3 last time after a lean spell over fences. Jockey booking signals intent but his best form has come on softer ground.

Form: 190-8U3

Divin Bere^t⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| BF

10/1

Looked better than this as a juvenile. Scored for this yard on the Flat in October but that has not led to any improvement in his hurdling form.Yard going well but he remains hard to recommend.

Form: 2/00P-58

For Good Measure⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132| C

14/1

Losing run stretches back to successive hurdles wins back in 2015. Ran well on his seasonal return but tailed off last time and absent since.

Form: 90/43-56

Dragon D'Estruval⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| BF

11/2

Three-time chase winner earlier in career in France made a winning start for these connections over hurdles at Ffos Las in May where he never came off the bridle. Needed the run on return and found trip too sharp last time. Hard to dismiss.

Form: 718-173

Lord Of The Island⁵⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131| D

16/1

Entitled to have needed latest run but still has to improve a great deal for it in order to feature.

Form: 13F31/0

Poker Play^p⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 125

7/1

Finished lame on penultimate start and soon in trouble latest. Well-handicapped but looks too risky a proposition at present.

Form: 5P33-3P

Forecasts

Flemcara (5/1), Thomas Campbell (5/1), Dragon D'Estruval (11/2), Poker Play (7/1), Robin Waters (9/1), Boyhood (10/1), Divin Bere (10/1), Culture De Sivola (12/1), For Good Measure (14/1), Lord Of The Island (16/1), Buckhorn Timothy (16/1), Bailarico (20/1), Minella Rocco (33/1)

No surprise to see a strong field line up for this Cheltenham qualifier and Nicky Henderson fields a strong hand with DRAGON D'ESTRUVAL and Thomas Campbell. The latter struck up a good partnership and ran well in last year's final off an 8lb higher mark than here. However, the selection proved he stayed when in France and ran well over an inadequate trip last time. Robin Waters and Boyhood are feared most.