Greaneteen can build on positive Cheltenham Festival run at Exeter
Greaneteen can signal a successful season ahead with a winning return in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.
Paul Nicholls' six-year- old won his first three chases as a novice last season, b efore being pitched into the Grand An n u a l a t t h e C h e l t e n h a m Festival.
He r a n a f i n e r a c e i n t h a t notoriously competitive handicap to o, b eaten little more than five lengths into fourth after making a mistake when short of room at the secondlast.
It was a performance which s u g g e s t e d G r e a n e t e e n wa s perhaps caught out by inexp erience - racing against 17 opponents after meeting only a total of 19 in those three previous victories.
There was no doubt about his potential, though - and his finishing effor t up the hill at Cheltenham also sug gested the extra furlong at this stiff track will not bother him.
Ni c h o l l s h a s e n te r e d Gr e - aneteen in this month's Paddy Power Gold Cup back at Prestbur y Park, while he has also been mentioned as a left-field outsider in this season's Queen Mother Champion Chase antepost market.
His return in Devon is eagerly-awaited, and will doubtless help the multiple champion trainer decide whether midd l e - d i s t a n c e h a n d i c a p s o r championship races over the minimum trip are the way forward for him.
Either way, he can be expected to acquit himself well in this Grade Two limited handicap which has a rich roll of honour over the years - including Nicholls' own future champi
on chaser Politologue three years ago and the brilliant stayer Cue Card back in 2012.
Greaneteen will not need to be quite as good as either of them to win what is nonethel e s s a t y p i c a l l y c o mp e t i t ive renewal.
The remainder of the card is full of interest too, not least the opening first division of the
Kenn Novices' Hurdle - which may fall to Ask A Honey Bee.
Fergal O'brien's six-year-old has won four of his five races under rules, star ting with t h r e e s u c c e s s i v e b u m p e r s before managing only 13th of 23 in Cheltenham's championship event for that discipline.
He returned with an all-theway v i c t o r y o n h i s h u r d l e s debut at Wetherby three weeks ago, displaying great determination to do so and indicating that this move up in trip to a stiff course is the right option.
Dal Horrisgle is a fascinating contender in the Kennford Novices' Hurdle.
Now with Alan King, he was smart on the Flat for William Haggas and was rated 102 at his peak.
He has had a recent spin in that sphere so will be fit, and if he takes to hurdles could go close to the top.
T h e H a r c o mb e H a n d i c a p Chase, over an extended three m i l e s , w i l l p r o v i d e a g o o d stamina test - and that should be to the liking of Orchardstown Cross.
T h e n i n e - y e a r - o l d g o e s e x c e p t i o n a l l y w e l l f r e s h and won this race last year.