1:35 Exeter – Queenohearts
Formerly trained by Stuart Edmunds, QUEENOHEARTS made her first start for Kim Bailey when finishing 2nd to the very well thought of Fantastikas at the Lingfield Million meeting last month. She ran a huge race given that it was her first start for over 13-months and ran on very strongly at the finish to go down by less than a length. The winner is now rated 144 and is well fancied for a couple of festival handicaps next month, whilst the 3rd placed Hold that Taught, who was 33-lengths behind the front 2, is rated 132 and was running a nice race before falling at Ascot last Saturday. All of this would suggest that Queenohearts is very well treated on a mark of 132 and could prove to have too much ability for her 3 rivals. Provided she doesn’t bounce, and she has been given a 6-week break to get over her Lingfield effort, she should gain a first win over fences.
2:10 Exeter – Harper’s Brook
When he won at Carlisle in October, beating a couple of subsequent winners, HARPER’S BROOK looked like an exciting prospect. He was pitched into Grade 2 company at Sandown on his next start and found that a step too far, whilst he fell at the 3rd flight on his last start at Cheltenham in January, so we haven’t learnt a great deal more about him since that Carlisle win. This looks to be a good opportunity for him to get his career on track, with his main rival Colorado Doc better known as a chaser and his other 4 rivals looking relatively average on the form they have shown so far. He should find this an easier assignment and could gain a much-needed confidence boost.
2:30 Warwick – Hauraki Gulf
On the bare form of their Chepstow run, HAURAKI GULF has something to find with Everything S’ontick, but there are some reasons to suggest that he may be capable of closing that 12-length gap. Firstly, he returns to Warwick, a track where he won his only start in bumpers in December. Secondly, at Chepstow he was held up in the rear of the 11-runners which on the ground was not the place to be. The first 3 home that day all raced prominently, and he was the only horse to be held up to make any significant ground in the home straight. On a track that will suit, he should get much closer than his market position may suggest if he gets a more positive ride this time around.
