March 08 / 14.10 Exeter

14.10

Soft

Klargester Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 0f 161y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Klargester Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 31-2F1 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Late faller on penultimate start; justified favouritism in novice contest over C&D (heavy) latest, adding to his two bumper wins; still open to further progress and should do well in handicaps; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Spirits Bay

10st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Ran okay when seventh in this last year and he reappeared with a win at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in October; however, his subsequent form has been mixed (fences/hurdles) and Top Jimmy looks the yard's chief hope.

33/1

7th

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Spirits Bay

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made a winning reappearance in Newton Abbot handicap hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) in October; switched to fences subsequently, matching his peak RPR over timber when fourth in 2m3f Exeter novice handicap (good to soft) five weeks ago; won his previous outing on heavy.

8/1

1

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

12:55 Warwick

Spirits Bay

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Two wins during his novice campaign included a handicap (2m, soft); 0-5 last season but ran well at the weights behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham in January and comfortably regained the winning thread on his reappearance at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; up 4lb but he's bred for fences and looks a player on debut in this sphere.

11/8

5/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: -12310 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Came up well short in major handicap at Newbury last month; consistent and steadily progressive otherwise; scored at Warwick (2m, soft) the time before and, now back down in grade, remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Donnacha

11st 3lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Can make mistakes but he was runner-up twice in a row prior to winning a quality handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January, when clear with subsequent Ultima runner-up Jagwar; a 5lb rise for that career-best performance isn't harsh and he's entitled to respect.

5/2

1st

7

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:15 Cheltenham

Donnacha

10st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Hard to knock in terms of consistency and he again ran creditably when second of seven at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) on Welsh National day; however, he's prone to the odd mistake and may not get away with them on his first run over fences at Cheltenham.

12/1

3rd

1

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 3

15:28 Ffos Las

Donnacha

12st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Struck form over fences at start of this year, winning over 2m3f on soft ground at Exeter and Chepstow; subsequent 261-day break may have checked his momentum but further progress is possible this season.

4/1

Form: 413 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Scored at this venue (2m2f, heavy) on second attempt under rules; no match for the first two at Taunton (2m3f) since but has been dropped 4lb for that effort; interesting back at Exeter on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Moorefields

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

prominent

10/1

4

10th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Moorefields

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

prominent

10/1

9th

1

15th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Moorefields

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

Won a big-field maiden hurdle at Exeter (2m2f, heavy) in January but he's been disappointing since including in two handicaps at Exeter; still unexposed over hurdles but he was beaten 52l last time and has questions to answer at this new trip.

12/1

Form: P23206 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 9yo whose rules record is just 1-24; beaten long way at Sandown (2m4f) last month on debut for new stable; more exposed than most of these rivals and is best watched unless there's a market move.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:25 Hexham

Hard Rain

11st 6lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

raced in last early, slow jump 1st, headway and in touch with leaders before 3rd, went second before 5th

5/1

7th

2

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:25 Hexham

Hard Rain

11st 6lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

raced in last early, slow jump 1st, headway and in touch with leaders before 3rd, went second before 5th

5/1

6th

5

14th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

16:42 Hereford

Hard Rain

10st 11lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Ex-Irish 9yo whose second-place finish at Exeter (2m2f, heavy) came in selling grade and who still has a poor strike-rate; far from certain to go one better returned to handicap level.

12/1

Form: 764173 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Respectable third in mares' event over C&D (heavy) two weeks ago; however, she's not particularly well treated and going back against males isn't ideal, having gained all wins against her own sex.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

5th Jun 2024

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:10 Newton Abbot

Heure De Gloire

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Has done her winning at about 2m, latest at Ffos Las in February; soundly beaten on last four starts, with moves back up to about 2m4f/3m for last three; her one piece of 3m form was back in January 2022 but she is back 4lb lower than her last winning mark.

14/1

6th

6

15th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Heure De Gloire

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Placed over 3m early in career but has done her winning at about 2m, including twice at Ffos Las; modest fourth over 2m4f here most recently; bit to prove back up further in trip.

14/1

6th

6

15th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Heure De Gloire

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Placed over 3m early in career but has done her winning at about 2m, including twice at Ffos Las; modest fourth over 2m4f here most recently; bit to prove back up further in trip.

14/1

Form: 4433

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Four wins in German Flat races and two wins in British points; consistent results (4433) over hurdles for new yard and ties in with Donnacha on Warwick running two starts ago; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 2

16:30 Fontwell

Koenigsstern

10st 3lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Can be a bit in and out but he stuck to his task and just got the better of Le Galli Bier for second last time at Plumpton (2m4f, soft); however, the winner left both behind and this 9yo is off the same mark.

8/1

2nd

1

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Koenigsstern

12st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Rather in and out since winning at Fontwell in December 2024, but he was in the process of running one of his better races when falling at the second last at Lingfield (2m4f, heavy) 18 days ago; likely to play a part if none the worse for that experience.

4/1

4

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Lingfield

Koenigsstern

10st 12lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Seemed to find 2m7f too taxing here last month but had arguably been fortunate to escape with just a small nudge up the weights for his clear second at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft) on New Year's Eve, and this drop back in trip looks the right move.

13/2

Form: 15U/1- D

Last run: 663 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; absent since defying a 3lb higher mark over fences at Stratford (2m6f, good) 22 months ago on British debut and sole run for David Pipe; sold for £3,000 last May; heed the market signals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:48 Perth

Vernon Subutex

11st 11lb

J: Miss Roisin Leech

T: Sophie Leech

A one-time fairly useful 2m7f chase winner but he's been pulled up on two of his last three starts over hurdles, most recently at Newton Abbot (2m5f) last month; he's hard to make a case for.

25/1

3

29th May 2024

Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

15:58 Newton Abbot

Vernon Subutex

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Sophie Leech

Won twice in 2022 (2m3f/2m6f, very soft/good) but he's shown very little in two runs since returning from an absence, over 2m and 2m4f (again on soft).

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.40
Straight Forecast £6.19
Trifecta £17.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Spirits Bay

TOPSPEED:

Donnacha

RP RATINGS:

Heure De Gloire

Daily Mirror:

Koenigsstern

The Times:

Spirits Bay

Telegraph:

Spirits Bay

D Express:

Spirits Bay

The Star:

Spirits Bay

Daily Record:

Spirits Bay

WEST COUNTRY:

Donnacha

The Guardian:

Donnacha

Daily Mail:

Donnacha

The Sun:

Donnacha

POSTDATA:

Heure De Gloire