Racecards
14:55 Exeter
Ben Cook 18th Birthday Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Good to Soft (Hurdle - Soft)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
Ember Dancer
266- Form 5006P6-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Dave Crosse
went left 1st, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 45-7222
- Age 4
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 99
held up, headway 5th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, not quicken
- Form 00FP-PF
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey A Glassonbury
led until after 3rd, weakened quickly 5th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 687-
- Age 4
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer D P Keane
- Jockey N Mulholland
in touch, mistake 4th, effort when went left 3 out, weakened next
- Form 8-F2635
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 86
prominent, led after 3rd, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace after
- Form 2F65-P5
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey M D Grant
held up, headway and hampered approaching 3 out, led after 2 out, hit last, no extra when headed and bumped run-in
- Form 0-98173
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Nick Williams
- Jockey R Johnson
prominent, every chance approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Norton Sapphire
451- Form 7P366/1-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
took keen hold in touch, joined leaders 4th, led 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, hung left but ran on to regain lead run-in
In depth
Verdict
Inn The Dancer is taken to get his head in front at last at the expense of Brave Jo and Blandings Castle. The selection has become a touch frustrating having finished second on his last three outings. He looks to have picked an easy race this time and with luck in running he is taken to brak his maiden tag on his twenty first outing. Brave Jo has bits and bobs of form to his name but has for far not looked like winning so for that reason is best watched. Blandings Castle looks better treated and ran with credit at Taunton last time out to suggest that a win is not too far away. But for the winner we return to Inn The Dancer.
Formwatch
Ember Dancer 100-1 (10-12) Whipped around start, behind, headway 3rd, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 18l behind Opera de Coeur (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Inn For The Dancer 9-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind San Antonio (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Naja De Billeron (FR) 50-1 (11-12) fell 1st in race won by Joe Deane (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf, 11 ran.
Lordsbridge (USA) 66-1 (10-2) In rear, some effort 4th, soon weakened, 7th of 16, 46l behind Chiaro (11-7) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Brave Jo (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 5th of 13, 16l behind Orion Express (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Foxtrot Yankee (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, close up 2 out, not quicken flat, 5th of 14, 3l behind Swift Sailor (11-8) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Blandings Castle 9-2 (10-2) Held up towards rear, chased leaders 5th, outpaced 3 out, ran on well to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Orion Express (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Norton Sapphire 7-2fav (10-0) Raced keenly in touch, led approaching 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Worcester 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gf in Aug '05 beating Think Quick (10-13) by 13l, 17 ran.