Hobbs’ Garde can join list of big names

Second-season chaser to put falls behind him with victory at Exeter

GARDE LA VICTOIRE can add his name to an illustrious roll of honour in the 188Bet Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.

The Grade Two handicap chase has been claimed by some serious sharpshooters in recent times, with the likes of Best Mate, Azertyuiop and Cue Card on the scoresheet.

Now might be the moment for Garde La Victoire to make a genuine statement of intent for the Philip Hobbs operation.

The second-season chaser is a lovely horse, but his impressive CV was tarnished last spring when he fell at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.

That is obviously not great, but it must be remembered that he was well in contention in the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham when he came to grief four fences from home.

He was probably still in with a shout at Aintree, too, before his story ended with a low and awkward leap during the Manifesto Novices’ Chase.

Garde La Victoire was given time off to recuperate but looked the essence of vitality on his return at Ffos Las, when, one mistake aside, he coolly claimed gold in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

That will have done him the power of good, perhaps more from a fitness perspective than anything else, and it was good to see the Haldon Gold Cup quickly mentioned as a next port of call.

Garde La Victoire, who has reportedly been schooling like a dream at home, should also be ideally suited by a stiff track like Exeter.

IMSHIVALLA can make a belated return to the winner’s enclosure if she runs somewhere near her best at Redcar.

The likeable mare from Richard Fahey’s yard has been hit and miss since she won a nice prize at Epsom in June.

But she showed a little more vim at Ayr last time and must be recognised as more than a bit-part player for the Muriel Noddings Birthday Celebration Handicap over a mile and a quarter. SELECTIONS: EXETER: 1.20 Rouge Devils, 1.50 Double Treasure, 2.20 GARDE LA VICTOIRE (NAP), 2.50 Southfield Vic, 3.20 Dreamsoftheatre, 3.50 Monkhouse, 4.20 Baraza.

REDCAR: 12.40 Original Choice, 1.10 Iron Islands, 1.40 Nonno Giulio, 2.10 Silhuette, 2.40 Imshivalla, 3.10 Hard To Handel, 3.40 Jan De Heem, 4.10 Someone Exciting.

DOUBLE: Garde La Victoire and Imshivalla.