Eight races at Exeter Racecourse today coincide with Junior Jumpers raceday when behind the scenes tours and questions and answers with jockeys will give an insight into racing for the younger generation of racegoers.
A novices’ limited handicap chase is the feature on the card with the seven runners including the Philip Hobbs-trained Awake at Midnight, a beaten favourite at Newbury in March when he couldn’t match the pace of the winner, Lillington, who has since won again. He’ll start favourite today with the Dr Richard Newland-trained Nikki Steel also likely to be popular on the back of a recent win at Market Rasen two weeks ago when he held on by a neck to beat Dallas Cowboy.
A selling hurdle begins the day with the Brian Barr-trained Kahdian bidding to follow up his recent win at Wincanton where he got up by a neck to win.
The City of Exeter Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle looks perfect for the David Pipe-trained Legal History who looked impressive at Ascot in March where he was the easiest of winners, beating the favourite Scaramanga by two and a half lengths. He’s carrying a seven pound penalty for the win, but if he appears in the same heart, he’ll take all the beating.
The two miles seven furlongs handicap hurdle has been split into two divisions. In the first Emma Lavelle, who rarely leaves Exeter without a winner, will be hoping for better luck with Dollnamix who fell at Taunton three weeks ago when looking to have the race at his mercy. David Pipe runs Mrs Miggins who always runs consistently well but hasn’t quite managed to get her nose in front yet.
In the second division Urtheonethatiwant will have everyone singing if he makes up for getting beaten at Taunton last week where he started the 13-8 favourite. Prior to that he was in winning form at Kempton.
Opposing him is Mr Magill who ran a sound race at Taunton last time out finishing second in a three mile handicap hurdle.
The three mile handicap chase is a cracking race with plenty in with chances including Coopers Square who would have rattled up a five timer since February but for unseating his rider mid way through the sequence at Huntingdon last month. Since his winning spree began, he’s gone up a stone, and if that proves too much, Water Wagtail has won off today’s mark before and Cap Horner could add to his recent win at Fontwell where he might well have won by further than three and a quarter lengths if he hadn’t hit the second last.
A hunter chase concludes the card and Verity Nicholls’ popular course and distance winner Dicky Blob will be a popular choice and he has the benefit of talented amateur Bryan Carver in the saddle.
