Exeter Audi Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 40.1s

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Selected odds by:

Meldrum Lad^t⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 12-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: S Durack| OR: 102

9/4

Dual winning hurdler in Ireland before losing his way but seemingly revitalised by a recent switch of yards, winning a chase at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) last week. Carries a 7lb penalty but still potentially well-treated. Obvious claims.

Form: 005111-

Nancy's Trix¹²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 103

5/2

Point-to-point winner who showed bits of pieces of promise over hurdles for David Loder up to 3m, probably running his best race last time out in December. Interesting to see her make a chasing bow in a handicap for new yard.

Form: 63F/435-

Triple Chief^b1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 99

8/1

Only win from his first 27 starts came in a poor hurdle event on bottomless ground but things came right for him over C&D (soft) last time when beating Only Gorgeous by just under 2L. Quicker ground and a 4lb rise to overcome as blinkers are introduced.

Form: 534312-

Golan Dancer²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: J D Frost| OR: 98

6/1

Still without a win after 21 starts under rules , though he has finished a runner-up in three of his last four starts, most recently in a selling hurdle on this course when chasing home Paddocks Lounge. Reverts to fences on debut for a new yard.

Form: P23223-

Chief Bottlewasher⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Sadik| OR: 95

100/1

Only win came when gifted a race when sole rival fell at Fontwell and he has toiled badly at 200/1 odds in both starts since. Switches to fences for the first time needing to improve.

Form: 67/1097-

Tikkapick^p³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 95

11/2

Still winless from 18 starts but has run some decent races in defeat over both hurdles and fences this season prior to a below par effort on bottomless ground at Wincanton last time. No surprise to see him competitive here.

Form: 3F32P4

Champagne Benefit^t⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 91

14/1

Three times a winner in the point-to-point ranks but has struggled to land a blow in novice hurdle events so far this season after returning from an absence. Likely to do better now tackling fences but plenty to prove all the same.

Form: F/709P6

Get Ready Freddy¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Nick Mitchell| OR: 84

16/1

Struggled at long odds in novice hurdles and has also found it tough going in handicaps, taking a keen hold in first-time cheekpieces at Stratford last time before dropping away tamely. Hard to get excited about on his chasing debut.

Form: 84/P5P1-

Forecasts

Meldrum Lad (9/4), Nancy's Trix (5/2), Tikkapick (11/2), Golan Dancer (6/1), Triple Chief (8/1), Champagne Benefit (14/1), Get Ready Freddy (16/1), Chief Bottlewasher (100/1)

Little strength in depth here and, on the face of it, an ideal opportunity for Meldrum Lad to follow up last week's Huntingdon success. That said, his odds are likely to be cramped and it may pay to take him on with chasing debutant NANCY'S TRIX who starts out for an in-form new yard off a potentially handy mark considering she has won a point-to-point. Golan Dancer should also be competitive.