Racecards
13:30 Exeter
Jumps At Home With Free Racing TV Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 175y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £5,800 added
- Winner: £3,769
- 2nd: £1,107
- 3rd: £553
- 4th: £277
- Form 7-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
chased leader, niggled along after 3rd and 4th, pushed along to close leader on the run to 3 out, outpaced 3 out, well held and headed for 2nd 2 out, no more
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer B Pauling
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
tracked front pair, ridden and plenty to do 3 out, staying on 2 out, went 2nd on the run to the last, kept on strongly after the last to press winner close home
Ranch Hand
48- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Page Fuller
made all, led, pulled hard early stages, jumped well including huge leap at the 4th, pushed along when tiring 2 out, pressed after the last, kept on gamely, held on
- Form 65
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Bryony Frost
held up in rear, detached and struggling before 4 out, never involved
- Form 66
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Rex Dingle
towards rear, ridden after 5th, soon outpaced and well adrift, stayed on home straight and went fourth at the last
- Form 8U4/08
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer J D Frost
- Jockey Brendan Powell
towards rear, pulled hard, some way adrift when ridden after 5th, weakened approaching last and never a factor
In depth
Verdict
Andrew Balding doesn’t run many over hurdles but could have a smart prospect on his hands in RANCH HAND. The four-year-old won a Listed race on the Flat at Newmarket in September when stepped up to 2m and could be anything. Dock Road is out of a Presenting mare who won over hurdles so should do well in this sphere but Secret Potion hasn’t shown much so far and Arcadian Pearl was well beaten in a Southwell bumper a year ago.
Formwatch
Arcadian Pearl (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear of mid-division, weakened over 2f out, 7th of 11, 18 1/4l behind Ask A Honey Bee (10-12) at Southwell 2m (5) sft in Nov.
Dock Road (IRE) Shirocco gelding out of Representing.
Ranch Hand 15-2 (9-3) Raced in close 3rd on far rail, pushed along over 2f out, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong, pressed inside final furlong, stayed on best to assert last 100 yards, won at Newmarket 2m lst stks (1) gd in Sep beating Withhold (9-6) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Secret Potion (GER) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, lost 4th towards finish, 5th of 10, dist behind Across The Line (11-0) at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Nov.
Wavering Down (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, made some headway after 2 out, never nearer, 6th of 13, dist behind Metier (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) hvy in Oct.
Fs Lola 200-1 (10-5) Midfield and hampered 1st, pulled hard and soon led, headed 3 out, soon faded, 8th of 13, dist behind Metier (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) hvy in Oct.