Politologue gets vote at Exeter

TIPS: Ideal opportunity to make amends for mishap at Aintree

Compensation is in the offing for POLITOLOGUE in the 188Bet Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter after a mishap in Grade One company at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

The six-year-old was in the lead and settling down for a battle on the run to the line in the Maghull Novices’ Chase but he lost his balance after jumping the final fence, unshipping Sam Twiston-davies and presenting the win to stablemate San Benedeto.

Paul Nicholls still won the race but he must have been a bit disappointed that this fellow could not recover given he had previously finished a fine fourth in the two-and-a-half-mile JLT at the Festival.

Despite having won up to two miles and five furlongs, the drop back to two miles at Aintree appeared to bring out the best in Politologue, so sticking at that kind of trip on his return here makes perfect sense.

The conditions of the race put him in a handy position.

While he might struggle to deal with Altior in the better events later in the campaign, this can be a nice starting point with plenty of options to look forward to where he can gain revenge on his stablemate.

Meanwhile, with the stable in great form, now is a good time for Fergal O’brien to send BARNEY DWAN back over fences in the 188bet.co.uk Novices’ Chase.

He is taking on classy opponents but falls into that category himself.

MILITIA can make it fourth time lucky in the 32Red.com Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.

He has been in the mix on each of his three outings to date, most recently in a similar event at York, and should not be too long in getting his head in front for Richard Fahey.

SELECTIONS

EXETER: 1.00 Just A Sting, 1.30 His Dream, 2.00 POLITOLOGUE (NAP), 2.35 Barney Dwan, 3.05 Above Board, 3.35 Eddy, 4.10 Galactic Power.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.10 Militia, 1.40 Global Spirit, 2.10 The Special One, 2.45 Alsvinder, 3.15 Dor’s Law, 3.45 Born To Reason, 4.20 Sanam, 4.50 Cockney Boy.

DOUBLE: Politologue and Eddy.