This is a cracking renewal of the race with a 13 runner field and really very hard to rule anything out and it'll be down to try to find one that jumps round accurately and gets in to a rhythm and enjoys the conditions.

 

The Going is described as Soft to Heavy. There was some heavy rain in Devon on Monday and Tuesday and some showers since so I'd expect the Going to be on the softer side and not tacky. A sunny day is forecast and that may bring into play the perennial "low sun" problem here but by running the race as late as they have they have hopefully mitigated the problem as the depth and quality of the field deserves a truly run race.

 

Exeter has one of the longest and steepest climbs in the UK and they do it twice and it can also get heavier down the back and bottom of the hill that sometimes the Going suggests.

 

At the head of the field is SAMUEL JACKSON, a winner of this race last season off the same mark as today, 123 , it ran a cracker for us earlier in January in The Surrey National off a mark of 124 in really desperate ground, I'm glad they have given the horse a real rest and the form has been franked somewhat. I expect him to make a bold bid but the price gives little each way to wriggle room and the depth of the field leads me elsewhere but make no mistake this is a top quality and still improving horse.

 

WAYFINDER for Rebeccas Curtis is actually one of the easier ones for me to discount although it is a horse to fear and one of some potential. This is its first run beyond 3 miles and 2 furlongs and with some much proven stamina in the race I can't visualise a dawdle and although the horse is on its best win mark of 113 I don't thing there is any value in the price considering the opposition stacked up behind it in the market. If it improves for the trip, I'll take it on the chin.

 

PEMBERLEY for another superb lady Trainer in Emma Lavelle is also being well backed and has form figures of 2-2-1-2-F; it was a runner up in the Surrey National off todays mark of 116 and will be a redoubtable opponent but doesn't make my final three on this occasion, partially on value and partially on the claims of others in my view of the race.

 

SNUFF BOX for Venetia was actually the first horse I discounted of the 13, now knowing I rarely if ever get this Yard right that should not necessarily put you off but I think it's too short a price on actual form and although its won off 121 and 126 and ran well enough at long trips, it's actual Course form is sketchy at best and I don't think 133 is a good handicap mark. CLASSIC BEN fell here last time at 3 miles, indications are that it gets this trip with a high win mark of 130, today's 122 is a very appealing handicap mark.

 

THE TWO AMIGOS is an out and out stayer and certainly too consistent for its own good. It rarely runs a bad race and has placed off marks around 140 to 142 a number of times, it runs off an eye catching mark of 134 here and I'm a bit surprised that the horse is still only 10 years old. It's one you'd nail your shirt on to finish the race with luck in running and looks good each way value. If The Two Amigos is an out and out stayer what can you say about DAWSON CITY, winner in 2018 and 2019 off marks of 127 and 131, third in the race last year off a mark of 129 and a winner since then off 128. It runs off 124 here and would be a hugely popular winner. I don't think the field last year though had anything like the depth of this one and I don't discount it lightly and hopefully it gets round safe and an enhanced place would be no surprise.

 

CAPTAIN DRAKE for Harry Fry looks to be completely out of form. It was runner up though in The Midlands National in 2020 off a mark of 138 so we know it has a big reservoir of stamina and has had few chances since in ideal conditions to validate that run. It has a Course win over 3 miles which suggests the Course suits it and if runs here off a mark of 127. I always look for proven stamina, Course form, suitability on the Going and a nice mark and the more I've looked at this horse the more I talk myself in to thinking it could suddenly fire back to some level of form.

 

THE LATE LEGEND for Tom Weston was runner up over Course and Distance for the warm-up race for this off a mark of 112 in December, they add cheek-pieces today and off a mark of 112 its going to have a sporting each way chance. I do just wonder though in a field of such deep talent if it's quite good enough yet?  WHO'S IN THE BOX has won over 3 miles and 3 furlongs at Market Rasen off a mark of 109, runs off 112 and gets this sort of trip but I'm of the mindset that it's better on flatter less stamina based tracks than this. VOLCANO has Course winning form and ran up a sequence last season winning off marks of 101-106-114 and 125. It won over 3 miles and 5 furlongs at Warwick a Course where they go up hill and down dale in the opposite way to this but a course which really tests a horses jumping and stamina. It has understandably plateaued after such an excellent season but is back to a mark of 114 and I think it has its best chance this season of delivering something today and that Warwick form is a real bonus in my eyes allied to Course winning form.

 

TRUCKIN AWAY for the Hobbs team is far from a no-hoper despite recent form figures and the price, it ran well beyond this sort of trip in The Midlands National and is on its last winning mark and I wouldn't put anyone off a small shrapnel bet at bigger odds. If RED HOPPY wins for David Pipe having never been beyond 2 and a half miles and with no real UK form, then despite always looking closely at these ex-French types, it will really be time to retire to the lounge with pipe and slippers and hand over the tipping mantle.

 

It's a cracking renewal and I've laid my thoughts bare and changed my mind a few times in doing so, if they finish 1-2-3 you aren't suddenly the latest boom merchant and if they PU-PU-PU you aren't suddenly the worst tipster in history, one of those where you enjoy the luck in running if you crack it and don't get too depressed if the result goes the other way.

 

My money is on THE TWO AMIGOS, CAPTAIN DRAKE and VOLCANO and hopefully they and all of them come home safe and sound and give us a cracking spectacle.