Horse Racing Fixture Profiler
Wednesday in February
1.55 Exeter: Only one horse is a course and distance winner and even though he's well penalized and hardly back at his mark and even though I am loathe to put all my eggs in one basket, I'm going to break all the rules with Strategic Plan Strategic Plan 5th at 10/1- see detail below
1.45 Leicester: The press (Racing Post) are going for Daring Origyn and that horse should definitely be watched but his jockey has a poor record here which is why I'm going for the mount of the top jockey for the course in this race (39% winning percentage), A P McCoy on Born Again Racing abandoned
Updated 2/3/10
Exeter
Leicester
Desert Orchid Restaurant Handicap Hurdle (CLASS 4) (4yo+ 0-105) Winner 2,602 Soft 2m1f

Course and distance winners have a good record in handicap hurdles of this distance here especially when there is evidence they are getting back to a handicap mark where they have been successful before.

The actual result here did not favour the C/D which ran fifth. However, against the C/D was the fact he was clearly heavily handicapped and not yet back to a good weight. Still ran fifth after starting in rear which was not bad. Most interesting was the winner, one of three long handicappers so arguably a raider as I sometimes describe horses that upset the profile and long handicappers tend to do that at times. More interesting are the facts that: The winner had a last minute jockey change. He was one of two horses (both long handicappers) entered by a local stable, CJ Down of Devon, with a reasonable record at the course over recent years (in fact he was in the top 5 trainers for the 2009-2010 year at this course - a statistic that is harder to find than the 5 year statistic).

European Breeders' Fund "National Hunt" Novices Hurdle (Qualifier) (CLASS 3) (4-7yo) Winner 5,204 Heavy 2m4f110y

Debutants with some notable flat form have done well here where the form has not always been such an advantage. If you're not sure of the horses of note, the press have a good record for Novices Hurdles at Leicester and can provide good pointers. Look for such a horse carrying a leading course jockey. Doesn't have to be the leading jockey on recent wins but either the leader at the course or in the top group on recent form.