Betfair Exchange Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Game Spirit Chase)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 5.9s

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Selected odds by:

Fox Norton^h⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 167

5/1

Was climbing the ranks when trained both by Nick Williams and then Neil Mulholland and continued that on his sole start for current trainer, winning impressively in the Grade Two Schloer Chase (soft) when last seen in November. Raised 6lb for that win, giving him top billing in this and is best off at the weights here too.

Form: 1-11221

Altior⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 160

30/100

Last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner has hardly put a foot wrong over hurdles or fences, winning all three of his chases in great style on soft, good to soft and good. Yard in super form as we move towards the spring and despite being slightly wrong at the weights there looks likely to be further improvement in him, so he will be very tough to beat.

Form: 1-11111

Dodging Bullets^p1,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 154

20/1

2015 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner. Was one of many living in the shadow of the great Sprinter Sacre, so slightly disappointing that he has not been able to prosper further since he retired and comes here with a fair bit to prove now, even in this grade.

Form: 1/273-3P

Traffic Fluide³⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 162

8/1

Another with an upwardly mobile profile, though sadly we have seen little of him in the past couple of years. Made the frame at Aintree in Grade One company in 2015 and again at Ascot behind Un De Sceaux last year, though not seen since. If fit and firing he has a good chance at the weights here, though it does take something of a leap of faith to see him winning it, particularly with the top pair in rare form this season.

Form: 3/3-4663

Non-Runners

Gino Trail³¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 10

T: Kerry Lee J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Altior (30/100), Fox Norton (5/1), Traffic Fluide (8/1), Dodging Bullets (20/1), Gino Trail (33/1)

Another cracking contest and, while it would be churlish to write-off the other trio, it should lay between Fox Norton and ALTIOR. The former has had a break since his sole start for Colin Tizzard, who reports him to be in fine fettle and on course for Cheltenham. However, he will have to be cherry ripe and some to be good enough to lower the colours of the brilliant Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old when giving him 5lb. Traffic Fluide has more than half a chance at these weights, but first of all he has to prove his well being after a lack of recent action. 1. Altior 2. Fox Norton 3. Traffic Fluide