Exeter today

the only jumps racing today takes place at Exeter, where the card is very low key, despite runners from top trainers Paul Nicholls, David Pipe, Alan King, Philip Hobbs and co. The best race is the 2 1/2 mile handicap chase at 16.10 CET, where we expect Nicholls´ lightly-raced Atlantic Roller (Nick Scholfield) to come out on top in a tricky race. He shares top-weight with Toby Lerone (Dan and Harry Skelton), trained by his previous assistant, the possible main danger. Tour d´Argent (Donald McCain/ Sam Twiston-Davies), who had good hurdles form when with Nicky Henderson, also looks a threat and could be well handicapped here. The trainer to follow could be local girl Sue Gardner, who has a good record here and has 4 runners, 3 of them ridden by daughter Lucy, one of the most accomplished amateur riders around. Here´s Herbie, a recent CD winner, has an obvious chance at 15.40, and we also like Miss Saffron (Paul Moloney- we assume that Lucy can´t do the weight on this well-handicapped mare) at 16.40, especially if the ground continues to dry out. The danger here could be another lightly-weighted runner Faith Keeper (Fergal O´Brien/ Noel Fehily), the form of whose Huntingdon second place is working out well.
At the 3 all-weather meetings today, clearly the top race is the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.50 at Southwell, which has a large prize by all-weather standards. It is a pity that only 6 run, but it still looks competitive, with trainer David O´Meara holding a strong hand with the two top-weights Dubai Hills (Tom Eaves) and Frontier Fighter (Danny Tudhope). The former is having his first run for the stable, he had an amazing record here for Bryan Smart and has won on his last 7 starts at Southwell. He also holds Frontier Fighter on their previous form together, but the latter also has a good course record and is ridden by the stable jockey. Noble Citizen (David Simcock/ Georgean Buckell) is also a Southwell specialist, having won 3 times here already this year, all with this promising apprentice in the saddle. 10yo Regal Parade (Miltpn Bradley/ Robert Tart) was a Group One horse in younger days and ran well enough on his only 2014 start at Wolverhampton to give him a shout here, so this is quite an intriguing event.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Slaney Star - Trumix - Fruity Bun
2. Race: Here`s Herbie - Agincourt Reef - Fond Memory
3. Race: Gores Island - Daymar Bay - Easily Pleased
4. Race: Faith Keeper - Miss Saffron - Knockraheen
5. Race: Rugged Jack - Admiral Blake - Brantingham Breeze
6. Race: No Likey - The Darling Boy - Comte D`anjou
7. Race: Spock - Shrewd Investment - Siro Demur