December 06 / 14.45 Exeter

14.45

Soft

JCB Hydradig Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4488.85
  • 2m 5f 137y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
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JCB Hydradig Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.80
  • Place: £1.60

Form: /U23-3

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who has been in the top three in all her completions over hurdles, latterly beaten 12l on handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f, good); not obviously well-in off the same mark unless she can find something extra, which is feasible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:01 Taunton

Baby Sage

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Bumper/hurdle winner; reportedly bled from the nose when pulled up on chase debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) in November but was a well-held fifth on her return visit the following month; still early days in this sphere but she needs a transformation with cheekpieces added.

14/1

6th

3

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 3

16:15 Ludlow

Baby Sage

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Five starts over hurdles, taking her form to another level when she won 11-race at Exeter (extended 2m5f, soft) two months ago in her second handicap; carried her head awkwardly before run-in and has gone up 6lb but she may well have more to give.

3/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 3F6-3P

Last run: 151 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner for Jonjo O'Neill and was later third on handicap debut at Warwick (3m1f, good); last seen pulling up on his chase debut; now with Dan Skelton and had wind surgery; hard to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

14:40 Haydock

Land Genie

11st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Wind surgery before second and first in soft-ground handicaps in December for new yard, latterly over 3m2f at Warwick; fourth of 11 there three weeks later was creditable on form but showed that he now needs improvement; withdrawn when the ground was officially good at Bangor four weeks ago.

3/1

5/1

  • Place: £4.80

Form: 3/55

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Had a long absence after winning a British point and another following his third in a maiden at Market Rasen; subsequent defeats leave him with a bit to prove on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

16:27 Exeter

Night Duty

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

made virtually all, briefly headed 4th, pushed along and went clear 3 out, reduced lead when not fluent last, ridden and kept on well run-in, just did enough

4/1

2nd

3

10th Feb 2025

Good

3m 1f 71y

Class 4

14:00 Catterick

Night Duty

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

in touch with leaders, dropped to midfield 3rd, outpaced before 4 out, rallied and went third before 2 out, went second before last, no match for winner

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 2P52-3

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Only had the six races and seems mildly progressive having hit the frame in his last two handicaps (2m3f, soft; 2m, good); thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:22 Worcester

Iris Des Issards

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Kayley Woollacott

Came good over hurdles at 11th attempt with ready success at Newton Abbot (2m6f, good) in April; cheekpieces worn on last three starts are absent and yard yet to get off the mark this term; will need to be ready to roll on this chasing debut conceding weight all round.

7/1

6th

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

16:20 Newton Abbot

Iris Des Issards

12st 0lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Kayley Woollacott

led, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out

11/4

Form: 9-445

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Had some respectable Flat form and has shaped okay in novices over hurdles; however, at 40-1, the market told a tale on handicap debut and he was tailed off; stamina to prove over this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Demilion

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Alexandra Dunn

Some useful Flat form in 2023 and his hurdle mark continues to fall, but tailed off/pulled up the last twice and needs to turn things around.

20/1

9

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Demilion

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Alexandra Dunn

Some useful Flat form in 2023 and his hurdle mark continues to fall, but tailed off/pulled up the last twice and needs to turn things around.

20/1

5

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

15:38 Exeter

Demilion

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Alexandra Dunn

Not beaten far when fifth from off the pace over C&D two runs back and it was over 2m when never counting at Chepstow; this race looks more suitable.

33/1

Form: 4396-3

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 5yo; had top weight when third of 18 in a 2m3f handicap at Chepstow last month and that was after a lengthy break; raised just 1lb so in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

15:30 Exeter

Captain Boudet

11st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Ended last season with a C&D success in sole chase attempt at Exeter; inconsistent this term but the return to this scenario may have a positive effect.

5/1

3rd

5

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:45 Taunton

Captain Boudet

10st 10lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Won twice last season (2m5f/2m3f); back in prime form when clear second at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft; also suited by soft) in December, his second start this term, and remains unexposed as a stayer but ran poorly at Newbury last month and has become hard to predict.

7/2

Form: 32118-

Last run: 226 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Five-time chase winner, with three of those coming last season; good ground was against him the final time (prefers it softer); not on an impossible mark and this is his first run in a handicap over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Flash Gorcombe

11st 9lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Strike-rate of 6-23 over fences; not firing as he can this season but there's time yet and he's well handicapped.

4/1

3rd

2

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Flash Gorcombe

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Dual winner here (including C&D) who was second in this in 2024; built on seasonal debut when third over C&D (soft) in December but jumped right and disappointed at Exeter last time; contender to bounce back returned to this venue.

3/1

Form: 035568

Last run: 73 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Left Jessica Harrington for 7,000gns and tailed off in two runs for current yard, the latest a handicap; not that appealing with cheekpieces turned to.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 65y

Class 5

16:05 Sedgefield

Confidential Gosip

11st 1lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Encouraging efforts in Ireland but she's sliding down the weights for good reason; heavy ground perhaps not ideal last time but has enough to prove.

25/1

6

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 65y

Class 5

16:05 Sedgefield

Confidential Gosip

11st 1lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Encouraging efforts in Ireland but she's sliding down the weights for good reason; heavy ground perhaps not ideal last time but has enough to prove.

25/1

6

21st Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

13:20 Leicester

Confidential Gosip

11st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Laura Horsfall

Showed ability in Ireland but she was a well-beaten eighth in her first two handicaps and was soundly beaten when falling at the final flight last time; needs to raise her game in a first-time tongue-tie.

25/1

Form: 25U87/

Last run: 701 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
A second over fences at Worcester in October 2022 is easily the best she's fared; tailed off when returned to hurdling for her last two runs and those were a long time ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:15 Southwell

Instant De Bonheur

10st 10lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Still a maiden and posted her best effort over fences; has achieved little in two hurdles starts since returning from lengthy layoff; enough to prove.

25/1

Form: 2/23P/

Last run: 993 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Had three runs in France and two in Britain for Nicky Henderson, which were disappointing given his initial promise; was sold on for £12,000 and now returns from a mammoth absence; cheekpieces added; can only be watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:45 Exeter

Balkeo

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

led, headed 6th, soon weakened quickly, pulled up 7th

66/1

1

6th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:45 Exeter

Balkeo

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Had three runs in France and two in Britain for Nicky Henderson, which were disappointing given his initial promise; was sold on for £12,000 and now returns from a mammoth absence; cheekpieces added; can only be watched.

66/1

Form: F44-62

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Temptingly handicapped on last season's peak form and was second to a course specialist here four weeks ago (good); won't mind returning to softer terrain and Callum Pritchard takes off a very handy 7lb; has some stamina doubts over this far but might be worth chancing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

4th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Warwick

Jaminska

11st 7lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Big player on her form during the first half of last season but neither run this year was anywhere near that level; reservations for now.

10/1

6th

3

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:08 Stratford

Jaminska

11st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Close third in Cheltenham Grade 2 novice (2m good to soft) in October and again ran commendably well when third in Newbury Listed race (2m, soft) a few weeks later but was tailed off when reappearing in a handicap last month and it's hard to know what to expect from her here.

8/1

7th

5

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:10 Exeter

Jaminska

11st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Absent since late November but was in a good run of form back then, finishing close up in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham before again placed in a Listed race for mares; beaten off lower marks in her previous handicaps but looks a better horse now.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.90
Straight Forecast £21.23
Tricast £293.28
Trifecta £393.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jaminska

D Express:

Captain Boudet

WEST COUNTRY:

Iris Des Issards

TOPSPEED:

Confidential Gosip

Telegraph:

Baby Sage

Daily Mirror:

Captain Boudet

The Star:

Captain Boudet

The Sun:

Iris Des Issards

RP RATINGS:

Jaminska

POSTDATA:

Jaminska

The Times:

Jaminska

Daily Mail:

Jaminska

Daily Record:

Jaminska