January 09 / 14.25 Exeter

14.25

Soft

Rhino.Bet Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4092.77
  • 2m 5f 137y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
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Rhino.Bet Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: P/0-02

Last run: 44 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

28th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

14:45 Wetherby

Barncroft

11st 0lb

J: Daire Davis

T: Fergal O’Brien

11-race maiden; fair second in a novice handicap at Uttoxeter in November (2m4f, soft), but pulled up at Lingfield when last out (2m7f, soft); tongue-tie now tried; down in grade.

16/1

1

13th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Lingfield

Barncroft

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Fergal O’Brien

Lightly raced now but he finally recaptured some form when runner-up at Uttoxeter in November (2m4f, soft; refitted cheekpieces, as today); may be on the way back and pedigree suggests he has a good chance of staying 2m7f.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: /2F-37

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 13lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
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No / Draw
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Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

10th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

12:20 Doncaster

Iron Horse

12st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

13yo who has had 18 races, winning a handicap hurdle in 2019; tailed off when last seen in June/November and this is only his second venture beyond 2m5f; the switch back from chasing looks a positive.

25/1

Form: 153112

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Wot You Wearing

10st 2lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

He was looking when regressive even before pulling up in his first two runs for this yard but ran better at Taunton (2m3f, good; ridden by Kayla Ruddy), where he was no match for the front two but did come from well off the pace; possibilities; 1lb wrong.

5/1

3rd

8

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Out of sorts at the end of last term for Robert Stephens and he's been pulled up in handicaps (around 3m2f) at Fontwell and Warwick for his current yard this year; it's easy to look elsewhere.

20/1

6

20th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Warwick

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three-time hurdle winner but the latest was back in November 2023 and it's been a long time since he posed a serious threat; pulled up when a 3-1 shot for last month's stable and seasonal debut at Fontwell.

12/1

Form: P5-882

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Call Me Arthur

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Only his third run over fences when forging clear at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) in January; that resulted in a 10lb rise but he was only 9-2 when departing early at Taunton; seemingly on the upgrade.

7/2

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

14:50 Taunton

Call Me Arthur

11st 12lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

All the sharper for his Hereford reappearance when making it third time lucky over fences in 2m7f Huntingdon handicap (soft) three weeks ago, forging 15l clear; that resulted in a 10lb rise but he should remain competitive if in the same form.

9/2

1st

5

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Call Me Arthur

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Temporary switch to front-running over a sharp 3m netted him a Southwell hurdle off this mark in May 2024 (soft), but rather lost in the crowd in big-field chases on only two starts since; tongue tie off.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 55-342 BF

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:20 Chepstow

Mumbles

11st 10lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

Creditable second behind well-handicapped rival here (2m, soft) in November and will be fine over today's longer trip but has become far too inconsistent to rely upon, and needs first-time cheekpieces to help him rebound from a poor run over fences a fortnight ago.

7/1

4

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Ffos Las

Mumbles

11st 8lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

Mixed results over hurdles this term; chase record reads 24FPP; returns to this sphere looking well treated on best form but it's difficult to know what to expect from him.

12/1

13

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:58 Ffos Las

Mumbles

11st 3lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Evan Williams

Proven on deep ground and has run well here over 2m-2m4f; failed to complete on his last three starts (all here) last winter; returns on a handy mark and has won when fresh, so he could be involved if revived.

12/1

Form: -87367 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

16:30 Ludlow

Karakoram

10st 6lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Grace Harris

Third over 2m5f in May (good) took his record here to 31823; no trip or ground issues and mark never lower, but poor the last twice.

20/1

Abandoned

Form: 654

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

21st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 1

15:00 Exeter

Lady Balko

11st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Made very good progress over hurdles then fences last year, with the latest of six wins gained in quite valuable mares' handicap chase at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in December; will be dangerous if in similar mood here but suffered a worrying slump in form on her two starts last month and needs a good boost from the new cheekpieces.

10/1

1

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Lady Balko

12st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Sent chasing this term and twice made all in handicaps at Plumpton (3m2f) before always prominent to take one at Hereford (3m1f); ran poorly in mares' Listed race at Newbury 16 days ago when soft going should not have been a problem; needs to resume improvement and moves into the unknown stamina-wise.

6/1

1

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Lady Balko

12st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Sent chasing this term and twice made all in handicaps at Plumpton (3m2f) before always prominent to take one at Hereford (3m1f); ran poorly in mares' Listed race at Newbury 16 days ago when soft going should not have been a problem; needs to resume improvement and moves into the unknown stamina-wise.

6/1

Form: 3/18-0

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

10

(11)

15th May 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 137y

Class 6

19:10 Bath

Lightning Attack

9st 0lb

J: William Cox

T: Tony Newcombe

1m AW, 1m2f turf (heavy) and 2m hurdle winner (good or slower); without success for two years, during which time he has had only six starts across both codes and been well beaten.

50/1

12th

10

(11)

15th May 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 137y

Class 6

19:10 Bath

Lightning Attack

9st 0lb

J: William Cox

T: Tony Newcombe

1m AW, 1m2f turf (heavy) and 2m hurdle winner (good or slower); without success for two years, during which time he has had only six starts across both codes and been well beaten.

50/1

8th

5

(2)

28th Feb 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Lightning Attack

9st 9lb

J: William Cox

T: Tony Newcombe

Successful on Flat and over hurdles; however, has shown poor form under both codes since last win; needs to prove he retains ability.

16/1

Form: 2U3-99

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Hexham

Watchoutitscookie

10st 6lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

2m4f hurdle and 2m7f chase winner (both good to soft); has struggled with consistency, but a leading player if reproducing his latest third of eight at Exeter last month.

9/2

3rd

6

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Watchoutitscookie

10st 8lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

2m4f hurdle and 2m7f chase winner (both good to soft); versatile regarding going but yet to race on good to firm; on a competitive mark if he can shrug off a lesser effort over C&D latest.

11/2

Form: 690

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

23rd Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

13:00 Leicester

Spinnaker Blue

10st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear

9/1

11th

15

22nd Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Warwick

Spinnaker Blue

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Tailed off in novices at Newton Abbot at Exeter, latterly going off at 150-1.

66/1

Abandoned

Form: 5-P705

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

15th Jan 2024

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 5

15:37 Hereford

Starvidov

10st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Lightly raced; only 11-2 for his second run in a handicap at Exeter (2m2f, soft) but was beaten 22l in the end; stamina to prove over this far and he's 5lb out of the weights.

20/1

5th

14

13th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Starvidov

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Tongue tied on last two starts and cheekpieces were fitted for handicap debut on latest (possibly stretched by 2m4f, on soft) but he still has not made a significant impact; 3lb out of the handicap.

33/1

Verdict

This has a very open look to it and watch out for any confidence behind the lightly-raced handicap debutantes Spinnaker Blue and Lady Balko. MUMBLES has found his level in handicaps and should go well for the Evan Williams team. Barncroft (second choice), Call Me Arthur and Wot You Wearing are others will live chances.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

POSTDATA:

Call Me Arthur