Racecards
13:15 Exeter
Thurlestone Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 111y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,400 added
- Winner: £7,148
- 2nd: £2,099
- 3rd: £1,049
- 4th: £525
- Form 111/P-83
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Bryony Frost
tracked leaders and travelled well, 2nd before 3 out, led next, clear before last, stayed on well
- Form 411-417
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Henry Oliver
- Jockey Mr Jason Dixon
slight lead until 4th, chased leader until before 3 out, soon outpaced, plugged on
Ebony Gale
20- Form 61-FF1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in last pair, headway tracking leaders after 4 out, 3rd before next, went 2nd at the last, one pace, no chance with winner
- Form 2-37211
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Mrs S Gardner
- Jockey Lucy Gardner
with leader, slight lead 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd at the last
- Form 2/31-213
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey T Scudamore
raced keenly, held up last, steady headway before 4 out, no impression before next
- Form 0325-86
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey S Bowen
raced keenly, jumped left, chased leaders, went left and weakened 6th, tailed off and went left final 3
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Precious Bounty could boost the Leicester win of Ebony Gale in the opener but an opening mark of 123 for the Hobbs’ runner looks harsh. Trans Express racked up a fourth course win here 12 days ago and is ultra-consistent, though the nine-year-old has never been successful off a mark this high. Flight To Milan would have a chance on his form around this time last year but has become disappointing. This represents a drop in class for CLIFFS OF DOVER after his third at Doncaster and Bryony Frost can steer the top weight to a 10th career victory, though Dandolo Du Gite is unexposed and capable of improvement.
Formwatch
Cliffs Of Dover 4-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway towards stands side rail 3 out, challenged next, soon ridden, hung left and led narrowly last, headed flat, no extra in 3rd closing stages, 3rd of 7, 6 1/4l behind Equus Amadeus (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Envol De La Cour (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Held up behind, driven after 3 out, never near leaders, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 10, 27 1/2l behind Secrete Stream (11-7) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Ebony Gale 11-10fav (11-0) Towards rear, pecked 1st, slow and big next and 3rd, headway 3 out, went 2nd before last, driven flat, led towards finish, won at Leicester 2m mdn (3) gf in Dec beating Precious Bounty (11-0) by nk, 12 ran.
Trans Express (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-0) Led until 1st, with leader, led before 3 out, stayed on, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Shalakar (11-10) by 2l, 5 ran.
Dandolo Du Gite (FR) 7-4 (11-4) Keen, tracked leader and clear of rest, led after 3 out, narrowly headed next, every chance last, no extra run-in, lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Seemingly So (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f (4) gd in Nov.
Flight To Milan (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, effort after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 35l behind Deebaj (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.