3.15pm Exeter Tips & Betting Preview 12/10/2017

3.15pm Exeter tips for Thursday’s Class 4 race. A 14 strong field go to post for this handicap hurdle at Exeter on Thursday evening. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: Hidden Cargo isn’t harshly treated on handicap debut for Alan King, with the fact that the yard have hit brilliant form of late making him all the more interesting. Preference, however, is for the well treated TRANS EXPRESS who won off a pound higher over course and distance in December. He goes well fresh and can bounce back here after his summer break with a victory under three pound claimer Lucy Gardner.

1 CLENI WELLS – Won three starts ago at Newton Abbot, but he’s been well beaten the last twice, tailed off from an early stage at the same venue when last seen. He now drops in grade which is helpful, yet he has plenty to prove at present and others are more solid.

2 HIDDEN CARGO – Showed promise in four runs over timber for Alan King, running well behind two useful sorts when last seen in March. A mark of 120 on handicap debut is far from harsh and, with connections in such good form, he won’t be far away.

3 STEELY ADDITION – Best run came on his first hurdling appearance at Wincanton last December, not going forward from that in two runs since. He was well held at Market Rasen in April and more is needed off a mark of 116 on handicap debut. Others look far better treated.

4 AFTER EIGHT SIVOLA – One of the more experienced runners in the field, although he’s been poor in two runs this summer for Nick Williams. He now drops back markedly in trip which should suit better and he’s well treated on the best of his form. Likely to be in the frame under Lizzie Kelly and is considered.

5 HOKE COLBURN – Kept on well behind some useful types on his final novice start for Harry Whittington, but he hasn’t been seen for 323 days and that is worrying. The booking of Bryan Cooper is intriguing, but he’s entitled to need this run. His handicap mark on handicap debut is generous though, so a market check is advised.

6 HILL FORT – Has run well the last twice, only beaten around five lengths at Bangor on his latest start when finishing third. He’s on the same mark again, but this is a tougher race and, with a record of 2/23, he looks hugely vulnerable to horses with plenty of potential.

7 SAMSON – Returned to near his best when last seen at Uttoxeter, winning a Novices’ Handicap in comfortable fashion. He’s now five pounds higher though and pitched into a much tougher contest, so he does look highly vulnerable.

8 GREYED A – Won four starts ago at Lingfield in softer ground but his two runs that capped off last season were hugely disappointing. He pulled up at Fontwell in February, although he should suit this drop back in trip. He is, however, entitled to need this run after an absence tand is best watched.

9 JARLATH – Consistent sort for Seamus Mullins who usually competes in very small fields, last seen at Wincanton finishing last of three in a chase. He isn’t hugely well treated back in this discipline and, after such a long absence (341 days), it’s not hard to look elsewhere.

10 PENGO’S BOY – Very poor form in three runs this summer before bursting into life to win a Handicap at Newton Abbot last month, easily coming clear. He’s now 11 pounds higher in a deeper race, but he doesn’t have as much to prove as some of these and has each way claims in ideal conditions.

11 THUNDERING HOME – Ten-year-old for Richard Mitchell who hasn’t lived up to his name since winning here in April, tailed off at Worcester when last seen. He looks massively vulnerable once again in a deep race and is best watched.

12 TINTED ROSE – Lightly raced mare who has shown promise in five hurdling runs, though she pulled up at Stratford in a Handicap when last seen in April. She has plenty to prove in a similar race and she’s further down the list here.

13 KHISMET – Doesn’t seem to be improving for John Flint, with her third at Uttoxeter in September no better than her previous form. Today’s ground isn’t ideal, but she can cope with it. The bigger concern, however, is her opposition who look far more progressive.

14 TRANS EXPRESS – Course and distance winner off one pound higher back in December which was a very likeable effort, facing two tough tasks the last twice. He can go well fresh though and is well treated off this mark, so should be going very close under three pound claimer Lucy Gardner.