December 21 / 14.25 Exeter

14.25

Soft

Naf Metazone Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8449.6
  • 2m 2f 111y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Naf Metazone Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: P221-3 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
5lb higher than for his C&D success in March (good to soft); beaten 15l by a progressive winner on his return at Sandown (2m4f, soft) and might well come on for that run; hard to dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Issam

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tom Symonds

Seemed a non-stayer over 3m on penultimate start; readily justified favouritism at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) latest, taking chase record to 3-6 and overall strike-rate to 9-25; largely progressive and a useful 3lb is claimed with Callum Pritchard back on board; one to consider.

8/1

1st

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Issam

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Out of the money over 3m at Ascot last time, seeming a non-stayer; solid record otherwise since switched to fences, winning twice and posting two sound efforts; may have more to offer back down in trip; not ruled out.

9/2

6th

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Issam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Overall strike-rate is 8-23; solid set of form figures (1213) since switch to fences, keeping on for creditable effort at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) most recently; should be thereabouts provided he stays this new trip.

9/1

OUR TIP

13/8

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 211-41 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Ex-French gelding; ran into the highly promising Willmount on British debut (Newbury novice) and then he bolted up in last week's first handicap at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft); gets in here 3lb well-in under a penalty and should take some stopping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

16

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Joker De Mai

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

7-1 when early faller at the Chair in this last year; this 7yo was an eye-catching third at Ludlow in February on penultimate start, having been hampered, but needs to step up on this season's handicap form if he's to threaten.

20/1

3rd

2

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:05 Warwick

Joker De Mai

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Returned to form when finishing third at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) recently, when back up in trip on his third start for this yard; he came clear with two progressive opponents last time, despite being hampered in the back straight, and could have a big part to play today.

5/2

3rd

2

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Joker De Mai

11st 13lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Won a hunter chase under former owner David Maxwell in March; sold for £90,000 in October; his quiet stable debut was at Cheltenham and he showed more at Newbury when about 11l off the winner (2m); returning to slower ground over further could be beneficial; respected.

8/1

Form: 1P414- D

Last run: 236 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Mixed hurdling with chasing last season, winning in both disciplines; had wind operation during his break but he's on a tough mark and would prefer good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:50 Ludlow

Quinta Do Mar

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Ben Pauling

Has run here just the once and it was a win, over hurdles in 2021; 1-4 over fences last term and ran well (after wind surgery) back over hurdles on reappearance this season, before a heavy defeat in hot race last month; back chasing today, probably in need of a career best.

7/1

16th

6

13th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton

Quinta Do Mar

11st 6lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Ran respectably at Exeter on seasonal debut; disputing third place when final-flight faller in this race in 2022 but folded tamely in it last year; more exposed than many of these rivals.

16/1

3rd

1

21st Dec 2023

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 3

14:25 Exeter

Quinta Do Mar

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Mixed hurdling with chasing last season, winning in both disciplines; had wind operation during his break but he's on a tough mark and would prefer good ground.

10/1

Form: 314P-3

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
French bumper winner who won a Huntingdon maiden hurdle last season; open to further improvement and especially now raised in trip after an encouraging return last month; seems fine on most ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Imperial Bede

12st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Cheekpieces fitted in last three races; won at Catterick and back to form when a clear second at Haydock (2m4f, good); back up 3lb but still well handicapped on old exploits.

2/1

2nd

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

15:55 Haydock

Imperial Bede

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Evidently not the force of old but he built on an encouraging C&D reappearance when winning in first-time cheekpieces at Catterick (2m3f, soft) in February; made early mistakes when a disappointing favourite at Hereford since but it's possible he'll be happier back on a left-handed course and likely he's still on a winnable mark if putting his best foot forward.

100/30

5th

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

16:40 Hereford

Imperial Bede

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Evidently not the force of old but built upon an encouraging reappearance when winning in first-time cheekpieces at Catterick (2m3f, soft) a fortnight ago and has good claims here if the headgear continues to aid him.

4/5

Form: 43-32F

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Formerly with Milton Harris; only 1-18 but he's consistent and held every chance when falling late on at Newton Abbot two months ago (2m5f, heavy); respected off what's a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

21st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

13:40 Stratford

Hasty Parisian

11st 11lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Just 1-20 over hurdles for Milton Harris/Anthony Charlton and has not been firing on all cylinders since returning from a break in the autumn; starts off for new trainer on a good mark and with conditions to suit but still needs today's headgear switch to perk him up.

14/1

4th

4

21st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

13:40 Stratford

Hasty Parisian

11st 11lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Just 1-20 over hurdles for Milton Harris/Anthony Charlton and has not been firing on all cylinders since returning from a break in the autumn; starts off for new trainer on a good mark and with conditions to suit but still needs today's headgear switch to perk him up.

14/1

5

12th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

15:45 Fakenham

Hasty Parisian

11st 11lb

T: Harriet Dickin

Form: 200-82

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Has got herself well handicapped and, after running well for a long way on her return at Chepstow, she found only one too good in the new cheekpieces at Wetherby (2m3f); getting away from heavy ground (both runs this season) won't do her any harm; solid chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

21st Dec 2023

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 3

14:25 Exeter

Molly Ollys Wishes

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has got herself well handicapped and, after running well for a long way on her return at Chepstow, she found only one too good in the new cheekpieces at Wetherby (2m3f); getting away from heavy ground (both runs this season) won't do her any harm; solid chance.

4/1

2nd

1

18th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

13:19 Wetherby

Molly Ollys Wishes

12st 1lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.00
Straight Forecast £6.67
Trifecta £34.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Joker De Mai

WEST COUNTRY:

Imperial Bede

D Express:

Issam

SPOTLIGHT:

Molly Ollys Wishes

TOPSPEED:

Joker De Mai

POSTDATA:

Joker De Mai

LAMBOURN:

Joker De Mai

The Times:

Joker De Mai

Telegraph:

Joker De Mai

The Guardian:

Joker De Mai

Daily Mail:

Joker De Mai

Daily Mirror:

Joker De Mai

The Star:

Joker De Mai

Daily Record:

Joker De Mai

The Sun:

Imperial Bede