Merry Exeter Handicap Chase – Exeter

Exeter

15:55

Merry Exeter Handicap Chase

Date 2023-12-21

Distance 2m3f48y

Class Class 5

Going Soft

Type Chase

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £5,116

Runners (14)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
2	Divine Inspiration Bay J:Harry Bannister T:Richard J Bandey	J:Harry Bannister T:Richard J Bandey	168	—	4093-3	99	102	89	45d	—	—	-5	24.1	0.63/1	5/2 29%
Lightly raced 6yo who was creditable third at Plumpton (2m3f) on recent return; respected
6	Natty Night Bay J:Charlie Deutsch T:Venetia Williams	J:Charlie Deutsch T:Venetia Williams	161	—	6624-4	92	110	94	222d	—	—	-5	17.2	0.69/1	11/4 27%
0-5 over fences but has claims on his best form in the spring; in the mix on return
9	Flash Gorcombe Bay J:Paul O'Brien T:Robert Walford	J:Paul O'Brien T:Robert Walford	154	t	11-243	85	107	96	21d	—	—	0	12.4	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Good third at Taunton latest but this trip could be on the outer limits of his stamina
8	Belgarum Bay J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	155	t	25-787	86	92	77	21d	—	—	+2	11.7	1.88/1	15/2 12%
0-9 and he's weakened in both his chase runs; needs to raise his game significantly
4	Tribesmans Glory Bay J:James Davies T:Chris Down	J:James Davies T:Chris Down	166	h	F0/8-3	97	-	-	25d	—	—	+9	16.9	2.75/1	11/1 8%
Placed over hurdles on recent comeback and he looks interesting on this return to chasing
14	Sans Of Gold Chestnut J:Angus Cheleda(5) T:Jimmy Frost	J:Angus Cheleda(5) T:Jimmy Frost	142	—	0758-0	73	-	-	28d	—	—	+1	7.5	4.00/1	16/1 6%
0-9 over hurdles and he's 8lb out of the weights on this chase debut; can only be watched
3	Groom De Cotte Bay J:Richie McLernon T:Sean Curran	J:Richie McLernon T:Sean Curran	167	t	326-79	98	-	-	51d	—	—	+7	13.7	3.50/1	14/1 7%
0-10 over hurdles and tailed off on his return in October; now makes his chase debut
10	Time To Bite Bay J:Bryan Carver T:Chris Honour	J:Bryan Carver T:Chris Honour	148	b	23-335	79	106	88	15d	—	—	+3	9	3.00/1	12/1 8%
Back from a year off with three fair runs but his record now stands at 0-25
12	Etincelle Artiste Bay J:James Best T:Fiona Shaw	J:James Best T:Fiona Shaw	142	tp	/83P-3	73	98	71	209d	—	—	+5	10.1	4.50/1	18/1 5%
Third at Worcester in May and that form has worked out; could get involved on return
1	Saintemilion Bay J:Ellis Collier(7) T:Jimmy Frost	J:Ellis Collier(7) T:Jimmy Frost	168	t	6/60-8	99	-	-	8d	—	—	+10	13	10.00/1	40/1 2%
Had two long layoffs in recent seasons and he's struggled in his three runs this year
13	Mix Master Bay J:Shane Quinlan(3) T:Katy Price	J:Shane Quinlan(3) T:Katy Price	142	t	8F-5PU	73	-	51	56d	—	—	+4	6.2	25.00/1	100/1 1%
Form figures of F5PU over fences and needs a transformation after wind surgery
NR	Lightonthewing Bay J:Lucy Gardner T:Sue Gardner	J:Lucy Gardner T:Sue Gardner	163	—	13U1P-	94	104	83	278d	—	—	—	18.7	—	—
2-5 over fences; pulled up in final run last term but he needs a close look on return
NR	Caro Des Flos Bay J:NON-RUNNER T:Julian Smith	J:NON-RUNNER T:Julian Smith	159	—	-54311	90	105	-	14d	—	—	—	28.5	—	—
Resurgent veteran who was won by 8l or more last twice; non-runner
NR	My Rockstar Bay J:NON-RUNNER T:Helen Rees	J:NON-RUNNER T:Helen Rees	145	—	6713-6	76	104	-	21d	—	—	—	6.5	—	—
Ended last season in good form and he may have needed his reappearance run; dangerous

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Ladbrokes	Unibet	Boyle Sports
Divine Inspiration	5/2	9/4	9/4	9/4	7/4
Natty Night	11/4	11/4	11/4	5/2	11/4
Flash Gorcombe	6/1	11/2	11/2	5/1	6/1
Belgarum	7/1	15/2	15/2	7/1	7/1
Tribesmans Glory	11/1	10/1	10/1	9/1	11/1
Sans Of Gold	16/1	12/1	12/1	11/1	11/1
Groom De Cotte	11/1	14/1	14/1	12/1	12/1
Time To Bite	11/1	12/1	12/1	11/1	12/1
Etincelle Artiste	18/1	16/1	18/1	14/1	14/1
Saintemilion	40/1	40/1	40/1	28/1	40/1
Mix Master	80/1	80/1	100/1	40/1	50/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Caro Des Flos

28.5

OR: 10 Form: 18.5 Odds: 0

—

2nd

Divine Inspiration

24.1

OR: 12.3 Form: 3 Odds: 8.9

5/2

3rd

Lightonthewing

18.7

OR: 11 Form: 7.7 Odds: 0

—

Natty Night

17.2

OR: 10.5 Form: 0 Odds: 6.7

11/4

Tribesmans Glory

16.9

OR: 11.8 Form: 3 Odds: 2.1

11/1

Groom De Cotte

13.7

OR: 12 Form: 0 Odds: 1.7

14/1

Saintemilion

OR: 12.3 Form: 0 Odds: 0.7

40/1

Flash Gorcombe

12.4

OR: 8.8 Form: 0 Odds: 3.6

6/1

Belgarum

11.7

OR: 9 Form: 0 Odds: 2.7

15/2

Etincelle Artiste

10.1

OR: 5.8 Form: 3 Odds: 1.4

18/1

Time To Bite

OR: 7.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.7

12/1

Sans Of Gold

7.5

OR: 5.8 Form: 0 Odds: 1.7

16/1

My Rockstar

6.5

OR: 6.5 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Mix Master

6.2

OR: 5.8 Form: 0 Odds: 0.5

100/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Divine Inspiration	99	102	89
Saintemilion	99	—	—
Groom De Cotte	98	—	—
Tribesmans Glory	97	—	—
Lightonthewing	94	104	83
Natty Night	92	110	94
Caro Des Flos	90	105	—
Belgarum	86	92	77
Flash Gorcombe	85	107	96
Time To Bite	79	106	88
My Rockstar	76	104	—
Sans Of Gold	73	—	—
Etincelle Artiste	73	98	71
Mix Master	73	—	51

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Saintemilion	8d ago	Quick return
Caro Des Flos	14d ago	Fit
Time To Bite	15d ago	Fit
Flash Gorcombe	21d ago	Fit
Belgarum	21d ago	Fit
My Rockstar	21d ago	Fit
Tribesmans Glory	25d ago	Fit
Sans Of Gold	28d ago	Fit
Divine Inspiration	45d ago	Fit
Groom De Cotte	51d ago	Fresh
Mix Master	56d ago	Fresh
Etincelle Artiste	209d ago	Long break
Natty Night	222d ago	Long break
Lightonthewing	278d ago	Long break