Racecards
16:10 Exeter
Williamhill.Co.Uk 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class D)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft (Good to soft in places)
- Form 0-36
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 00-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey D R Dennis
behind four, some headway 3 out, one pace
Gentle Beau
174- Form 2-42
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Flynn
led, pushed along and slight lead, when fell 2 out
- Form 1-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leaders, ridden and slight outpaced approaching 3 out, hampered 2 out, stayed on but no chance with winner
- Form P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 5th
Spinaround
232- Form 00-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N Gaselee
- Jockey T Scudamore
behind from 4th
Taskmaster
377- Form 0/F-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
in touch until weakened quickly approaching 3 out
- Form 1
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
held up towards rear, good headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, left 2nd and hampered next, kept on same pace
- Form 113-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
in touch, headway 5th, pressed leader and jumped left from 3 out, ridden and left clear 2 out, eased flat
Yardbird (IRE)
196- Form 10-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
held up, headway approaching 3rd ridden after 3 out, weakened last
In depth
Verdict
An interesting finale in which the 'West-Country Mafia' of Pipe, Hobbs and Nicholls are well represented, with Time To Reflect selected ahead of Onwardsandupwards and Widemouth Bay. It is difficult gauge the merit of Time To Reflect's recent bumper debut victory at Chepstow, but he could not have won more easily, and must have already been extensively schooled over timber for Pipe to turn him out again so quickly. He would have carried a penalty in his next bumper, so makes some appeal here, meeting his main rivals off level weights. The best of them may turn out to be Onwardsandupwards who was put away after winning cleverly by a neck on his Taunton debut. One of five bought from Tom Costello in Ireland, four of whom have since won, he can pay to follow over hurdles this season. Widemouth Bay trotted up on his bumper debut at Wincanton and was subsequently third to Liberman in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Another who is sure to have been well schooled, he might prove good enough to go for the Sun Alliance Hurdle when stepped up in trip. This is definitely a race to make a note of for future winners, but the one they have to beat on this occasion is Time To Reflect who has fitness on his side.