Devon Delights on Good Ground
Right then, settle in with your Monday morning brew because we've got ourselves a proper treat down at Exeter today. Seven races of National Hunt action on good ground that'll have you reaching for the betting slip faster than you can say 'each-way double'. The course has been vertidrained last week and there's a gorgeous covering of grass with root growth that'd make a groundsman weep with joy.
The going is absolutely crucial today, particularly for the staying chases where stamina will be at a premium. This good ground with its firm base will suit the tough, genuine stayers who can gallop and jump at a proper clip over the extended distances. None of your soft ground plodders need apply – we want horses with a bit of zip in their legs.
Veterans' Chase Takes Top Billing
The feature race is undoubtedly the 16:03 David Keith Memorial Veterans' Handicap Chase, a Class 2 affair worth £30k over three miles and change. This is leg five of the Stayers' Veterans' Chase Series, and by Christ, what a field they've assembled for it.
Hang In There tops the weights off 149 and rightly so – this 12-year-old warrior for Emma Lavelle has been there and done it at the highest level. Gavin Sheehan takes the ride, and you'd be mad to write off this old campaigner. The good ground will suit him down to the ground, and his course form reads well enough.
But here's where it gets interesting – Mars Harper for Sarah Humphrey looks absolutely thrown in off 135. This 10-year-old has bags of class when right, and Jamie Gambin's 14lb claim suddenly makes the weights look very different indeed. He's fresh enough and could be the value play of the day.
Numitor brings solid course form to the table and Sean Bowen knows this track like the back of his hand. At 12 years old, he's still got plenty of jumping left in those old bones, and Heather Main's horses have been running with purpose lately.
Nardaran Headlines the Hurdles Feature
The 17:13 Fakenham Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle might have a confusing name (it's at Exeter, not Fakenham, in case you were wondering!), but it's got a cracking field worth £50k. Nardaran is the talking horse here – Paul Nicholls' 5-year-old off 125 with Freddie Keighley up looks the class act in this company.
Mind you, I've got a sneaking fancy for Secret Vino at bigger odds. Jack Andrews takes the ride for Tom Ellis, and this 6-year-old has both course and distance form in the bag. Off 113, he could be well handicapped if finding his best form, and the good ground will suit his racing style perfectly.
Rialannah brings course form and Lucy Wadham's string are in good heart. Gavin Sheehan's booking catches the eye, and at 112, she's not badly treated if the jumping holds up.
Mares Take the Spotlight
The ladies get their moment to shine in the 14:53 Norfolk Wildlife Trust Centenary Mares' Chase, and what a competitive little affair it looks. She Is For Me Boys is the class act here off 110 for Jamie Snowden, but I'm not convinced she's got the best of the handicapper.
Give me Gotthereintheend instead – Jack Tudor takes the ride for Robbie Llewellyn, and crucially, she's got the course and distance form that could prove vital. At 107, she's racing off a workable mark, and the good ground will bring out her best.
In the 15:28 Mares' Maiden Hurdle, Mighty Fleur looks the one to beat. Sean Bowen's booking for Mickey Bowen speaks volumes, and her rating of 110 suggests she's been competitive in better company than this. Lady Kara and Merely A Detail both bring ratings to the table, but sometimes class will tell in these maidens.
Course Specialists and Value Plays
Looking across today's Exeter racecard, the course and distance winners are worth following religiously. Stans The Man in the 16:38 Norfolk National brings both course and distance form, and Ben Godfrey knows how to get a tune out of him. Off 123, he could be the each-way play of the day in what looks a wide-open handicap.
Caoilin Quinn has some decent rides today, particularly Risk It All in the opener and Unanswered Prayers in the Norfolk National. The Irish rider has been in good form lately and knows how to place a horse to best advantage.
Don't overlook Jack Quinlan either – his mount Dartmouth Rose in the finale brings course and distance form and could be a tasty price in what looks a competitive little mares' handicap hurdle.
Tom's Monday Selections
Right, here's where I'm putting my money where my mouth is. Mars Harper in the Veterans' Chase looks the bet of the day – that claim makes all the difference and he's got the class to win this if Sarah Humphrey's got him ready. Secret Vino in the big hurdle could go off at a decent price and has the form to be competitive, while Gotthereintheend in the mares' chase brings the crucial course form.
For a bit of fun, Stans The Man each-way in the Norfolk National could pay for your dinner, and if you're feeling brave, Mighty Fleur should take some beating in the mares' maiden. The good ground will suit the better horses today, so don't be afraid to side with class over chaos. Sláinte to that, and may the racing gods smile upon us all!
