Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter

Easily the best race at today´s 5 meetings in the U.K. and Ireland is the Haldon Gold Cup at 15.50 CET at Exeter. This limited handicap chase over 2 miles 1 1/2 furlongs is always won by a smart performer, and even though there are only 5 runners, this will be the case again today. We make Cue Card (Colin and Joe Tizzard) a confident selection. He won the Champion Bumper in 2010 and was runner-up in the Arkle last year and is expected to go right to the top. He has not run since Cheltenham, but that should be no problem with his stable in good form, and he has in fact won first time for the past 3 seasons. In the Arkle he finished 20 lengths ahead of Menorah (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), who now has to give him weight, having won two Grade Ones since. Edgardo Sol (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh) is also pretty good but we cannot imagine he can beat Cue Card at level weights, possibly Renard (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) might be more dangerous in receipt of 16 lbs. Nicholl s and Walsh should not go home empty-handed, as smart hurdler Hinterland is expected to make a winning debut over fences at 16.20. The 3 mile handicap chase at 16.50 looks a hot race, with the Tizzards holding another good chance with last year´s runner-up Inside Dealer, but we prefer Richard´s Sundance (Vic Dartnall/ Andrew Glassonbury), who has been off since March but is well handicapped and usually runs well at this track. An intetresting ex-German runner herer is Ordensritter (Chris Down James davies) in the novice hurdle at 15.20. The Samum gelding was thought good enough to run in the German Derby last year. and although he was beaten out of sight, he could well run a good race here on his hurdling debut and with opposition from some of the top stables - Nicholls, Henderson, Hobbs etc, he will be at a big price.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Atlantic Roller - Gas Line Boy - Alberobello
2. Race: Landscape - Billy Twyford - Regal One
3. Race: Cue Card - Menorah - Edgardo Sol
4. Race: Hinterland - Peckhamecho - Theatre Guide
5. Race: That`Lldoboy - Ballyhilty Bridge - Richard`S Sundance
6. Race: Swift Chap - Pyleigh Lass - Shaking Hands