Racecards
14:40 Exeter
Homeoak Trading Handicap Chase (Class E)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- Form 2/223P0-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey C Llewellyn
in touch, ridden approaching 11th, weakening when blundered 3 out
- Form 5P1475
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey R Johnson
behind, mistake 2nd and 7th, well behind after 13th, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out, never a danger
- Form 11PPPP-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J G Portman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
led until 5th, prominent, led 10th, ridden and headed 4 out, soon weakened
- Form F12114-
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer K Bishop
- Jockey P J Brennan
in touch, took closer order 9th, led 4 out until next, soon ridden, one pace from 2 out
- Form 269280-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N J Hawke
- Jockey A Thornton
in touch, joined leaders after 13th, ridden approaching next, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 1P1/11-P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up behind, hit 6th and 12th, headway next, chased winner 3 out, led last, soon ridden, no extra when headed close home
Leith Hill Star
242- Form 713F84-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 89
with leader until 4th, lost touch 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 32P1/P-U
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up towards rear, headway 13th, led 3 out, edged left and headed last, rallied well to lead close home
- Form 252953
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 77
chased leaders, led 5th until 10th, with leader, mistake 13th, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form P/P8-067
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 69
held up mid-division, headway after 13th, close 4th when mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Lord Anner, Surefast, It's Definite and Zimbabwe form our shortlist here with the vote going to Lord Anner. Watch the market with regard to Paul Nicholls' Lord Anner, who looked interesting when landing a novice hunter chase in April, but has had only one - disappointing - run since. Like him, Surefast is a course and distance winner, and, although beaten off a one-pound higher mark on his chasing handicap debut last time, should not be ruled out things here as he has recent winning chasing form. Hiers de Brouage is actually back to a winning mark form November 2004, but has something to prove based on his last four efforts. It's Definite was a little disappointing last time but, based on earlier chasing promise and his hurdling mark, has to be afforded respect. Zimbabwe went backwards from a promising chase debut last season in two subsequent runs - something that mirrored his hurdling efforts - although it could be that he is best caught fresh. Finally, Dante's Back has shown some promise, but River Quoile has yet to win in 28 attempts over fences and, while Leith Hill Star won over hurdles from a higher mark in 2004, he is hard to fancy on more-recent efforts. This returns us to the selection, which is Lord Anner, but only if the market vibe is a good one.
Formwatch
Dante's Back (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden next, weakened 3 out, 11th of 16, 29l behind River Phantom (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (D) gs in Apr.
It's Definite (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) In touch, mistakes and weakened 11th, 5th of 10, 42l behind State of Play (10-10) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (D) gs.
Hiers de Brouage (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 16th, hit 17th, weakened approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Dante Citizen (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Surefast 11-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders, reminders after 7th, ridden after 13th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 16l behind Hazeljack (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Mar.
Zimbabwe (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, 11th of 14, well behind Laudamus (10-8) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Mar.
Lord Anner (IRE) 5-2fav (12-0) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 8th, headway and mistake 9th, blundered 5 out, weakened 2 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Lord Beau (11-7) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (H) gd in May, 16 ran.
Leith Hill Star 7-1 (11-0) With leader until lost place before 12th, blundered 17th, tailed off when mistake 4 out, 4th of 7, 39l behind Gray's Eulogy (10-11) at Sandown 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Feb.
Bay Island (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Led, jumped right, blundered 5th, blundered and unseated rider at the 8th in race won by Mill Bank (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs, 14 ran.
River Quoile 4-1 (10-0) Prominent, led 8th until 12th, every chance 4 out, ridden and one pace after, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Saffron Sun (11-5) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) frm.
Jumpty Dumpty (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Held up, some headway when jumped right 10th, soon beaten, 7th of 15, 35l behind Maidstone Monument (10-3) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf in Jun.