City Chief to make his debut as a challenger to Gelino Bello at Exeter
AFTER a difficult start to the season, which saw Exeter lose its opening meeting due to firm ground, the action is coming thick and fast now with today’s Festive Raceday the first of two fixtures in a month which also sees the course hosting five sold-out Christmas party nights, writes David Hucker.
Racegoers arriving ahead of the opening race, the Class 2 Delightful Di At Dazzling 60 Novices’ Chase over three miles, which is due off at 12.15pm, will receive a complimentary mulled wine and minced pie. Disappointingly, only two of the seven entries have stood their ground for this £25,000 contest but, with McFabulous and Thyme Hill, running last Saturday, it always looked likely there would be small field.
As well as McFabulous, champion trainer Paul Nicholls also entered Gelino Bello, winner of his only chase start at Wetherby, who missed an engagement at Newbury at the weekend to wait for this race which will be run on slower ground. He only had two rivals to beat last time, one of whom unseated his jockey at the start, so it’s difficult to assess the value of the form.
He will, however, have the benefit of chasing experience over his sole challenger City Chief, who makes his debut over the larger obstacles here for Nicky Henderson. He followed up his wins at Hereford and Ayr with a creditable run in a big handicap hurdle field at The Punchestown Festival in April and there may not be much between the two in what looks a fascinating contest.
Next up is the Pony Racing Authority Graduates Handicap Hurdle over two and a quarter miles for conditional jockeys and amateur riders and, in an open-looking contest, the consistent Karakoram, the mount of Tristan Durrell who is attached to the Dan Skelton stable, might get his reward for some good recent efforts.
Blenkinsop has been raised 10lbs for his win at Southwell and is set to carry top weight in the the IJF South West Hub Now Open Novices’ Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. He is able to run off his old handicap mark plus a 7lb penalty here, so still looks well treated and trainer Henry Daly is clearly looking to strike whilst the iron is still hot.
Paul Nicholls runs dual course winner Lallygag in the British Stallion Studs EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) and this progressive horse sets the standard. With 16 rivals to beat, he faces a stiffer task than in his last two runs, however, and Grey Dawning, one of two runners for trainer Dan Skelton, looks a formidable challenger in receipt of 10lbs.
Few racegoers watching L’Homme Presse win last year’s running of the Class 3 Martin Jones Decorative Specialists Handicap Chase could have guessed that he would go on to win four more races in the season, with his handicap mark rising from 128 to 164 as a result. After his seasonal reappearance win last weekend, he is now a leading contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup next March.
Winning trainer Venetia Williams runs Galop De Chasse this time and, although not in the same class, this winner of two chases may have most to fear from Native Robin, successful four times last season and now dropped to a rating of 128.
The longest race of the day, the Class 3 Millie, Mo And Meggan Birthday Handicap Chase over three and three-quarter miles, will take some staying and one guaranteed to get the trip is easy Bangor-on-Dee winner Don Herbager. He does have to overcome a 12lb rise in the weights for that success, however, and the grey Silver In Disguise, who beat Light Flicker at Chepstow in March and is 3lbs better off at the weights today, might run him close.
Thirteen have been declared for the closing #racingiseveryonessport Open National Hunt Flat Race and, with virtually no form to go on, Top Kap, owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate and ridden by the excellent Jonathan Burke, is one to look out for along with the Nichollstrained Inthewaterside.