March 25 / 15.50 Exeter

15.50

Soft

City Of Exeter Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 0f 161y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
RTV
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City Of Exeter Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.58

Form: 222112 D BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) in January when back down in trip and followed up at Newcastle (2m1f, heavy); bumped into handicap blot when second on last month's chase debut at Lingfield (2m, heavy) and can play a leading role now back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Classic Maestro

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Good second at Sandown (1m7f, soft) in January and ran well before fading into 14 third at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; however, his best form has come on soft/heavy ground and such conditions seem unlikely today.

15/2

3rd

2

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Classic Maestro

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Predictably struggled in Grade 1 Ascot Chase three weeks ago but looked as good as ever when second in good Sandown handicap (1m7f, soft) two starts ago and will be fine over today's trip; good chance.

9/4

Form: 2841 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Bumper runner-up who improved upon last month's hurdle debut here when winning by 2l over C&D (soft) recently; there's every chance this very lightly raced 6yo will continue to progress; respected on handicap debut.
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

16:42 Newton Abbot

Pirates Tale

11st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Chris Honour

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

15:55 Newton Abbot

Pirates Tale

11st 8lb

J: David Noonan

T: Chris Honour

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

Form: 66P

Last run: 104 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Mixed rules form thus far but fair effort in France on the middle of his three hurdle starts and he's a two-time point runner-up; only five and he's a possible improver now tackling a handicap; watch the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Another Folly

11st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

2m6f winner at Stratford last October; another good run to be fourth at Ludlow in January (2m4f) but bit below that level since, last time sent to France.

6/1

4th

6

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:15 Wincanton

Another Folly

11st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Made all to open account at Stratford (2m6f, good to soft) in October, his eighth chase, and has performed well off today's mark on both subsequent outings (2m4f, soft/good to soft); up in grade today but still enters calculations.

6/1

4th

2

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

14:17 Ludlow

Another Folly

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Made all to open account at Stratford (2m6f, good to soft) in October, his eighth chase, and also ran well when second to very progressive rival at Warwick (2m4f, soft) the following month; had wind op during 57-day break; can give this a good shot.

4/1

Form: 234-PP D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Plenty to prove having been pulled up this winter on first two British starts, following a long absence; however, this 5yo is back in a tongue-tie today, in which he won twice over hurdles in France; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

6th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:20 Chepstow

Now Or Never

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle winner in France in 2022; very disappointing over hurdles in Britain (four starts) but had wind surgery during six-month break and may yet come good for Venetia Williams; hooded for British chase debut.

9/1

5th

2

6th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:20 Chepstow

Now Or Never

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle winner in France in 2022; very disappointing over hurdles in Britain (four starts) but had wind surgery during six-month break and may yet come good for Venetia Williams; hooded for British chase debut.

9/1

10th

4

15th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Now Or Never

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Two hurdle wins (2m1f, heavy/good) in France in 2022 but, after a long absence, he's struggled in three runs for new yard since December; dropped another 5lb but he has plenty to prove.

20/1

Non-runners

Homme Dun Soir

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.10
Straight Forecast £2.42
Trifecta £3.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Classic Maestro

WEST COUNTRY:

Pirates' Tale

Daily Mirror:

Homme D'un Soir

Telegraph:

Pirates' Tale

The Star:

Pirates' Tale

Daily Record:

Pirates' Tale

RP RATINGS:

Classic Maestro

TOPSPEED:

Classic Maestro

POSTDATA:

Classic Maestro

The Times:

Classic Maestro

The Guardian:

Classic Maestro

Daily Mail:

Classic Maestro

D Express:

Classic Maestro

The Sun:

Classic Maestro