March 10 / 15.00 Exeter

15.00

Good

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £9505.8
  • 2m 5f 137y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: -U4342 C BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Just beaten by Caspers Court (runs 2.25) at Wincanton last month, on his first attempt at this trip; 3lb higher and up in grade but this course winner still needs serious consideration and won't mind any rain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

15:30 Newbury

Hititi

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Has been racking up the places since completing a hat-trick two years ago, a sure sign that he's high in the weights; however, again ran well at Exeter (2m7f, good to soft) last time and finished just ahead of last week's Pertemps Final runner-up Jeriko Du Reponet; raised another 2lb for that but he's very solid.

3/1

2nd

1

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 2

15:33 Exeter

Hititi

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Completed a hat-trick in spring 2023 but has been chalking up the seconds since; two of those have been at this track in this race last year and a 3m chase on penultimate start (has worn cheekpieces this term); form dipped at Windsor latest and he's probably vulnerable if back on song for this return to hurdling.

14/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 11-225 BF

Last run: 70 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Shade disappointing at Taunton ten weeks ago (3m) but had been quite progressive before that; return to shorter could help and still young enough to improve again so definitely not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

10th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

14:25 Ffos Las

Iberio

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

All three wins over hurdles were at Taunton, latest over 3m on heavy in March 2023; chasing last term and ended his time with the Hobbs/White stable on some low notes; pulled up after an early error over fences (0-6 in that sphere) 12 days ago on stable/seasonal debut; well treated on best efforts.

14/1

6th

8

10th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

14:25 Ffos Las

Iberio

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

pressed leader early, raced in second 2nd, prominent from 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened

14/1

15

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

14:35 Chepstow

Iberio

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Three-time hurdle winner; yet build upon last autumn's promising chase debut for the Hobbs/White stable and has been absent since March but is on a good mark for today's stable debut; cheekpieces removed.

12/1

Form: -22182 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Left behind a rare modest effort when good second over 2m7f here last month; effective on good and soft ground and likely to run well again but edging up the handicap without winning, which is no help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

9th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 2

13:45 Wincanton

Sabrina

12st 0lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces when winning over C&D (good) in pretty good style in April but was pulled up the following month and has become quite tricky to predict; had wind op during six-month break.

14/1

10th

1

9th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 2

13:45 Wincanton

Sabrina

12st 0lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces when winning over C&D (good) in pretty good style in April but was pulled up the following month and has become quite tricky to predict; had wind op during six-month break.

14/1

12

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Sabrina

11st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Inconsistent but she returned to form with a convincing win in first-time cheekpieces at Wincanton (2m5f, good) three weeks ago; she'll have no problem with the step up in trip; contender if the headgear maintains its effect.

10/1

Form: 1513-8 C

Last run: 167 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
No threat at Market Rasen last September (inadequate trip), his only start in the last 11 months; quite progressive before but all wins gained on ground softer than good so would benefit from further rain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

13th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

19:25 Worcester

Judicial Law

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Scored off today's mark in first-time cheekpieces at Kelso (3m2f, good) in September and also has a C&D success on his CV but has not been firing on all cylinders this year (with and without headgear).

7/1

4th

4

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 83y

Class 3

19:00 Stratford

Judicial Law

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Was entitled to run better than he did back on good ground at Haydock three weeks ago (3m) but that was a strong race; last season's peaks (at 3m2f/3m) bring him right into it off this mark.

10/1

10th

7

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Judicial Law

11st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Well beaten over C&D (soft) last time; he can be effective on soft/heavy going but better ground may be preferable and he's very much of interest on his fine efforts last autumn, when winning at Kelso (3m2f, good) and finishing second of 20 at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft); on the shortlist.

9/1

Form: 846345 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Has performed reasonably in three hurdling starts since returning from a spell chasing, the latest over 2m7f here two weeks ago; tendency to race keenly a negative and only hurdle win came more than two years ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

10th Mar 2023

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 3

15:00 Exeter

Gladiateur Allen

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Has performed reasonably in three hurdling starts since returning from a spell chasing, the latest over 2m7f here two weeks ago; tendency to race keenly a negative and only hurdle win came more than two years ago.

13/2

5th

1

24th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

16:17 Exeter

Gladiateur Allen

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

raced freely, disputed lead, led 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, soon headed and ridden, weakened 2 out

13/2

4th

2

3rd Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:05 Chepstow

Gladiateur Allen

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Won chase debut in December 2021; not so good since but the handicapper has reacted and this season's form (back over hurdles on latest start) suggests that he has a place chance.

7/1

Form: 1132P2

Last run: 7 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Not entirely consistent but appeared to run right up to his best when second in a Newbury novice a week ago (in first-time cheekpieces, goes up 2lb from tomorrow); narrowly beaten only previous handicap attempt so plenty to recommend him if he repeats the latest display.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:56 Newton Abbot

American Sniper

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Has patchy profile but he's well handicapped on his Taunton second (2m3f, good) in December and he may have needed his reappearance run at Hereford this month; this step back up in trip is no problem and he's one to keep an eye on for in-form yard.

11/2

5th

1

5th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

19:17 Hereford

American Sniper

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Has become hard to predict, as his 16l fourth at Taunton (2m3f, good) in January would suggest, having failed to back up a decent effort there the previous month; back on his last winning mark and could play a leading role if at his best.

7/2

15

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

13:15 Cheltenham

American Sniper

10st 13lb

J: James Davies

T: David Pipe

Won big-field handicap off today's mark here (2m5f, good to soft) in November 2023 and was creditable sixth of 25 at Punchestown festival (2m3f, yielding) in April but his record between those two runs if very mixed and he's not an easy one to predict.

28/1

Form: 3/092P

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Talented at best and second at Cheltenham last December (3m); heavy ground blamed for poor effort on final start for John Joseph Murphy; starts out for new yard on realistic mark if able to show his ability.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

15:25 Chepstow

Brazos

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Alexandra Dunn

midfield, outpaced after 7th, soon dropped to rear, lost touch before 3 out

50/1

4

22nd Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

15:25 Chepstow

Brazos

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Alexandra Dunn

midfield, outpaced after 7th, soon dropped to rear, lost touch before 3 out

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.40
Straight Forecast £15.48
Trifecta £61.50

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Sabrina

SPOTLIGHT:

Hititi

The Times:

American Sniper

The Guardian:

Iberio

TOPSPEED:

Judicial Law

POSTDATA:

Gladiateur Allen

D Express:

American Sniper

RP Ratings:

Hititi

Daily Mirror:

Hititi

Telegraph:

Sabrina

Daily Mail:

Sabrina

The Sun:

Sabrina

The Star:

Sabrina

Daily Record:

Sabrina