Twist Magic at Exeter

The last few days has seen a number of N.H. stars make their seasonal debuts - including Kauto Star and Tidal Bay - and today it is the turn of top-class 2 mile German-bred chaser Twist Magic, who carries top-weight in the Haldon Gold Cup at 15.40 CET at Exeter. This race, now a limited handicap, is Exeter´s most valuable race of the year and the track has been rewarded with an excellent line-up. Twist Magic (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) is clearly the best horse in the field of 9, but faces no easy task in conceding 10 lbs to his stable companion Natal (Nick Scholfield), runner-up to him in an Irish Group One last time, and 20 lbs to Mahogany Blaze (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan), whose team continues in red hot form. The class 2 novices chase over the same distamce of 2 miles 1 1/2 furlongs half an hour later is also an inetresting contest, een there are only 4 runners. Oumeyade (Nicholls/ Walsh) and Oscar Bay (Jimmy Frost/ Seamus Durack) have already won over fences an d must give 8 lbs to Alan King´s promising Greenbridge (Robert Thornton), which will not be easy. The card starts off with two decent races for novice hurdlers, with Philip Hobbs saddling two interesting debutants in According to Dick at 14.40 and Clova Island at 15.10, both partnered by Richard Johnson.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: According To Dick - Penharold - Minella Theatre
2.Race: Mahonia - Clova Island - Medermit
3.Race: Twist Magic - Natal - Mahogany Blaze
4.Race: Oumeyade - Greenbridge - Oscar Bay
5.Race: Jam Packed - Asudo - Go West
6.Race: Bally Conn - Ice Melted - Ballygalley Bob