14:10 Exeter

Wednesday 1 January 2025

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

Peter Holland Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 5m 54.29s

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Selected odds by:

Danton^p1,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 105| CD

9/1

Looked on the up when scoring over C&D last November and found just one too good at Chepstow during the spring. No surprise to see him back hurdling following a couple of low-key runs over fences and, provided the first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect, he should have a big part to play.

Form: 1PP2-4P

Saint Cyr De Pail¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 103| C

10/3

Won a maiden here in April and left his reappearance spin behind when runner-up on recent handicap debut at Bangor (19.6f, heavy). 3 lb nudge for that improved effort is fair enough and shapes as though this trip will be within range, so there is plenty of cause for optimism.

Form: 61-72

Thirtyfour Thirty^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss Anna Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 102

20/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who was runner-up twice off higher marks during the spring but he hasn't shown much in 3 starts (over fences the last twice) since returning to action in October.

Form: 225929

Paddys Island⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 101

4/1

Didn't need to improve much to open his account at the second time of asking at Stratford (16.3f, good) in July. Found out under a penalty in a better race at the same course next time but step back in the right direction when third of 11 on handicap bow upped to 18.7f on return in October.

Form: 8-4163

Looking For Larry⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Jake Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: T Dennis| OR: 99| C

9/4

Point winner who posted career best in this sphere when taking 15-runner handicap here (17f, good to soft) in March 2023. There were some positives to glean from his comeback run following 20 months off at Chepstow but others make more appeal all the same.

Form: P6516/0

Drash On Ruby^t⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 94

18/1

Performed with credit all 4 starts during 2022/23 campaign, signing that season off by finishing second off a 2 lb higher mark at Chepstow. Missed whole of last term, though, and he was well beaten on his comeback run at that Welsh track at the end of October.

Form: 43232/0

Blackhillsofdakota^p¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Taylor Fisher| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 91

25/1

Fair hurdler/chaser but lightly raced and hasn't shown the same level of ability in Britain, offering precious little in 2 starts since returning from 16 months off in November. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: P/P53-P0

William Philo^p³³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: B Lund| OR: 85| D

125/1

Strong in the betting when getting off the mark over fences at Fontwell in April 2023 (final outing for Robert Walford). Little encouragement in 3 starts for current yard, though, and this 8-y-o has plenty to prove back from an 11-month absence.

Form: 331/P6P-

Instant De Bonheur²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke| OR: 84

33/1

Modest maiden who, following nearly 2 years on the sidelines, ran poorly on her reappearance over this C&D last month.

Form: 25U87/9

Missy Mole^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 81

13/2

Runner-up completed start in Irish points but little to shout about all 4 outings over hurdles (at up to 19.5f. On the upside, this stiffer test could be just what the doctor ordered and she's in good hands, so all is certainly not lost.

Form: F2-8075

Of Corse I Can^h³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 80

33/1

In the frame in points and offered something to work on when second of 6 in novice hurdle at Ffos Las in June 2022. However, no impact since and she was pulled up in a first-time hood (on again here) when returning from a lengthy absence at Taunton.

Form: 8600/7-P

Forecasts

Looking For Larry (9/4), Saint Cyr De Pail (10/3), Paddys Island (4/1), Missy Mole (13/2), Danton (9/1), Drash On Ruby (18/1), Thirtyfour Thirty (20/1), Blackhillsofdakota (25/1), Instant De Bonheur (33/1), Of Corse I Can (33/1), William Philo (125/1)

The majority of these have something to prove for one reason or another but SAINT CYR DE PAIL doesn't fall into that camp. The 6-y-o landed a maiden here last term and is appealing on the back of an improved handicap debut second at Bangor where he left the impression that this stiffer test would help. Danton is feared most back hurdling, while Paddys Island is respected on the back of an encouraging enough run at Stratford and Missy Mole may be seen in a better light now upped in trip.