Exeter hosts the the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup on Friday, a handicap that often launches the season of horses with high level aspirations. Matty Sutcliffe has picked out four best bets across that card and the one at Hexham, for his Friday tips.
1:50 Exeter – ICL Conscious Of Our Impact ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase (Excellence Initiative) (GBB) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Western Knight 11/4 1pt WIN
Given Paul Nicholls has won five of the last seven renewals (albeit last year’s was a walkover) of this novices’ chase, Quebecois will prove popular with punters particularly given his good first time out record, but he might want it slightly softer than the forecast going and it may prove successful to chance WESTERN KNIGHT, whose yard have often targeted this race with their well regarded future chasers including when winning the race with Native River in 2015.
The Westerner gelding looked potentially smart when winning on hurdling debut this time last year at Uttoxeter despite an obvious lack of respect for his obstacles. He travelled strongly in midfield and picked up quickly on good ground to join Julius Des Pictons on the run in and collar him late on under a well-timed ride from Brendan Powell.
The pair pulled 13 lengths clear of the third and the second’s form figures since read 1131, the latter winning the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ third. Western Knight backed that effort up at Ascot, again on good ground, next time out when once more arriving late on the scene to collar the 135-rated Excello, giving him 5lbs.
Though he met with defeat at Cheltenham in the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle, it was still a career best RPR behind the well-regarded French-trained Jet Blue, and the third Yellow Car boosted that form in Grade 2 company next time out before a fourth in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.
Given the size of Western Knight, it wasn’t entirely surprising to see him falter in two subsequent starts as visually he looks as if he needs a fence to bring out the best in him. He’s already proven to fare well fresh around this time of year including on a sounder surface, and provided he can rediscover that early promise then he can serve it up to Quebecois.
2:25 Exeter – BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap Chase) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – JPR One 5/2 1.5pt WIN
Kalif Du Berlais, Saint Segal and Thistle Ask all made all to win their respective races last time out which suggests this will be run at a solid clip, and that will play into the strengths of last year’s winner JPR ONE, who sat in behind the leaders that day and travelled smoothly into contention, joining the leader three out and comfortably defying top-weight to fend off Djelo, whose since franked that form generous to win the Peterborough Chase and the Denman (now rated 163).
JPR One backed up that success with a third in the Tingle Creek, ten lengths behind reigning two mile chaser Jonbon and only two lengths behind the smart Quilixios, before his form tailed off in three subsequent starts.
He appears to be a horse to back early in the season, with his first time out record reading 1111 and it would be a surprise should he not go close to give the Tizzards their fourth win in the race in the last five years.
2:45 Hexham – Unibet More Extra Places Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-115) – Mornington Beach 12/1 1pt EW 4 places
George Bewley is profitable to follow in Hexham handicaps over the last five seasons with his record reading 53-10-23 returning £23.85 to a £1 stake and MORNINGTON BEACH can improve that record.
The Kingston Hill mare was progressive in Irish points in the spring, landing a Loughanmore point in good style before showing up well here on bumper debut. She was keen in rear and given her head midway through the race to join the leaders just on the turn, though given those early exertions it wasn’t a surprise to see her weaken late on. She pulled up on hurdlers debut at Cartmel on soft ground and fared little better back there after wind surgery in August, but she ran an excellent race at 80/1 back here earlier this month behind 1/4 favourite Spadestep when joining that one at the last, staying on well under hands and heels to be beaten five lengths, pulling seven lengths clear of the third and the winner was second on chase debut off a mark of 114 in a competitive race at Aintree next time out.
She looks let in lightly off 97 for her handicap debut and given her two best efforts have come here, this winning Irish pointer can get off the mark now stepped up in trip for the in form Georeg Bewley.
3:00 Exeter – Oddschecker Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-110) – Cornish Storm 33/1 1pt EW 5 places
Stuart Kittow won this with a dual purpose horse in 2021 and the drop back in class could see CORNISH STORM retain the prize for the yard. He was progressive in Maiden Hurdles last season after pulling up on debut at Taunton, splitting the Nicky Henderson and Joe Tizzard trained shorties at Wincanton to be beaten two lengths before beaten half-a-length by Doyen Quest back at Taunton, with that one now rated 135.
He proved it was no fluke when comfortably making all at Taunton to win his Maiden Hurdle by two lengths giving the second and third 7lbs and 14lbs respectively, who both immediately franked that form.
He’s failed to fire in his three handicaps since, but the switch to hold up tactics mightn’t have suited and he wasn’t beaten all that far on his seasonal debut over hurdles at Newton Abbott in a competitive 0-130 last month.
He drops sharply in class to a 0-110 here and while he does have the burden of carrying 12-2, 7lbs claimer Rian Corcoran negates some of that which effectively puts him off 105 here. He’s thrown in on that mark, and if reverting to prominent tactics he has the ability to show up well in this significantly weaker class.
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