Racecards
17:55 Exeter
Centrax Gas Turbines Maiden Hurdle (Class F) (Class F)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good
Gallant Hero
159- Form 4F-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
led 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 00P-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey M Foley
in touch, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
Karoo
24- Form 4/0-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
- Form F20-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey J Tizzard
chased leaders until weakened quickly after 5th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 1PF-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 450-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Lady Herries
- Jockey L P Aspell
mid-division until stumbled badly and lost place 2nd, tailed off and pulled up after 5th
Sir Brastias
48- Form 2-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
led until 2nd, prominent, ridden to lead 2 out, edged right after last, kept on but no extra when headed close home
- Form 004/3F3-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey S Durack
keen in rear, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 43/023F-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C Tinkler
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, hampered last, stayed on to lead close home
- Form 02-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
- Form U6-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J O'Shea
- Jockey Dave Crosse
held up towards rear, some headway 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 00-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in touch, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form PU/
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer R Phillips
- Jockey Antony Evans
held up, headway 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Gallant Hero is taken to defy an absence at the expense of Gaora Bridge, Supreme Dawn and Sir Brastias. Gallant Hero has been given a break since falling behind Contraband at Taunton in November on what was only his second start over hurdles. Winner of the 2002 Wood Ditton for Sir Michael Stoute, he has never really revealed his true ability but there is still time, and he is selected to open his account. Irish point winner Gaora Bridge found all bar Dempsey too good at Wincanton and is open to improvement. He might just need further to show his best though. Supreme Dawn has hinted on more than one occasion that he can win a race of this nature, while Sir Brastias, a winner on the Flat at Yarmouth for Simon Dow, did not jump fluently on his Huntingdon debut but still finished second. He can only improve, but Gallant Hero has been hiding his light under a bushel, and is taken to come good.