14:45 Exeter

Monday 1 January 2024

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Rhino.Bet Your New Bookmaker For 2024 Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 40.67s

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Selected odds by:

Johnny B²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 109

12/1

Produced a career-best on return from over a year off when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle (50/1) at Wincanton (24.7f, heavy) 20 days ago. Respected back over the larger obstacles.

Form: 41/33P-1

Pachacuti^p1,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 109

11/1

Off mark over hurdles at Fakenham in February but was fortunate to fill the runner-up spot at Warwick on chase debut and was let down by his jumping at Market Rasen last time. More needed with cheekpieces applied.

Form: 5217-2P

Stellar Stream²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 106| D

17/2

Point/hurdles winner stepped forward from chase debut when second of 12 in handicap chase at Lingfield (23.5f, good to soft, 16/1) 21 days ago. Still low mileage and isn't discounted from 2 lb higher mark.

Form: 6417-42

Sherborne^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 106

8/1

Won twice over hurdles in May and confirmed the promise of previous starts in this sphere when winning 10-runner handicap chase at Wincanton (20.2f, heavy) 20 days ago. 7 lb higher now but another bold bid is anticipated.

Form: 114241

Art Decco⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 105

5/1

Seen only twice since scoring at Fontwell (21.6f) last January but was a good third on return at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) last month and looks on a handy mark having been eased 2 lb.

Form: 72313-3

Balko Saint^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr Peter Summers⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 105

14/1

It's now fifteen runs since last win in 2021 and efforts this winter haven't shown enough to suggest he's likely to break that streak. Down in the weights but others preferred.

Form: 222867

Gingerbred¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 100| C

6/1

Confirmed previous promise when winning a handicap hurdle at Exeter (18.5f) in February but a mixed bag after and has been no better than mid-division in 3 starts over fences.

Form: 737-556

Leissieres Express⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 100

5/1

Bettered his hurdles form when runner-up at Wincanton (20.2f, soft) on return/chase debut and produced another sound effort in defeat when third of 11 in handicap chase at this C&D (soft, 9/2) 42 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: 948P-23

Sadler's Bay³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: T R Gretton| OR: 98| BF

7/2

Fair maiden hurdle over hurdles and matched that form at the second attempt over fences when second in a 6-runner event at Southwell (24.3f, heavy) 34 days ago. Probably wouldn't too much of a test over this trip but he's a player.

Form: 045-342

Kingsmill Gin²⁴⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-9| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 90| CD

28/1

Bounced back to her best (from 6 lb out of the weights) to score at Exeter in April but unseated early at Chepstow next time. Jumping remains suspect and others make greater appeal after 8 months off.

Form: 34571U-

Forecasts

Sadler's Bay (7/2), Leissieres Express (5/1), Art Decco (5/1), Gingerbred (6/1), Sherborne (8/1), Stellar Stream (17/2), Pachacuti (11/1), Johnny B (12/1), Balko Saint (14/1), Kingsmill Gin (28/1)

Several hold sound claims, though ART DECCO is perhaps most interesting having been lowered in the weights for his third behind a pair of in-form rivals at Chepstow last time. Sherborne has made a good start to life over fences and can go well again attempting to follow up his Wincanton success, with Leissieres Expess and Sadler's Bay others to consider.