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14:45 Exeter

Maura Blake 70th Birthday 'national Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)

  • 4 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 6f 110y
  • Going: Firm, Good to Firm in places
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 32.50s
  • 4 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Grande Creole (FR)

7/4

    1
    Silk - Light Green, Royal Blue cross belts and sleeves, hooped cap

    Call Out (IRE)

    31
    16/1
    • Form P-1P70
    • Age 6
    • Weight 11-0

    led, ridden and headed 2 out, hung left and soon no chance with winner

    3
    Silk - Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap

    Grande Creole (FR)

    120
    7/4
    • Form 324-PBP
    • Age 7
    • Weight 11-0
    • Official Rating 109

    always travelling well behind leading trio, hit 8th, led on bit 2 out, clear when hit last, easily

    5
    Silk - Royal Blue, Orange chevron, White sleeves and cap

    Emma's Dream

    42
    2/1
    • Form P0/4
    • Age 7
    • Weight 10-7

    tracked leader, led briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened

    6
    Silk - Cerise, Royal Blue cap, Cerise spots

    So Long

    27
    9/4
    • Form 2-35956
    • Age 6
    • Weight 10-7

    chased leaders until weakened quickly after 8th, pulled up before 3 out

    2
    NR

    Double Dizzy

    25
    • Form 202735
    • Age 5
    • Weight 11-0
    • Official Rating 108

    Nonrunner

    4
    NR

    Whatcanisay

    56
    • Form 5-P3799
    • Age 7
    • Weight 11-0
    • Official Rating 90

    Nonrunner

    In depth

    Verdict

    Emma's Dream gets the vote over Double Izzy and Grand Creole in a race that should take little winning. In truth none of the six declared runners stands out, but Emma's Dream showed enough when returning from a lengthy absence to be given the nod. The Paul Nicholls-trained mare finished fourth here in March over a shorter trip than today's on what was her first outing since debuting in a Newton Abbot bumper in April 2004. The step up in distance can only help, as will the faster ground, and she should make a bold bid. Double Izzy has flattered to deceive but lined up against Denman and co in the Challow Hurdle at Cheltenham in January and certainly has better claims than most, including the selection's stablemate whose number one objective will be to get round. The rest just do not look good enough and we return to Emma's Dream as the answer.

    Formwatch

    Call Out (IRE) 150-1 (10-8) Pulled hard, soon in touch, lost place after 3rd, behind from next, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Brankley Boy (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.

    Grande Creole (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Held up, blundered 2nd, mistake 9th, soon behind pulled up 5 out in race won by Dolmur (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Dec, 7 ran.

    Emma's Dream 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Miss Doublet (10-11) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Mar.

    So Long 66-1 (10-7) Mid-division, effort 4 out, never dangerous, 6th of 16, 46l behind Chiaro (11-7) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.

    Double Dizzy 7-1 (11-7) Behind, mistake 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from next, but never reached leaders, 5th of 17, 7l behind Astyanax (10-9) at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Mar.

    Whatcanisay 100-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off from 2nd, 9th of 13, well behind Flying Falcon (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.