February 12 / 15.30 Exeter

15.30

Good

Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £17832
  • 2m 0f 161y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/13 (Won)

  • Win: £1.62
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 11-1 D

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made it 2-2 in bumpers when winning Listed mares' race at Sandown (2m, soft) last March and she followed up on her hurdle debut in a Listed mares' novice at Newbury (2m, good) in November; she was impressive against some talented yardsticks last time and is a major player now against males.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Wetherby

Luccia

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Carries 4lb penalty and she was a beaten favourite in this race last year (soft), but still ran well in second; won a handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good) last December before fine third in the Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) and she holds leading claims this afternoon.

8/13

1

2nd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Wetherby

Luccia

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Carries 4lb penalty and she was a beaten favourite in this race last year (soft), but still ran well in second; won a handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good) last December before fine third in the Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) and she holds leading claims this afternoon.

8/13

4th

7

11th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Luccia

11st 3lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Progressive 6yo who took another step forward with her third in last month's Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy), when nicely clear of the fourth; she's unraced beyond 2m1f but her pedigree provides hope she'll be okay at this trip; top trainer has an excellent record in this race and she's not ruled out.

10/1

20/1

  • Place: £9.90

Form: 16 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Horse

OR:

Form & Verdict
German good-ground Flat winner who scored by a neck on his hurdle and stable debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) in October; soundly beaten in warm introductory hurdle at Newbury (2m, soft) since and, although this return to better ground may suit, he has something to find in today's company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 7f 200y

19:00 Clonmel

Palace Boy

12st 0lb

J: Mr P W Gleeson

T: John F Gleeson

Hurdles winner for Fergal O'Brien and ran in the 2023 Supreme Novices'; three-time Flat winner; back from long absence when tailed off on sole Flat outing for Barry Brennan in December; bought for just £1,400 in January; Irish/handicap hurdle debut.

12/1

12th

5

(3)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

13:30 Ascot

Palace Boy

9st 4lb

J: George Rooke

T: Ralph J Smith

Progressive over 1m6f/2m on AW for new yard, until form dipped on finals day; drops back in grade but reverts to a different scenario; hasn't raced over 1m4f or tackled a Flat turf race since 2020 when trained in Germany.

10/1

12th

5

(3)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

13:30 Ascot

Palace Boy

9st 4lb

J: George Rooke

T: Ralph J Smith

Progressive over 1m6f/2m on AW for new yard, until form dipped on finals day; drops back in grade but reverts to a different scenario; hasn't raced over 1m4f or tackled a Flat turf race since 2020 when trained in Germany.

10/1

Form: 2-1121 CD

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
The only horse to beat him in four hurdle starts is Grey Dawning (C&D two runs ago), who has since landed a Grade 2; this fellow returned to winning ways at Taunton (2m3f, good) in December on his latest start and holds strong form claims today; first two hurdle wins came here (including C&D).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:15 Newton Abbot

Lallygag

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, bad mistake and lost position briefly 6th, pressed leader going best home turn, sustained duel with winner from 2 out, kept on run-in, no extra towards finish

5/2

1st

4

31st Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

15:55 Newton Abbot

Lallygag

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent

7/4

1st

7

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Worcester

Lallygag

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

led, headed but prominent 3rd, led again 3 out, ridden before 2 out

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
9-4, no match for winner when second on rules debut in Newbury maiden hurdle (2m, good) in November; improvement needed but he easily won an Irish maiden point last May, after which he was bought for 310,000gns, and could have lots more to offer for a top trainer who has won the last two runnings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Ittack Blue

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made all in two Market Rasen novice hurdles (both 2m, good) in May but was soundly beaten in both subsequent handicaps, the latter his chasing debut; still has plenty of time to get career back on track but comes here with a point to prove.

12/1

7th

1

21st Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:10 Stratford

Ittack Blue

12st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won back-to-back minor hurdle races on good ground at Market Rasen but didn't look obviously well treated for handicap debut back there and ended up tailed off; that was not his true running but, off just 2lb lower, he faces no straightforward task unless improving for fences (bred for it).

3/1

Form: 10-131 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
All starts on good to soft; this point/bumper winner made it 2-3 over hurdles when scoring at Huntingdon (2m) last month; 17l third to the very useful Pembroke at Ludlow the time before and those limitations may again be exposed here, but he's a likeable prospect and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

19

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Western Zephyr

10st 6lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Useful 2m form for Charlie Longsdon in autumn 2024, including on this course, but his season ended badly; off to a good start for new yard when runner-up at Haydock (2m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces, retained) last month but there's not much common ground between that run and what will be needed today.

40/1

2nd

3

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Western Zephyr

11st 9lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Made a winning return at Carlisle (2m) in October 2024 but his form nosedived later in the season, pulled up in the Topham at Aintree last spring on his final run for Charlie Longsdon; since changed hands for £20,000 and he needs to hit the ground running for his new yard after ten months off.

25/1

Form: 850

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at big odds on all three starts; outclassed here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

24th Feb 2023

Good

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:40 Exeter

Rapid River

11st 5lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

held up in last, pushed along after 5th, weakened and behind after 4 out

33/1

6th

4

12th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 161y

Class 1

15:30 Exeter

Rapid River

11st 5lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Well beaten at big odds on all three starts; outclassed here.

200/1

10th

10

3rd Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:30 Chepstow

Rapid River

11st 2lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

50-1, no impact in two Exeter bumpers; one to watch now hurdling.

150/1

Non-runners

Tiger Print

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.30
Straight Forecast £22.19
Trifecta £66.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Luccia

WEST COUNTRY:

Lallygag

RP Ratings:

Luccia

TOPSPEED:

Luccia

POSTDATA:

Luccia

LAMBOURN:

Luccia

The Times:

Luccia

Telegraph:

Luccia

D Express:

Luccia

Daily Mirror:

Luccia

The Sun:

Luccia

The Star:

Luccia

Daily Record:

Luccia