Cheltenham may now be just a week away but for those in need of an instant jump racing fix Exeter offers an attractive looking six race card today that could unearth some future festival fancies.
The Devon National at 3.30pm, sponsored by Higos Insurance, is today's feature race with stamina needed in abundance for the extended three miles six furlongs trip.
It looks a competitive renewal with Musical Wedge ridden by Choc Thornton, and Material Boy, the ride of Daryl Jacob, vying for favoritism in the early markets. One eye-catching market mover to keep watch on however is course favorite Sea Saffron, the 12-year-old trained locally by Susan Gardner, who has been heavily backed this morning.
This season Exeter has fielded an impressive roll call of Cheltenham Festival candidates, with Melodic Rendezvous, Cue Card, Richards Sundance, Chartreux, Buddy Bolero and The Liquidator likely to feature at jump racing's spectacle. Today's meeting – that sees the first race off at 2.30pm - is likely to host more horses on the road to future stardom.
There are four races for novices on today's card - the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Mares' National Hunt Novices Hurdle, the Weatherbys Bank Novices Hurdle, and the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Novices' Chase over three miles, with handicap hurdlers in action in the Weatherbys Hamilton Bloodstock Insurance-sponsored race over two miles three furlongs and a Racing Excellence Conditional Jockeys' Training Series Handicap Hurdle over two miles one furlong.
A additional treat for race-goers will be the chance to witness the popular grey Grands Crus in a racecourse gallop after the meeting. Trainer David Pipe has been keeping his Cheltenham options open for the eight-year-old who has struggled to fulfil his huge early promise this season, pulling up in his last start in Cheltenham's Argento Chase.
Grands Crus still holds entries in the Ryanair Chase and the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the festival but trainer David Pipe said: "We will see how he gets on there (at Exeter) before deciding upon a course of action for him."
A free bus to the racecourse leaves Exeter St Davids at 12.50pm and Exeter Bus and Coach Station at 1.05pm and returns 30 minutes after the last race.
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