Racecards
17:55 Exeter
David James Foundation 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f
- Going: Soft (Soft G/S in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,599
- 2nd: £763
- 3rd: £382
- 4th: £191
- Form 2412-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in touch, went 2nd before 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on well, pushed out
- Form 235/70-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G Deacon
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
in rear, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
- Form 11/274F-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey D A Jacob
tracked leader until before 3 out, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
- Form 778-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Brendan Powell
held up mid-division, went 4th before 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 00-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Conor Quish
tracked leaders in 3rd, hit and weakened from 4 out
- Form F/2F904-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Hadden Frost
held up towards rear, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
- Form 241605-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
led, ridden before 3 out, headed before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D W P Arbuthnot
- Jockey A Thornton
towards rear, ridden 3 out, plugged on and went 4th before last, never able to challenge
Knight Blaze
10- Form 3414P3-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer D Brace
- Jockey Non Runner
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
PRINCELY PLAYER won at Taunton and only found the promising Black Thunder too strong under a penalty at Chepstow. He handled soft ground well enough that day and can return to winning ways here at the chief expense of Black Thunder's stablemate Curtain Razer. The six-year-old hasn't progressed from a debut second over 2m6f here in November and may be in need of a confidence-booster after falling at Bangor last time. King Edmond is a useful chaser but has yet to win in eight starts over timber and may have to settle for a place again here.
Formwatch
Princely Player (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Mid-division, hit 3rd, headway and in touch next, led after 4 out, hard pressed when wandered 2 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Black Thunder (11-5) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Arctic Gunner 14-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Featherintheattic (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Curtain Razer (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) In touch, fell 3rd, in a race won by Benheir (11-6) at Bangor 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Fitandproperjob 100-1 (10-13) In rear, moderate headway from 2 out, never involved, tailed off, 8th of 15, 35l behind Top Wood (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Hurricane Henry (IRE) 66-1 (10-4) In rear, blundered 1st, never dangerous, 10th of 15, well behind Fighting Flynn (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Kilderry Dean (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, lost place approaching 3rd, hit 5th, headway 7th, mistake next, weakened after 9th, 4th of 9, 40l behind Talkonthestreet (11-3) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
King Edmund 66-1 (10-4) In touch, outpaced 4 out, chased leading pair briefly next, kept on same pace, no impression from next, 5th of 21, 13l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Whenindoubtdoit (IRE) Shantou gelding out of Warning Cry.
Knight Blaze 4-1 (11-3) Prsd wnr til wknd qckly 3 out, last of 3, 45l behind Oakfield Legend (12-0) at Laleston 3m ptp gs in Apr.