The first big race of the two-mile chase division is the feature on Haldon Gold Cup day at Exeter and an enticing seven-race card is in store.
Watch all the action from Exeter (12.55-15.55) via live streaming when logged into MansionBet, along with every race from the UK and Ireland.
Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway previews Tuesday’s action at Exeter for MansionBet.
12.55 Exeter – Betway Supports Safer Gambling Week Novices’ Hurdle
This looks like a good chance for Ask Me Early to exploit his novice status over hurdles. He developed into a classy chaser last season, winning three of his four starts, and recorded a Racing Post Rating of 144 when winning a traditionally hot race at Uttoxeter in March. He has had wind surgery since and a reproduction of that form could be good enough to win this.
Selection: Ask Me Early
13.25 Exeter – Betway Novices’ Hurdle
This race has been won by some good horses in recent years. Yanworth (2015), Dynamite Dollars (2017), Sporting John (2019) and Bravemansgame (2020) are all on the roll of honour and two of those were trained by Paul Nicholls.
The champion trainer can land it for a third time in the space of five years with exciting French recruit Huflower, who won two bumpers across The Channel and is open to plenty of improvement on his hurdles debut.
Selection: Huflower
13.55 Exeter – Betway Haldon Gold Cup
Paul Nicholls saddles two leading contenders here and Harry Cobden rides Hitman. However, it may not pay to read too much into jockey booking because Bryony Frost rode Greaneteen when he produced a career best to land the Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown in April.
Frost struck up a good relationship with the seven-year-old and Greaneteen slammed Altior on that occasion and is an improving chaser who can win this en route to the Tingle Creek.
Selection: Greaneteen
14.25 Exeter – Betway “Future Stars” Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase
Threeunderthrufive and Honest Vic finished second and third behind subsequent Cheltenham winner Does He Know at Chepstow last time and will likely head the market, but that might not be the best form on offer.
Ask A Honey Bee would probably have won a traditionally hot handicap chase at Uttoxeter last month but for a mistake at the last and these easier fences might make things easier for him. Improvement is likely and he can cause a minor upset.
Selection: Ask A Honey Bee
14.55 Exeter – Betway Stayers’ Handicap Chase
This is a wide-open contest and maybe the topweight Enqarde could be the answer. The French import went 2-6 for Richard Newland last season and won a hot handicap chase at Ascot in January. He was pulled up in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on his last start in April but this is a much weaker race and fitness is unlikely to be an issue after 198 days off.
Selection: Enqarde
Here’s the Going ahead of declarations for Haldon Gold Cup Day
pic.twitter.com/OPr0h4jvEc
— Exeter Racecourse (@ExeterRaces) October 31, 2021
15.25 Exeter – Betway Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
Pogo I Am made an eye-catching return from a 322-day absence at Warwick last month. She was beaten less than five lengths into third and did good late work over an inadequate 2m. She is 1lb lower here and looks sure to improve for that first run back, especially now she is returned to further. An extra five-and-a-half-furlongs at this stiff track should prove ideal.
Selection: Pogo I Am
15.55 Exeter – Betway Handicap Hurdle
This is an extremely difficult race to close the card. Maybe Ambion Hill will be the one. He was placed in two competitive handicaps at Wincanton and Chepstow in January and March and is still relatively lightly raced. Colin Tizzard’s runners are going well and Ambion Hill should be fit enough to show his true colours on his seasonal return after 222 days off.
Selection: Ambion Hill
*All odds correct at time of writing.