Hititi takes the honours at Exe

HITITI, runner-up to Caspers Court at Wincanton last time, posted a career-best performance when stepping up to land the £18,000 Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle, feature of Exeter’s all-hurdle card on Friday, in impressive style.

Just half a length separated Hititi and Caspers Court that day and, with the winner advertising the form in the race before, it was no surprise to see him win, beating Iberio and Sabrina with some ease. Iberio looks a future winner, but Sabrina, who was runner-up to Walking On Air at the course last month, was weak in the betting and beaten some way out, so may be due a break.

There was the easiest of winners in the opening Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle

over two miles when ex-French horse Impose Toi, who shortened from 2/11 to 1/7 before the start, saw off his three opponents without coming out of first gear to open his account over jumps for Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson.

Inchester D’’Amsyl had taken the runners along at a steady pace until the fourth flight where Nico de Boinville sent the red-hot favourite into the lead and he never saw another horse from there on, beating 100/1 outsider Asian Spice, owned by former Totnes trainer Martin Hill, by 16 lengths.

Second favourite Knowwhentoholdem, reappearing after a 429-day break, made a mistake at the penultimate flight, but was already beaten at the time and will need to improve for this debut over hurdles if he is to add to his Newton Abbot bumper win last season.

There was another easy winner in the following Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles when course winner Caspers Court carried 12-0 to victory.

He had been raised 4lbs for that narrow win, but it made no difference as Ben Godfrey took this striking grey horse straight into the lead and they cantered home from Invincible De Mee and Hazy Dream.

The lightly-raced Red Dirt Road, who had been entered, but not declared, by trainer Jonjo O’Neill at Fontwell Park on Wednesday, made his handicap debut in the Virgin Bet Cheltenham Festival Money Back Handicap Hurdle after two runs in novice races. Ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jnr, who had taken a nasty fall when unseated by Inchester D’’Amsy in the opener, he made every yard of the running, seeing off the challenges of

Opening Bid and Issam, who stayed on the better to take second, and should progress further.

Disappointment of the race was Shallow River, who was pulled up at Southwell last time and, after being well-placed turning for home, tamely fell away, finishing fourth.

With the meeting at Leicester abandoned because of snow, jockey Paddy Brennan was re-routed to Exeter and the move paid off when Armchair Farmer was yet another easy winner when taking the Virgin Bet Daily Extra

Places Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs. American Farmer had Seymour Promise for company early on but, when his challenge fell away, he went well clear of the pack and, despite a mistake at the last flight, had plenty in hand of Scamallach Liath and Langley Hundred.

The biggest field of the afternoon saw 15 line up for the closing Virgin Bet Daily Money Back Novices’ Handicap Hurdle and, after five wide-margin finishes in a row, it produced the closest of endings with a dead heat between Port Or Starboard, who led after the last flight, and Looking For Larry, who caught him on the line.