Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle

Although the current OR (if published) give me a fair idea what the weights will be, I usually like to get confirmation of them the next day getting stuck into a race.

I think Samarrive last ran over hurdles off 143 and has since been dropped to 141, but don't hold me to it and we will find out later today.
 
One of the big interests for me here is around one no longer in the field...

Minella Missile

Was entered in this and in the Pertemps qualifier at Haydock. No surprise he doesn't go in either after a PU in the big race at Newbury only a handful of days ago. Had no chance there - ground too loose?, mid-winter run (he's a sunshiney type, apparently), distance highly questionable. I had to do a double-take when he was down to run and was an easy one to strike off the list, albeit interesting to see whether he could put any sort of run in.

So that run was probably just a cobweb blower (and companionship for Libberty on the way across from Wales) to keep him ticking ready for Cheltenham or Aintree. Libberty put in a great run and wasn't too far away from pulling the plan off.

These 2 entries were encouraging (for me) in suggesting that nothing actually went amiss with MM at Newbury, though my guess would be they weren't exactly expecting a PU, more like a 'respectable' finish some 20-30 odd lengths at least behind the winner (the 2 miles always looked too sharp, but - theoretically - class and stamina in a fast run race might have seen him running past legless opponents after the last two).

There can't be too many Pertemps qualifiers left to go. Maybe none after this weekend? Probably ruled out of that now. Which leaves the Stayers or the Coral Cup in March. And we have no idea where the weather will go from here. It could be Aintree before he's a (sensible) betting proposition.

Evan Williams will always have had the spring races as a target.
 
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