13:05 Exeter

This looks a competitive 0-135 handicap hurdle and I am taking two selections against the field. The first is the Philip Hobbs trained GUERNESEY (best priced at 10-3) who won over this course and distance in October and runs here 3lb “well in” at the weight in this race. The five-year-old was only beaten 1 ¼ lengths at Taunton by Highway One O Two last time off a mark of 120 and the handicapper has decided to raise him 3lb for that effort which is fair so he is well handicapped in this race.

The second selection is the top-weight Martinhal (best priced at 10-1) who was a two-time course and distance winner last season. Those wins were in novice company on soft ground but he was thought good enough to run in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival off a mark of 133. The handicapper has dropped him 4lb for a below par reappearance run at Aintree and he now drops down in class to compete here off top weight. Connections also fit the six-year-old with first time cheekpieces and hopefully that means he returns to the form of his runs last season. 

Guernesey - 1pt @ 10/3
Martinhal - 0.5pts e/w @ 10/1

14:15 Exeter

The Stuart Edmunds trained MASKADA (best priced at 5-4) has a really consistent profile who comes into this race having finished 2nd in a listed race at Bangor last time. The form of that run has been boosted by both the winner The Glancing Queen (who won another listed race under a penalty on his next start) and the third Vienna Court (who won a handicap at Cheltenham by 11 lengths on her next start) since.

Maskada drops in grade for this race and a repeat of either of her runs over fences so far should mean that she gets off the mark over fences at the third attempt.

Maskada - 1pt @ 5/4

15:15 Exeter

The Jeremy Scott trained SIENNA ROYALE (best priced at 4-1) won at Fontwell off a 1lb lower mark in March and should hold strong claims back down in trip in first-time headgear. The seven-year-old won by 3 ½ lengths that day off a mark of 85 which earnt him a 4lb rise from the handicapper. She has performed with credit over three miles on her next three starts but is now interesting back down in trip with first time cheekpieces on.

Sienna Royale won over 2m3f at Fontwell so she has enough speed to win over shorter and I expect this trip of 2m5f to suit her perfectly. She looks sure to run her race and looks a solid each way selection with four places available.

Sienna Royale - 0.5pts e/w @ 4/1