Tuesday 22nd October
By SP2A Analysis
Exeter 3.53 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 3 - 2 miles 7 furlongs - 13 run - Good To Soft
At the top end of the market we have Mad Mike on handicap debut and up in trip and although a promising Novice season, I think best watched here at a restrictive opening price. Tap N Go Leo was very impressive on its penultimate run but bled from the nose last time out, may just need this and you'd want to be sure it's 100% healthy. Striking A POse had a pair of nice Course and Distance wins last season but the mark looks a bit high as a result and on past evidence, like many of the others, might just also need this opening run of the season.
I was left with a short list of three of which Mr Tambourine Man @ 25/1 , the outsider of the field, was discarded. He is a horse with some ability who seems to have lost his love of the game, a turn to Blinkers though might just revive him and he does look typical of the Pipe yard horses who can turn from dire to mercurial at times, if one of the main selections was a non-runner, a small side flutter on this might be of interest.
My top pair though are the race fit EARTH KING whose recent run will surely have bought him on, a dour and proven stayer he looks ideally suited by the course, underfoot conditions and a slog up the hill to the line. BALLYMAGROARTY BOY makes seasonal debut but has run well fresh before and is admirably consistent in this grade. I'd expect him to take a blow down the bottom of the track before turning in and if he can get a second win, he could be very dangerous and that proven ability to run well first time out just gets him an investment here, definitely one to TRACK forwards as is the already mentioned Striking A Pose (RT)
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TRACKERS-
Curragh 3.10 Plunkett Street
Curragh 3.45 Secret Rock
Curragh 4.20 Breezy Zoff
Exeter 5.03 Gusguss Collonges
Yarmouth 5.20 Spirit Of Breeze
Newcastle 6.55 Million Thanks