Exeter 1.55 - Handicap Chase - Class 3 - 3 miles - Soft - 11 run

 

Hititi and Toss Of A Coin at the top of the market will be strongly fancied, Enjoy Your Life for Venetia Williams will also likely be backed but like Regarde may be happier on Going no worse than soft. I will TRACK forwards Don't Rightly know a 3 miles P2P winner who may need the run off a 278 day break.

 

I'm most keen on JUPITER ALLEN who is 2 for 2 here over Fences, heavy ground is OK and the yard has hit a hot spell of form. PACHACUTI gets first time blinkers, trip and Going are fine, the handicap mark is a slight niggle but it will be disappointing if he is not placed at worst here.

 

I must point out one at big Odds who was my clear 3rd rated and who could well run a big race in the conditions and that is SPORTING ACE who is in the TRACKER already and Course and Distance form and the going suggests that 16-20/1 may be cracking value (RJ)

 

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Exeter 3.05 - Handicap Chase - Class 5 - 2 miles 3 furlongs - 15 run - Soft

 

Mister Upton is unpenalised for a Hereford win and clearly in form and the one they all have to beat but the Going if we are correct is enough of a niggle to sidestep this one today.

 

Time To Bite won this race last year but is a whopping 17lbs higher today and hats off if they can  breach that huge rise. Eurowork is another Course and Distance winner, back in 2021 but has had only 5 runs since and returns off another long break of 559 days.

 

I have 3 clear at the top of my ratings of the 15 strong field and they are IMPERIAL JOE who returned to some decent form last time, a Course and Distance winner, still well handicapped and no Going excuses. ILENY ROYAL was an impressive winner at this trip at Ffos Llas and is upped 5lb which should be within the scope of this improving horse. At bigger prices I really quietly fancy NADIM to run a big race, best of soft ground, no issues with the trip and if you look at collateral form of a win off a mark of 96, franked by Joie Baie yesterday) a mark today of 87 starts to look very interesting if the horse can regain some confidence. (Advisor)

 

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Exeter 3.40 Am Jockey Handicap Hurdle - Class 5  - 2 miles 5 and 1/2 furlongs - 18 run - Soft

 

At the top end of the market Moorland Rambler is definitely the form choice but may be vulnerable on cut up heavy ground, Catboy is unpenalised for a Musselburgh win, ties in closely with my no 1 rated horse but this Course and Musselburgh are chalk and cheese so I'll be happy to take Catboy on at restrictive Odds. Jukebox Fury makes handicap debut after 3 very moderate runs but is trained by Henderson so you ignore at your peril. Back Yourself has had a truncated career and returns off another long break for the Pipe team and Limerick Leader who has left Olly Murphy has an 11lbs penalty and a dislike for mud. 

 

At bigger Odds Fantomas has been off 188 days and may prefer a sounder surface but is one i fear probably more than some at much shorter odds and was not lightly discounted being 5th rated, Butterwick Brook is rank out of form over Fences but if you did back almost as far as the dinosaurs was a once decent hurdler and is off a very attractive mark if any spark remains and dear Kentford Mallard has shown signs of running in to a bit of form too and is very well handicapped now but unfortunately hates mud!

 

My top 4 rated for you as go as deep down the list as you wish with likely 5 places everywhere are SINDABELLA a Course and Distance winner, Course specialist and likes this sort of ground, DIAMATISTE a 5 year old 3 mile P2P winner promising on reappearance and a promising type to follow whose proven stamina will be a big asset here, MORTALITE a Ludlow winner off a mark of 83 at this trip, a mark of 88 is fine and finally UNSPEAKABLE who drops in trip which looks ideal for these conditions, Olive Nicholls rides for Christain Williams, she may have to find any decent remaining ground for this one but the horse has a bit more class than a few of these and should be competitive despite Going concerns.  (Robin T)

 

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