Exceptional runners for Exeter’s Super Sunday meeting

6 February, 2015 - Exeter Racecourse’s £100,000 added card on Sunday has been rewarded with top class entries across seven races, with the first off at 1.25pm, including the feature listed novices’ hurdle.

Six go to post with the Philip Hobbs-trained War Sound, who looked so impressive on his course debut on New Year’s Day when he easily saw off his ten opponents to record a 12 lengths success, likely to start favourite.

Paul Nicholls, who saddled last year’s winner Vibrato Valtat, runs Emerging Talent, a heavy faller last time out at Kempton in the grade two Sky Bet Supreme Trial when travelling well.

Pineau De Re continues his preparation for April’s Crabbies Grand National in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle. He’s pulled up and been well defeated on his two outings this season over hurdles as his target creeps closer and is likely to use this as another pip opener.

It’s a hot race on paper with Cesarawitch winner Big Easy, beaten on the nod at Cheltenham in December by Ulzana’s Raid, in the line up along with grade three winner Aubusson who shoulders top weight. Both have Ladbrokes World Hurdle entries.

The Victor Dartnall-trained Ambion Wood, last seen winning a beginners’ chase at Worcester in June 2013, returns from injury and Nicholls saddles Morito De Berlais who beat Knight of Noir, also entered, a length and a quarter at Cheltenham in November when receiving more than a stone.

Jack Sherwood, who is making waves as a talented conditional, is on board Rebel Rebellion in the veterans chase, sponsored by 32Red and part of series, which concludes at Sandown in January 2016 with a £100,000, added final.

The ever-popular ten-year-old has been hiked in the weights following his Ascot win, and if he back peddles under the burden, despite Sherwood’s 5lb allowance, Burton Port could offer each way value for the resurgent Jonjo O’Neill’s whose string is just starting to hit form, while Kasbadali is sure to have needed his run last time out at Sandown. Creevytennant, could bounce back to his best for Fergal O’Brien and Chance Du Roy ran a fine race in defeat in Aintree’s grade three Betfred Becher Handicap Chase.

Kings Palace, who has entries in both the RSA and Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup at the Festival, will be a warm order to land the 32Red Graduation Chase. Nine starts have yielded six wins, including his latest outing at Cheltenham in December where he readily landed the 3m1f novices’ chase earning him a 5-1 quote for the RSA.

Runners in the 2m3f novices’ chase include Melodic Rendezvous who is in good order for his return having missed some work at the beginning of the year due to a minor injury. The more experienced Southfield Theatre, beaten a length and a quarter by Carraig Mor in a grade two novice chase at Newbury in November, will start the likely favourite with Smart Freddy another lively contender having easily beaten his opponents on his two starts over fences.

In the concluding bumper, Drucilla made an eye-catching debut at the course on New Year’s Day when she was beaten by stablemate The Eaglehaslanded. He makes his debut in the opening novices’ hurdle where jumping should prove no worry for the five-year-old who is a winning point-to-pointer.