Racecards
16:20 Exeter
Premier League Darts At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 175y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Winner: £2,924
- 2nd: £859
- 3rd: £429
- 4th: £215
- Form 63-4866
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Alan Johns
chased leaders, 2nd after 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, unable to get to winner, lost 2nd and blundered last
- Form P630-49
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Matt Griffiths
made all, clear after 4th, ridden 3 out, went right, steadied and reduced lead last, hung left flat, pulled out extra towards finish
- Form 9-3F787
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer T Symonds
- Jockey Benjamin Poste
took keen hold, held up towards rear, closed on outside, 3rd, lost place after next, well beaten before 3 out
- Form 007841
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Bryony Frost
chased leaders, went 2nd last, trying to challenge when carried left flat, held towards finish
- Form U907
- Age 4
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Mark Gillard
- Jockey Theo Gillard
prominent, wandered into 2nd, soon ridden and lost place, well beaten after 4th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 2P-PPP7
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey Stan Sheppard
pressed winner until pushed along after 3rd, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 4/5-0P66
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Mrs L J Young
- Jockey Mr Robert Hawker
towards rear, hit 1st, pushed along and went modest 4th before 3 out, no impression
Mystery Drama
103- Form 07P-890
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Alexandra Dunn
- Jockey Adam Wedge
in rear, pushed along after 4th, never involved, well beaten before 3 out
In depth
Verdict
With Highland Life a non-runner, the way looks open for BACCALAUREATE to follow up a recent course and distance success. He’s an 11-year-old now but has won nine times over timber and seems to have responded to trainer’s daughter Bryony Frost lately. Alan Johns has been among the winners recently and will be hoping to get a tune out of Lovely Bubbly. Brave Deed has won here on the past and has been lightly campaigned this season while the four-year-old Spanish Queen probably has each-way claims.
Formwatch
Lovely Bubbly 16-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace and never dangerous, 6th of 15, 24 1/4l behind Whatthebutlersaw (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Dec.
Brave Deed (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on outside, pushed along 8th, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 13, 31 1/4l behind Abbeygrey (11-8) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Blackfire (FR) 25-1 (10-9) In rear, pushed along before 4 out, tailed off 3 out, 7th of 10, dist behind Yorgonnahearmeroar (11-11) at Hereford 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Baccalaureate (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Patiently ridden and held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, 3rd 3 out, 2nd before next, led last, soon clear, comfortably, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Feb beating Blue April (11-1) by 4l, 12 ran.
Spanish Queen 100-1 (10-2) Held up in mid-division, outpaced and no chance with leading quartet 6th, disputing modest 5th last, weakened run-in, 7th of 13, 24 3/4l behind Postbridge (10-12) at Plumpton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Bus Named Desire 40-1 (10-11) Held up and behind, steady headway approaching 8th, weakened soon after 3 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Boher Lad (11-0) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gs in Feb.
Sparkling Ice (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Chased leader until after 5th, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after next, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind The Game Is A Foot (11-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) sft in Feb.
Mystery Drama 16-1 (10-11) Ridden and struggling before 3 out, always towards rear, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Lets Go Dutchess (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Highland Life 10-1 (10-12) Held up in 8th, steady headway when left 5th bypassing 3 out, tracked leading trio and closed on long run before 2 out, switched right between last two, quickened to lead before the last, soon clear, easily, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jan beating Only A Tipple (10-10) by 11l, 10 ran.