October 12 / 17.10 Exeter

17.10

Good To Firm

Devon Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 2f 111y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Devon Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 67-766 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Nearly pulled off a winning return to the Flat at Bath in July but finished completely tailed off there a month ago after a heavy defeat over hurdles; not crying out to be backed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

15:50 Newton Abbot

Thahab Ifraj

11st 6lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Alexandra Dunn

Veteran with modest strike-rate in recent years; only beaten about 1l when fourth of seven here (2m1f, good) last month, after a break, and remains on a good mark but younger rivals appeal more all the same.

9/1

4th

6

24th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:57 Newton Abbot

Thahab Ifraj

11st 7lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: Alexandra Dunn

Seven-time hurdle winner; produced his best effort last season when narrowly denied at Exeter (2m2f, good) in October, but was well beaten next time and was pulled up in November on his final start; returns from 224 days off with something to prove.

14/1

2

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

12:20 Huntingdon

Thahab Ifraj

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Alexandra Dunn

pressed leader, pushed along briefly after 5th, lost ground quickly and reminders before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: -13222

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won from the front at Ffos Las in May (2m, good to firm) and has continued to run well since then; 2m5f stretched him last time at Warwick; looks a player with Gearoid Harney taking off 8lb this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:32 Bangor-on-Dee

Nibras Gold

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Dual 1m4f Flat winner (made all) and Summer Hurdle third last year, and jumped perfectly well when second on two of three chase starts in summer 2024; record of 62121 when returning from breaks of over 200 days.

7/1

9th

8

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

17:45 Market Rasen

Nibras Gold

10st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Dual Flat winner for new stable in the spring before reverting to hurdling with commendable third behind Cavern Club in C&D Summer Hurdle (good) in July; only 1lb higher today and ought to be right in the thick of things.

10/1

Form: 3453-F BF

Last run: 156 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Stratford bumper winner; was in the process of running his best race yet over hurdles when falling late on at Fakenham in May; wouldn't have won but it was a step in the right direction.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

16:18 Ffos Las

Copshill Lad

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Made it 2-4 over fences when he pulled clear with the second at Southwell (3m2f, good); no reason why he shouldn't be very competitive off 4lb higher.

3/1

1st

3

24th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:00 Southwell

Copshill Lad

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Defied an even longer break at Hereford in November (3m1f, good) off only 1lb lower and his following run was just as good; could easily leave his latest below-par run behind.

3/1

Form: 223414 BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Backed and won comfortably on his debut for this yard at Worcester (2m, good) and it was a Class 2 in which he wasn't all that far away at Market Rasen; should be a factor in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(3)

6th Apr 2024

Standard

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Coolnaugh Haze

9st 12lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

in touch with leaders, outpaced but went third inside final furlong, no match for first two

10/1

3rd

2

(3)

6th Apr 2024

Standard

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Coolnaugh Haze

9st 12lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

in touch with leaders, outpaced but went third inside final furlong, no match for first two

10/1

7th

7

(3)

29th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:25 Chelmsford (AW)

Coolnaugh Haze

9st 8lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 18-324

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Did well last summer when with Fergal O'Brien and Graeme McPherson; only beaten a length for this trainer combination at Stratford in August and conditions went against her at Uttoxeter last time (soft; needs good); could go well should the ground be suitable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(8)

2nd Dec 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pop The Champagne

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

taken down early

20/1

4

(8)

2nd Dec 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pop The Champagne

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Hasn't won in more than two years and needs to bounce back from a quiet run over hurdles three weeks ago; is a deal lower in the weights than for a couple of runs over C&D last winter but may be on the downgrade and wants a good test over this trip.

20/1

4th

2

11th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Kempton

Pop The Champagne

11st 10lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Consistent over hurdles and on the Flat this year; holds no secrets from the handicapper but last month's Wincanton fourth (2m5f, good) was perfectly respectable and she'll be fine over today's shorter trip; probably won't be far away.

7/1

Form: 6-32F5 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner on good ground and runner-up in that discipline three starts back; below par last time but that was after a fall and his final run over hurdles (in May) was positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Fat Sam

12st 0lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: David Dennis

Good-ground specialist who was useful in his prime for Chris Down; without a win since 2022, though, and recent point form for David Dennis is not inspiring (refused to race on latest appearance).

16/1

6th

7

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Fat Sam

11st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Winless since summer 2022 but he's generally reliable and often placed, though he has to be forgiven a lesser effort at Worcester (2m4f, good) last time; not the force of old, but he's handicapped accordingly and capable of bouncing back.

14/1

Form: -25043

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won twice last season, including a Hereford handicap off this mark (2m3f, good); consistent in defeat of late and won't be too far away once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

22nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 5

15:18 Exeter

Cabrakan

12st 0lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Harriet Dickin

A dual hurdle winner for Milton Harris; well beaten on the Flat on first two starts for this stable in June and only made a satisfactory start to his chasing career when a well-held third at Plumpton (2m1f, good; second has won since) last month; has a fitness edge over some and not ruled out with that experience behind him, off 5lb lower.

11/2

3rd

4

22nd Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 214y

Class 4

16:20 Plumpton

Cabrakan

10st 13lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Placed over hurdles for Milton Harris last autumn but returned from layoff with two poor Flat runs for new stable in June/July and has too much to prove on this chasing debut.

10/1

6th

4

(7)

27th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Newmarket (July)

Cabrakan

9st 3lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Harriet Dickin

Unraced beyond 1m4f on Flat but has scored over 2m and 2m4f as a hurdler; his significant Flat form was in 2022 and he was tailed off on recent return to Flat for new yard after eight months off; others have more pressing claims.

25/1

Form: 2-5596

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
This time last year he was in a terrific run of form over hurdles and well treated on most of that; however, hasn't approached the same level this summer (hurdles/fences) and has much to prove all of a sudden.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

26th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:55 Uttoxeter

Lucky Lover Boy

11st 7lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Well held at Worcester last time; scored over C&D earlier in June, taking Uttoxeter record to 2-4; still well treated on peak form and has possibilities back here.

7/1

7th

2

19th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Worcester

Lucky Lover Boy

11st 12lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

in touch with leaders

7/2

Non-runners

Byzantine Empire

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £81.07
Tricast £209.96

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Nibras Gold

SPOTLIGHT:

Coolnaugh Haze

The Times:

Copshill Lad

POSTDATA:

Cabrakan

D Express:

Pop The Champagne

The Star:

Byzantine Empire

Daily Mirror:

Copshill Lad

The Guardian:

Coolnaugh Haze

Daily Mail:

Coolnaugh Haze

TOPSPEED:

Nibras Gold

WEST COUNTRY:

Nibras Gold

Telegraph:

Nibras Gold

The Sun:

Nibras Gold

Daily Record:

Nibras Gold