14.15
GoodExeter Vertu Volvo Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £10033.9
- 2m 2f 111y
- Class 3
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Rain
Abandoned
Form: 9/230- C
Last run: 288 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
16th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 0lb |
Won two handicaps in a row at Ascot (2m3f, good) early last year; also effective on soft ground and didn't stay 3m in Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot latest; all of his best form has come at Ascot but he hasn't had many chances to show what he can do elsewhere and he's in the picture on his peak efforts. |
7/1 |
|
8th 1 |
5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Successful in a couple of useful handicaps at Ascot (2m3f, good) since wearing cheekpieces; open to further progress in the headgear but appears to have a stiff task on these terms and the trip is an unknown. |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2F115- C
Last run: 246 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 12 |
7th Mar 2026 Soft 1m 7f 216y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
Ran okay when seventh in this last year and he reappeared with a win at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in October; however, his subsequent form has been mixed (fences/hurdles) and Top Jimmy looks the yard's chief hope. |
33/1 |
|
7th 4 |
12th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 104y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Made a winning reappearance in Newton Abbot handicap hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) in October; switched to fences subsequently, matching his peak RPR over timber when fourth in 2m3f Exeter novice handicap (good to soft) five weeks ago; won his previous outing on heavy. |
8/1 |
|
1 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 2m 0f 54y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Two wins during his novice campaign included a handicap (2m, soft); 0-5 last season but ran well at the weights behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham in January and comfortably regained the winning thread on his reappearance at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; up 4lb but he's bred for fences and looks a player on debut in this sphere. |
11/8 |
Abandoned
Form: 64/1-7
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
14th Mar 2026 Good 2m 2f 0y Class 3 |
11st 7lb |
Two wins over hurdles (good/yielding); useful form in defeat over fences this season, cutting out a lot of the running before fading into third over the extended 2m4f here (good to soft) last time; shaped similarly over 2m3f at Doncaster in December and this slightly shorter trip could suit. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
2nd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Successful twice over hurdles; novice chase form this season includes a Grade 2 effort (2m4f); starting to weaken when taking a late fall over 2m6f most recently; interesting off current mark back down in distance. |
13/2 |
|
9th 4 |
25th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 44y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Mixed form in handicap hurdles last season but he won at Doncaster (2m3f, good) last November and was third of 14 here (2m4f, good) in April when last seen; has shown promise on soft ground; not bred for fences but this prominent racer is not discounted on his chase debut. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1-
Last run: 416 days
W: 11st 7lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 124
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 11 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Lightly raced 6yo who has made a big splash on his switch back to hurdling this season, winning soft-ground handicaps over about 3m at Cheltenham and Sandown; the form of the Sandown win is particularly strong but he couldn't reproduce it back on good ground in the Pertemps at Cheltenham and conditions may once again not be as soft as he prefers. |
20/1 |
|
18th 6 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Lightly raced 6yo who has made a big splash on his switch back to hurdling this season, ridden prominently when winning over about 3m at Cheltenham and Sandown (under Callum Pritchard last time); up another 8lb today; those wins were on soft ground, which probably helped him, but he keeps finding more and probably has deeper reserves, so cannot be passed over at all lightly. |
14/1 |
|
8 |
26th Oct 2025 Good 3m 0f 149y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Lightly raced French 2m1f hurdle winner who improved upon British hurdle form to win on chase debut at Newbury (2m4f, soft) in February and stayed on for a close second at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in March; lower mark to work with now back hurdling and looks a good prospect for this longer trip. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 21126-
Last run: 260 days
W: 11st 1lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
18th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 147y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Triple hurdle winner at 2m on testing ground but effective over this far; didn't take to chasing in the autumn (two attempts) but he's shown promise since returned to hurdling, including when third at Chepstow (2m, soft) last month; continues to edge down the weights and has possibilities back up in trip and down in grade. |
11/4 |
|
3rd 6 |
21st Feb 2026 Soft 2m 0f 16y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Dual C&D winner in 2024 (soft/heavy); didn't take to chasing in the autumn (two attempts) and his two subsequent hurdle runs (2m4f/2m3f) were no better than respectable; back in trip today; needs to raise his game. |
8/1 |
|
4th 6 |
27th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Didn't really take to chasing on first two starts this season but kept on for respectable fifth when back over hurdles at Newbury (2m4f, good) last month, and this dual course winner ought to be better suited by today's slower ground. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 8412-2 C
Last run: 188 days
W: 10st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 4 |
20th Jul 2025 Good 3m 2f 105y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Won 2m maiden hurdle in March 2024 but an unknown quantity now, having been pulled up in two hurdle runs either side of three non-completions in points; now has a go in headgear. |
33/1 |
|
3 |
14th May 2025 Good 2m 2f 110y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Returns to rules action on the back of three non-completions in points but he has been competitive off this mark in the past and still only a 7yo; could be a surprise package after changing yards. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 40-241 CD
Last run: 16 days
W: 10st 2lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 1 |
17th Apr 2026 Good To Firm 2m 2f 111y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Three of her four wins have come here on good or good to soft, including over this trip; well treated on her form of late 2024; has been well below that level since over both hurdles and fences; back down in grade for this return to hurdles but there's a bit to prove at present. |
9/1 |
|
6 |
26th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 150y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Won twice over hurdles towards the end of 2024 but has lost her way since and things have not gone well in two chase runs (tailed off/unseated) this winter; has something to prove and she's never won over this far. |
25/1 |
|
6th 9 |
4th Nov 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
10st 11lb |
4-15 over hurdles; absent since modest fourth of seven in low-grade Newton Abbot handicap (2mf, good) in May, though, and set a tough assignment on this chasing debut; cheekpieces removed after one use. |
33/1 |
Non-runners
Kabral Du Mathan, Mr Hope Street
Verdict
The Paul Nicholls-trained 4yo KABRAL DU MATHAN (nap) is 2-2 and could prove to be significantly better than his opening mark. Spirits Bay is another who could be well handicapped and he is second choice ahead of the progressive Mr Hope Street. Topweight Altobelli could also be involved off a handy mark.[Ben Hutton]
Selections
Daily Mirror:
Asian SpiceWEST COUNTRY:
Kabral Du MathanThe Times:
Kabral Du MathanTelegraph:
Kabral Du MathanD Express:
Kabral Du MathanThe Sun:
Kabral Du MathanDaily Record:
Kabral Du MathanTOPSPEED:
Altobelli