Exeter 4.20

The Devon National will be a test of stamina over 3 miles and 6 Furlongs, the Going is officially Good to Soft, that could mean "pudding" or drying ground, knowing a few expert Tipsters down in that area, I phoned 2 of them last night to be told they had spent the day in t-shirts in unseasonable warmth but both suggested it would be a very cold night, so a gluey surface is quite possible.
 
At the top of the market there is a lot of money for Jepeck who has been a "talking horse" with a massive P2P reputation for a long time, Antony Honeyball finally got something to click last time, but a rise of a stone in the weights does seem excessive. If the horse has clicked it could storm home, a win saver if you think that is the case. Dawson City (won this last year) and Zerachiel (strong form claims but yard seem to be struggling to catch up after vaccinations) are big dangers and would be no surprise if either won and COURTOWN OSCAR makes the Tracker but as suggested may still just need the run.
 
I will side with 2 horses proven right handed, in Good and Good to Soft Going, running at or below win marks and proven winners at the trip (not many are proven winners at this trip). I sun and warmth might just encourage a few to go off too quickly, races can be stolen from the front here but we will side with proven stamina. CHIC NAME won at Perth on soft Going last April, when asked for an explanation in improved form of this young horse the Trainer said it "enjoyed the loose softer Going". They may just take the top off the surface here in earlier races and the horse is back bang on that win mark of 126 and at nice each way odds. More speculative in terms of the market is DANCING SHADOW, touted as a Midlands/Welsh National prospect 2 seasons back, has not gone on from winning a 4 mile race in 2017 but the Trainers horses were never right last season and back in better nick now. An incredibly well handicapped horse who if in contention half way down the back 2nd time round may just pick up the bit and run well to the line up the hill at very juicy odds.