Exeter Preview

Hi all,

My final look at this year’s juveniles.  Today the focus switches to potential Derby & Oaks contenders. Plus, I look at the best of this afternoon’s action on ITV Racing from Exeter and Hexham.

Two-year-old Juvenile Review – Part 3

Oaks Hopes: Stamina the Key

Diamond Necklace could well attempt the 1,000 Guineas–Oaks double. Her pedigree suggests she’ll handle the Oak distance with ease – the dam side is packed with proven 1m4f performers.

Very few fillies truly stay a strongly run mile and a half, but one who should is Romantic Symphony from Charlie Appleby’s yard. She overcame inexperience to win on debut at Newmarket in September and shaped like a filly built for middle distances as a 3yo.

Her family is full of late developers with stamina, and everything about her profile screams improvement at three. I’d be surprised if she didn’t stay the Oaks trip, and the 33/1 on offer looks mighty tempting at this stage.

Derby Dreams: Staying Power Tested

The same sentiment applies to the Derby as to the Oaks – few top-class colts are truly bred to stay a mile and a half.

Once again, Aidan O’Brien holds a strong hand with Pierre Bonnard and Hawk Mountain.

Pierre Bonnard made it three wins from four when landing the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (1m2f) in fine style. He handled soft ground well, having scored on quicker going at Newmarket previously. He’s ground versatile and the way he quickened clear last time marked him down as a colt of real quality, and at 8/1, he’s a fair and worthy Derby favourite.

Hawk Mountain was equally impressive when grinding out victory in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. A big, scopey type, he should improve again at three, especially once stepped up to 1m2f and beyond. A bit of cut in the ground suits him best, but he’s a solid Derby contender. Another stablemate Action, runner-up in the Futurity, is another who’ll relish middle distances next season.

I mentioned Raaheeb as a potential 2,000 Guineas player, but 1m2f+ could prove his ideal trip. He’s got the right blend of class and stamina to develop into a serious Derby horse come the spring.

I expect the big yards to dominate next year’s Derby & Oaks, but others could emerge in the spring to make their mark.

As ever early season trials will reveal plenty, but we could be in for a good year as far as the 3yo’s are concerned. I certainly hope so and the sport really does need an exciting classic generation.

Exeter Preview

It’s Haldon Gold Cup Day at Exeter. Six have been declared for the BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2:25), which has £100,000 in guaranteed prize money. Despite the small field it’s an intriguing contest and you can make a case for five of them.

JPR One Eyes Haldon Repeat

The last 5-year-old to win the Haldon Gold Cup was Flagship Uberalles in 1999, trained by Paul Nicholls. Nicholls saddles another 5yo in favourite Kalif Du Berlais, a Grade 1-winning novice chaser at Aintree in April. He jumped well last time, is open to further improvement over fences, and the trainer believes he could be a future Champion Chaser. Plenty to like, and if he doesn’t need the run, he’s the one to beat.

The Tizzard yard have won three of the last four renewals, including the last two. Last year’s winner JPR One bids to retain his crown. He won this first time up last year and will have been trained specifically for this race. If the favourite lacks race fitness, he’s the one most likely to take advantage.

Martator won his first two starts last season and returns just 1lb higher than for the last of those successes. He’s on a handy mark, handles good ground, and should be fit enough to run well for Venetia Williams.

Thistle Ask has won both starts since joining Dan Skelton, impressing at Wetherby last Friday. He’s out of the weights but progressing well and given he’s jumped to his right on both runs this season, going this way around is a plus. You can see why connections are rolling the dice with him on good ground, but this will be his third run in 15 days.

Saint Segal is another with race fitness on his side after winning at Chepstow last month. He’ll need a personal best to defy a career-high mark, but he’s been jumping much better lately than he was earlier in his chase career, so he could go well again on a good ground.

Nicholls Eyes Another Future Star

Paul Nicholls has trained five of the last seven winners of the ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase (1:50). He relies on Quebecois, who made all to win a handicap hurdle at Ayr in April. He’d won on seasonal/hurdle debut at Chepstow last season and here on bumper debut the season before, so clearly goes well fresh. He can win races over fences and today could be the first of them.

Western Knight also won first time up last season and was in good form through November and December before disappointing in the spring. He shouldn’t lack for fitness on chase debut and looks the biggest danger to the favourite.

Doyen Quest has already had three starts over fences, giving him an experience edge over his rivals. Good ground suits, but you’d be disappointed if one of the chasing debutants couldn’t get the better of him.

Tiny Tetley, an improving staying handicap hurdler in the spring, won three times before finishing a neck runner-up at Haydock. He shaped as if the run was needed when seventh of 17 at Cheltenham 13 days ago. Making his chase debut, he should strip fitter for that effort and isn’t out of this though he may do better once back in handicap company.

The other four races on ITV are handicaps. All four look competitive enough although lacking a bit quality wise.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John