Evening all,

The rain clearly missed Newbury and there was a skew of non-runners there yesterday. I wish I hadn’t bothered going through the form for the card. Whether it was ground or the form of the Emma Lavelle yard I’m not sure, but yesterday’s selection Flemcara put in a laboured performance.

The eyes of the racing world will be firmly fixed on Keeneland today where the Breeders Cup gets underway.

We all have our own ways off approaching a meeting like the Breeders Cup. Some won’t have a bet all. For those that do. I would humbly suggest that you have a separate bank to the one you use for your daily punting. That’s what I’m doing. I have set aside a 14pt back to cover two days and that’s the most I will be playing.

The best of the action in Britain today is at Exeter. Sadly, the feature race the Betway Haldon Gold Cup (3:35) has attracted just five runners. More on that later.

ITV4 are covering the best of the action from Exeter and Down Royal this afternoon. And of course, they have Breeders Cup Special on ITV3 this evening.

Inside today’s main piece you’ll find my thoughts on the best of the action on ITV.

Where Have All The Chasers Gone?

News emerged on Wednesday that there were only six horses among the entries for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19.  Add in that just five have been declared for today’s Haldon Gold Cup. There’s no way to dress up, it’s disappointing and not a good start to the season.

Ok the good ground hasn’t helped at Exeter, and I recognise that horse population for such races probably isn’t there. However, the elephant in the room continues to be the Cheltenham Festival. The sport’s continued fixation with those four days in March means valuable and prestigious races like the Betfair Chase will continue to be blighted by small fields.

Frodon Heads To Wincanton

It was reported on Wednesday that Frodon will not defend his Ladbrokes Champion Chase crown at Down Royal on Saturday. The ground at Down Royal has turned soft which means that the 10-year-old has been diverted to Wincanton and the Badger Beer Handicap Chase.  The double figure prices available earlier in the week have long gone and Frodon is now vying for favouritism with stablemate Enrilo.

Friday Racing

I’m not starting today’s preview at Exeter. Instead, I’m looking at the Down Royal feature the WKD Hurdle (Grade 2) (2:05).

Down Royal

Just the five runners for a race with €50,000 in guaranteed prize money. And with going being described as soft you can’t blame quick round for the small field. Gordon Elliott saddles in Pied Piper & Fil Dor. Both have an identical official rating 147 and they are in the same ownership. Fil Dor is expected to go over fences this season and with Pied Piper having the benefit of recent run and that just swings it in his direction.

It's likely to be a good meeting for Gordon Elliott and Gevrey could easily follow up his recent soft ground Limerick success in the 2m ½ f handicap chase (2:40). However, I’m going to take him on with Alice Avril. The mare had Gevrey back in third when runner-up at Naas in January and is 14lb better of here. If she’s to roll after a 204-day layoff she should go close.

Exeter

Fingers crossed the rain has arrived at Exeter. The going on Thursday evening was being described as good, good to soft in places. The GoingStick is saying 6.6 which suggests its closer to good to soft. We shall find out tomorrow if that proves to be correct or not.

Betway Haldon Gold Cup (3:35)

Just the five runners but it’s a fascinating contest and you can make a good case for four of them

Third Time Lucki seems likely to go off favourite. A smart novice chaser last season winning three of six starts over fences.  Seasonal return for the 7-year-old but he’s got a good record fresh and gets 15lb from top-weight Greaneteen.  There are surely good races to be won with him this season and it could be today.

Paul Nicholls has saddled the winner of the Haldon Cup three times since 2015 and he’s got two of the five declared runners. Greaneteen and Dolos are his two representatives this year. The first named won this in 2020 but was only fourth last year. The Grade 1 winner might need the run again this year with the Tingle Creek very much on his agenda once again. The pick of his pair on this occasion could be Dolos. The 9-year-old is a useful handicap chaser at his best and was runner-up in the race in 2019, off 9lb higher.

War Lord form figures on seasonal return 121 so he shouldn’t lack for fitness on his seasonal reappearance. Today’s intermediate trip of 2m 1 ½ f could prove ideal for the 7-year-old and he looks on a good mark. Yard going well and looks the one to beat.

Betway ‘Future Stars' Silver Bowl Novices' Chase (2:25)

Another disappointing field with Just the three declared for this three mile novice chase. The only interesting thing about the race is seeing useful staying hurdler Thyme Hill make his debut over fences. He’ll be a very short price to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles given he’s officially rated 24lb higher than his nearest rival.

Betway ‘Challenger' Stayers' Handicap Chase (3:00)

Useful handicap hurdlers Master’s Legacy and Neon Moon make their debut over fences against more experienced chasers.

Master’s Legacy hails from a yard that has been successful three times in the race since 2012. The 7-year-old ran like the race was needed over hurdles at Chepstow last month and should strip fitter here. Trainer Philip Hobbs is struggling for winners, but his runners normally improve for their first runs back.

Neon Moon twice a winner on good ground should make up into a decent staying chaser. And he looks on a workable mark for his debut over the larger obstacles.

Sizeable Sam is a huge horse who should be suited by fences. However, he struggled on both starts when tried over the larger obstacles so far. The potential to do better remains and he’s respected.

Both St Erney’s career wins have come here including this race 12 months ago, from 5lb lower. He won this on his seasonal return last year and given the 11-year-old’s liking for C&D he’s one to be interested in.

Killer Kane seems likely to go off favourite. The 7-year-old made a good start to his chase career last season winning two of his six starts. Just 4lb higher than when winning at Sandown in March. He’s unexposed over 3m and starts the new season off what looks a competitive mark.

Friday Selection:

Exeter

3:55 – Dolos – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John