April 07 / 16.10 Exeter

16.10

Heavy

Harcombe Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 2f 111y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Harcombe Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 123102 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
The Betfair Hurdle at Newbury was too tough a task but consistent otherwise this season and bumped into a progressive one over 2m here a month ago (soft); remains competitively treated and looks sure to have a big say; being out of a sister to an Irish National winner, this longer trip could be suitable.
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

3/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: -22322 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in five of his six appearances and if buying into the theory that the second run back from a wind op is better than the first, then he might well step up on his near miss over 2m5f here (maiden on soft); runner-up over 3m before then so he should be running on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

16:25 Haydock

King Of The Lake

10st 11lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Four wins in 2025 and now only 2lb higher than for the last of those at Chepstow in December (2m7f, good to soft); however, he was a 33-1 chance last month at Uttoxeter and he ran like one.

20/1

13th

13

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

King Of The Lake

10st 9lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Scored four times in 2025 but shot up the weights as a consequence and may be in the assessor's grip now; only just made the frame in the Chepstow race won by Keable most recently.

33/1

4th

5

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:55 Chepstow

King Of The Lake

10st 10lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Registered a hat-trick last February/March and scored over C&D this Christmas to enhance record under his now regular rider Chad Bament; the Lanzarote at Kempton proved too hot for him on latest start (he was running respectably when falling at the last) but he's an each-way contender.

9/1

Form: 123

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who has made a seamless transition to rules action and it was a higher-grade handicap in which he finished a near 10l third at Newbury 16 days ago (2m, good to soft); off an untouched mark there's plenty to like; unraced on heavy but soft has appeared fine for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

36

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Imperial Saint

10st 2lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Novice campaign last season went well, notably over the conventional fences here where he registered three handicap wins (2m/2m4f) and was second at this meeting (3m1f); resumed progress with a win at Haydock (3m1f) this January but badly hampered at the Cheltenham Festival; this trip is a big step into the unknown but he needs a second look.

50/1

8th

11

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Imperial Saint

11st 1lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Progressive novice last season, winning three handicaps at Aintree (2m/2m4f, good/good to soft) and posting a good third here (2m4f, soft); won at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) in January when back up in trip and he's unexposed over staying distances; up 3lb for that neck victory; could go well.

20/1

1st

6

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Imperial Saint

10st 10lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Three wins at Aintree (2m/2m4f, good/good to soft) last season and second there (3m1f, good) in April; current mark shouldn't be beyond him if he's at his best but that hasn't been the case on his two outings this term.

12/1

Form: 0-3573

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
The winner of two novice hurdles last season but not much to shout about after five defeats in handicaps and Ludlow last time (remote third) seemingly confirmed that ground slower than good to soft is an issue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Despereaux

11st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Five-time hurdle winner who ended last year with a brave success at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft); well held there in both runs this spring but he got involved in a battle up front last time; a player if he can get back near his best.

13/2

5th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

15:20 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 10lb

J: James Best

T: Jane Williams

Steadily worked his way back to form this season, culminating in a narrow win over C&D (good to soft; 5lb higher today) in December under 7lb claimer; reverted to a lesser show 19 days ago but perhaps he needed that run after more than three months off.

3/1

5th

4

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Had been struggling but has steadily got himself back on track and prevailed narrowly over C&D in December on latest appearance; 6lb higher for this and connections claimed another 7lb last time through Isabelle Ryder, but he had dropped to a fair mark anyway.

2/1

Form: 213-P9

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Flat maiden who got off the mark in a non-handicap at Taunton in March of last year (good to soft); it's been a quiet start to this season in handicaps at about 2m (good to soft; then soft) and this even deeper surface might not be preferable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

15:13 Newton Abbot

Mardoof

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Mitchell Hunt

Out of form during light campaign over hurdles last season and struggled on the Flat on Tuesday; arrives here with quite a bit to prove but the drying ground ought to be in his favour.

10/1

6th

4

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

15:13 Newton Abbot

Mardoof

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Mitchell Hunt

Out of form during light campaign over hurdles last season and struggled on the Flat on Tuesday; arrives here with quite a bit to prove but the drying ground ought to be in his favour.

10/1

7th

10

(4)

14th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

20:40 Chepstow

Mardoof

9st 0lb

J: William Cox

T: Mitchell Hunt

in touch with leaders, outpaced from over 5f out

33/1

Form: 4133 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Strictly held by Donnacha on their recent 2m clash here (13l behind that rival) but this stiffer stamina test will suit, having won his maiden over C&D on heavy.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.20
Straight Forecast £9.14
Trifecta £20.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Donnacha

POSTDATA:

Imperial Saint

Telegraph:

King Of The Lake

D Express:

King Of The Lake

The Star:

King Of The Lake

WEST COUNTRY:

Imperial Saint

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Saint

Daily Record:

Imperial Saint

RP RATINGS:

Donnacha

TOPSPEED:

Donnacha

The Times:

Donnacha

The Sun:

Donnacha