Tuesday 21 October 2014 17:43, UK
A review of the rest of Tuesday afternoon's meeting at Exeter as Paul Nicholls won with Morito Du Berlais.
Paul Nicholls got a good return, but in a slightly unexpected order, in the Blackdown Buildings Ltd Amateur Riders' Novices' Hurdle at Exeter.
Will Biddick drove out 14-1 chance Morito Du Berlais to a tidy three-length defeat of The Nephew, while the trainer's daughter, Megan, was fourth on the 7-4 favourite Howlongisafoot.
Morito Du Berlais had been rather disappointing in five previous starts and Nicholls said: "I told the owner (Graham Roach) to stay at home - I didn't expect that.
"He had a breathing operation in the summer and he'll be a nice horse.
"The other one will be better for that run - I've never known a time when it has been so hard to get the horses fit, but it's a long old season.''
Philip Hobbs is making a strong start to the early chapters of the National Hunt season and Hello George (3-1) could be destined for better things after a good win on Haldon Hill.
The Sandown bumper scorer had been off for almost a year prior to the RGB Building Supplies Novices' Hurdle, in which he did not settle immediately for Richard Johnson but eventually drew four and a half lengths clear of Crazy Jack.
Hello George carries the Martin St Quinton colours made famous by the likes of Coulton and Monkerhostin.
"He's a bit keen and he will stay further but I just wanted to start him off over shorter,'' said Hobbs.
"There was nothing wrong with him - he just won a bumper last year and I wanted a whole season over hurdles with him.''
Court By Surprise finally delivered some of his potential in the totetrifecta Pick The 1, 2, 3 Best Mate Handicap Chase.
Always highly rated by Emma Lavelle, this was just the third win of the nine-year-old gelding's career as he travelled with typical style under Aidan Coleman before picking up over the last couple of fences and coming four lengths away from According To Trev.
"He's run some smashing races without winning, and he's been unlucky not to have picked up a good one by now,'' said Lavelle. "I'd say he'll go on to the Badger Ales at Wincanton now.''
Thundering Home (25-1) was the beneficiary in a remarkable finish to the Avalon Surfacing Handicap Hurdle.
Go West Young Man was over the final flight in front but completely lost concentration and moved almost sideways across the track with 50 yards to go and threw the race away.
He was eventually sixth past the post and jockey Jake Greenall said: "He wanted to go home (to the stables).
"He's a quirky horse and has done that before.
"He's got ability, it's about getting his head right.''
Thundering Home held on by a neck from Jigsaw Financial and trainer Nick Mitchell said: "We were lucky, but I did think he had a chance and told everyone to have a pound on, just in case, as he'd been working great at home.''
