14:55 Exeter

Thursday 10 October 2019

All14:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:0517:35

Watch On RacingTV Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:58 | Winning time: 4m 35.6s

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Selected odds by:

Bonne Nuit³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr

100/1

Failed to beat a single rival in three bumpers this year, and was beaten a country mile when tailed off in an okay quality contest at Worcester (2m; good) last month. Readily opposed.

Form: 0-07

Hang In There¹⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle

1/2

Ex-Irish sort who is a new recruit to the yard. Cost £60,000 at the 2019 Cheltenham May sale. Thereabouts in three starts (two bumpers & a maiden hurdle) when trained by Ms Margaret Mullins. Trainer/jockey combo going well and he has decent claims.

Form: 342-

Kendelu

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

40/1

Yeats gelding. Cost €6,200 as a yearling. Half-brother to the talented Drumbaloo, hurdle winner Charlie Cook and dual bumper scorers Vintage Supreme/Royal Supreme. One of the better bred sorts in this race, and should have a role to play.

Form:

Mantovani^p1,t1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| BF

5/2

Possesses probably the strongest form on offer in this race, when making the frame in a couple of decent juvenile contests last season in behind the likes of Friend Or Foe & Fanfan Du Seiul. Tough to beat if running to that same level of form.

Form: 35-

Punkawallah^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn

50/1

2-19 on the flat and now makes hurdles debut. Not shown much on the level for a while now, and has failed to make an impact all year in class five/class six handicaps. More of a handicap project.

Form:

Thegallantway¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

5/1

Point-To-Point winner who makes hurdles debut on seasonal reappearance. Contested a couple of decent bumpers last season, but always likely to improve once sent over obstacles. One of the likelier players for top jumps trainer/jockey combo.

Form: 138-

The Wire Flyer^p⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: J L Flint

100/1

0-8 on the flat and rated only 41. Now makes his debut in the jumps sphere, and has plenty to prove. Last seen finishing a well-beaten eighth of nine in a class six handicap at Lingfield (1m5f; standard) in August. Impossible to fancy.

Form:

Rosie Picture³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

22/1

Making hurdles debut after a trio of consistent efforts in bumpers, most recently when third at Fontwell (2m1f; good). Needs to improve on the bare form of those efforts, and what she has shown so far.

Form: 433

Non-Runners

Robins Field

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Hang In There (1/2), Mantovani (5/2), Thegallantway (5/1), Robins Field (16/1), Rosie Picture (22/1), Kendelu (40/1), Punkawallah (50/1), The Wire Flyer (100/1), Bonne Nuit (100/1)

In a race which contains a few newcomers, it looks wise to stick with those who have already shown a respectable level of form. Hurdles debutante Thegallantway won a point-to-point last year before running okay in a couple of decent bumpers. He should come into his own now sent over obstacles, and has fair claims. Emma Lavelle's Irish recruit, Hang In There is likely to give connections plenty to shout about given the form he showed for Mags Mullins. However, he will have to settle for second-best on this occasion as MANTOVANI looks the one they all have to beat. He showed solid form in two juvenile hurdle runs last season, and is fit from an assignment on the flat recently.