Exeter - Tuesday 7th April 2026
While each of these have something to prove, a chance can be taken on URBAN ISLE. Hughie Morrison's gelding showed a glimmer of promise in bumpers but has yet to translate it to hurdles. However, he steps up in trip on handicap debut and in only a moderate event, the son of Cityscape might find the necessary improvement. Dawn's Desire and Blue In The West are others to consider.
This won't take much winning and in receipt of weight all round it should present MADAME DE LABRUNIE with an excellent chance of breaking her UK duck. Fergal O'Brien's filly has shown promise in Britain so far, most notably when third at Taunton in December. In what looks her easiest assignment to date, she ought to take all the beating. Daisy Hitchins' new recruit Getone will find this less taxing than the Tramore maiden hurdle he contested in October, while Knight Of Magic is next best.
ARNIE MOON took a giant leap forward when bolting up on his handicap bow at Hereford and, despite a subsequent 8lb rise, he looks well worth keeping onside. Blacksamssenorita already has a C&D victory to her name and ought to be happier back hurdling following a mixed spell over fences, but handicap-debutant Circle Of Secrets may be the bigger threat.
Bannerdown, Jukella and Triple Edge are all entitled to be wiser now that they have a run under their belts. However, none of them set the world alight on their first starts and it could be more rewarding to take a chance that HORETHORNE has been well placed to make a winning debut. Related to a couple of bumper winners, the son of Geordieland won't need to be out of the ordinary to score.
The low-milage LOKI'S MISCHIEF sets the standard based on his peak hurdles form and could be worth chancing. The six-year-old stopped quickly last time but may be revived by dropping in trip with a hood tried on his chasing debut. Majestic Moment was the solitary finisher in an eventful race at Fontwell on his penultimate start and might not have been suited by the drop in trip at Newcastle most recently. He looks the chief danger, although Prairie Queen shouldn't be underestimated.
DYNO DAVE put his best foot forward to get off the mark over C&D last time when showing a decent attitude in the closing stages and a 5lb rise may not be enough to stop him from backing that performance up. Mahler Moon returned to form when scoring at Huntingdon and appears to be the main threat, especially with Saint Cyr De Pail having stamina to prove on his first try at 3m.
MACKLIN's only defeat in the hunter chase sphere came when third at Cheltenham behind Music Drive, who recently finished third at the Festival, and the 10-year-old looks a tough nut to crack based on his C&D victory last month. Stumps Or Slips was still in contention when falling at Taunton and is expected to be competitive along with Franco De Port.
URBAN ISLE was highly tried over the winter and ran behind the Supreme runner up last time. He still looked green that day but is open to plenty of improvement now handicapping over longer trips and gets the verdict here. Vengeance has proven inconsistent since his lay off but he did hint that he retained his ability last time where he finished well having been outpaced. Stepping back up in distance the maiden can provide the main challenge ahead of Pillar The Poet who is expected to come on for his latest outing.
MADAME DE LABRUNIE is yet to match the form of her French wins for this yard but she does set a clear standard and should be tough to beat down in class. Her juvenile form has been franked and although she would ideally want easier ground she should have too much for Knight Of Magic. The multiple Flat winner is yet to convince in this discipline but he is yet to try it for his new stable and he has the assistance of Sean Bowen here. Upthereforthinking could fare best of the rest in a weak contest if leaving his reappearance effort behind.
A tight contest where ARNIE MOON is chosen to follow up on his handicap debut victory. He had plenty in hand when defeating a previous winner that day so an 8lb rise could be lenient. C&D winner Blacksamssenorita returns from a mixed chasing campaign and should appreciate the drying ground. If the blinkers sharpen her up early she can fill the podium with Western Cross who was still green when midfield here on his handicap debut.
BANNERDOWN shaped with promise on debut and can get off the mark if building on that. The winner that day has franked the form and he should show the benefit of the experience. The same can be said of Jukella who finished well having been outpaced first time out. She will appreciate the stiffer track here and can chase the selection home ahead of debutant Horethorne who represents a local yard with a good record here.
The consistent LAND GIRL'S LUCK is chosen to make a winning chase debut. She hasn't always looked the easiest ride but conditions will suit and she looks on a generous mark based on her last run which has been boosted. Loki's Mischief is another who proved consistent over hurdles until his latest outing where he stopped quickly. The hood goes on for his chase debut and he is open to improvement. He can fill the places with The Pit Popsy who found 2m too sharp first time out over fences but looks fairly treated on her limited hurdles form.
DYNO DAVE can follow up on his recent C&D win. He needed every yard that day so has only gone up 5lb as a result and he remains on a generous mark judged on his hurdle form. Saint Cyr De Pail boasts a good course record and will be dangerous if allowed to dictate while last time out winner Mahler Moon will also threaten if getting a decent test.
Franco De Port is the class angle in the race as a former Grade 1 winner. He shaped with plenty of promise on his return from nearly 3 years off last time and the winner that day boosted the form at Cheltenham. However his strike rate is a concern so it could be worth sticking with last time out C&D winner MACKLIN. He has a good strike rate in points and under rules with his sole defeat in this sphere also boosted at Cheltenham. Stumps Or Slips developed into a progressive handicapper and would've placed but for coming down on his chase return at the start of the year. If building on that he can also play a part in a strong contest.
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