February 12 / 14.30 Exeter

14.30

Good

Virgin Bet British Stallion Studs EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 2f 111y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet British Stallion Studs EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 5-63

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£180,000 buy after Irish point win; heavy defeats on first two starts for this yard but his well-beaten third of ten from the back behind two useful rivals in novice hurdle at Kempton (2m, soft; 33-1) on Boxing Day was vastly better, suggesting he is well capable of winning a race like this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Off To A Flyer

12st 0lb

J: Mr Richard Upton

T: Joe Tizzard

made all, not fluent 3rd, not fluent 9th, kept on well from 2 out, comfortably

9/4

1

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Off To A Flyer

12st 0lb

J: Mr Richard Upton

T: Joe Tizzard

Absent since justifying market support at Huntingdon (3m1f, good) ten months ago when returned to hurdles after an unsuccessful spell over fences; the betting may again prove instructive.

9/4

1st

2

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

14:05 Huntingdon

Off To A Flyer

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

made all

6/1

Form: 97/03-

Last run: 552 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran in four Irish bumpers in February-August 2021 for Johnny Murtagh, easily best result when third at Ballinrobe (good to yielding) in first-time cheekpieces on final start; absent 552 days and probably best watched for now for new connections.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

21st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

16:30 Exeter

Back Yourself

11st 1lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: David Pipe

always behind, reminder after 2nd, tailed off when pulled up after 4th

25/1

4

6th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:05 Ffos Las

Back Yourself

11st 6lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: David Pipe

midfield, fell 2nd

14/1

4

6th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:05 Ffos Las

Back Yourself

11st 6lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: David Pipe

Won here (3m, soft) in May 2023 on handicap hurdle debut, his final start for Victor Dartnall; below form on chase/stable debut that October and showed little when back over hurdles in December after 425 days off; switching from cheekpieces to blinkers requires a huge response.

14/1

Form: 45P

Last run: 84 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has not achieved much in an Irish point, a bumper or two novice hurdles; a respiratory noise was reported last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

12th Feb 2023

Good

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:30 Exeter

Bellissimo Milan

10st 9lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Richard Mitchell

Has not achieved much in an Irish point, a bumper or two novice hurdles; a respiratory noise was reported last time.

100/1

4

20th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

13:15 Exeter

Bellissimo Milan

11st 0lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Richard Mitchell

Faller in Irish point, fourth of five in bumper and beaten long way in novice hurdle (2m); weak claims on form.

100/1

5th

7

6th Oct 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:05 Warwick

Bellissimo Milan

10st 7lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard Mitchell

in touch with leaders, pushed along when dropped to last after 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off

66/1

Form: 90-89

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Big odds and well beaten in his two bumpers and, after 12-month absence, two 2m hurdle races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

31st May 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Russies Dream

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Has been beaten 38l or more in his four hurdle runs, including off a basement mark in a Warwick handicap (2m, good) last week; can only be watched back in a maiden at this new trip.

25/1

6th

7

24th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Warwick

Russies Dream

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Showed no significant promise in three qualifying runs during the winter (2m-2m2f) but makes handicap debut from a lowly mark and has more realistic chance to get competitive this time; 2lb wrong; tongue-tie added.

25/1

Form: 0-0

Last run: 90 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished last in Exeter bumpers (good) last April and November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Wellwillya

10st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Record of 2-7 over fences and he ran a big race in defeat at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; is also well suited by this track and he should be in the mix again after a short break.

10/1

2nd

10

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Wellwillya

10st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

2-6 over fences and was running well when last seen 12 months ago; trip/ground fine and on a competitive mark, while has won after a break in the past.

13/2

Form: 7-0

Last run: 289 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to 2m5f/3m hurdle winner Cracker Jak; dam sister to bumper/2m-2m3f hurdle/smart chase winner Let Yourself Go; poor in his two bumpers last term but made all in an Irish maiden point in November; interesting to see market strength on this hurdle debut for new stable which won this race last year with a newcomer at 16-1.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

17:10 Market Rasen

El Rio

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

3-6 over fences, the latest win gained at Kempton (2m4f, soft; made all) in February; needs to return from seven-month break in prime form to have any chance off current mark but the forecast good ground won't be a problem.

4/1

Form: 7-

Last run: 300 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second favourite for bumper at Chepstow (2m, good) last April but soon in rear and beaten 25l in seventh of eight; interesting to see if his backers return, for major yard which is going well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

20th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

13:30 Lingfield

Seismic Wave

11st 6lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second favourite for bumper at Chepstow (2m, good) last April but soon in rear and beaten 25l; now switches to hurdling after an absence but yard is in good form and interesting to see if his backers return.

16/1

5

12th Feb 2023

Good

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:30 Exeter

Seismic Wave

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second favourite for bumper at Chepstow (2m, good) last April but soon in rear and beaten 25l in seventh of eight; interesting to see if his backers return, for major yard which is going well.

10/1

Form: 3/55

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner; third in a bumper in March 2021 but, with wind surgery last August, he did not race again until well held in three novice hurdles this winter (latest at Newbury yesterday).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

6th Jan 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:05 Wincanton

Starevitch

11st 2lb

J: Will Featherstone

T: Jamie Snowden

Won a point and placed in a bumper before going absent for 638 days; minor form in three novice hurdles and a handicap chase last season; returns to hurdles with low mileage for an 8yo but others have more compelling credentials.

8/1

4th

2

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:35 Ludlow

Starevitch

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Irish maiden point winner; third in a bumper in March 2021 but, with wind surgery last August, he did not race again until well held in three novice hurdles this winter (latest at Newbury last month); now makes chase debut and goes beyond 2m3f for the first time under rules.

9/2

Form: 2/

Last run: 701 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to useful bumper and fairly useful hurdle/chase (2m1f-3m) winner Dubai Angel; 6-1, second of 12 in bumper at Navan (2m, soft to heavy) in March 2021 when trained by Stuart Crawford; changed hands and reappears with this top trainer, who reported in Stable Tour that "he's been plagued with a splint problem but ... he's shown a considerable amount"; interesting to see if that's backed up with market support.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 90

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Behind on soft in a bumper at Hereford and novice hurdle at Ffos Las.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Twp Stori

11st 1lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Dual hurdle winner on slow ground; safely held on chasing debut in November and well beaten when back over hurdles in February; back from another three-month break with cheekpieces refitted; others have much less to prove.

8/1

6th

5

20th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

15:52 Ffos Las

Twp Stori

10st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Mark and ground both fine, but have to hope confidence hasn't been dented by being brought down two starts back and enduring a rough race on November's chasing debut; unraced over this short since autumn 2024.

7/1

6

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

19:40 Hexham

Twp Stori

10st 9lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Won at Fontwell (3m2f, heavy) last spring and was also narrowly successful at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in November; should appreciate the return to this sort of trip and a new headgear combination is given a go but he could do with rain.

13/2

Form: 6/70-

Last run: 366 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field at big odds in all three bumpers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:05 Worcester

Mollys Angel

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: William de Best-Turner

Ran out on hurdling debut in 2023 and, following a long absence, was well beaten at big odds here (2m4f) this month.

200/1

7th

9

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Worcester

Mollys Angel

10st 9lb

J: Charlie Price

T: William de Best-Turner

Showed nothing in three bumpers and was reportedly unsteerable before running out on her hurdling debut at Exeter when last seen in early 2023.

100/1

7

3rd Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

14:15 Newbury

Mollys Angel

10st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: William de Best-Turner

Non-runners

El Rio, Seismic Wave, Starevitch, Twp Stori

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.00
Straight Forecast £3.10
Trifecta £5.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Off To A Flyer

LAMBOURN:

The Carpenter

Telegraph:

El Rio

D Express:

Back Yourself

RP Ratings:

Off To A Flyer

TOPSPEED:

Off To A Flyer

POSTDATA:

Off To A Flyer

WEST COUNTRY:

Off To A Flyer

The Times:

Off To A Flyer

Daily Mirror:

The Carpenter

The Sun:

The Carpenter

The Star:

The Carpenter

Daily Record:

The Carpenter