2:10 Exeter

Tip 1: Rangatira Jack - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 10/1 at bet365 while publishing.

This looks a competitive 0-105 handicap chase but the horse who should relish the return to faster ground is RANGATIRA JACK (best priced at 10/1). The Linda Blackford trained eight-year-old finished 2nd to the now 141 rated chaser Vincenzo in a maiden hurdle at this track and was strong form last season at this track on good ground when 2nd off a mark of 91 in this race and winning by six lengths off a mark of 93.

Rangatira Jack is priced based on his two runs this season where he has finished 6th on his reappearance when looking in need of the run and last time when pulled up here on heavy ground in a race where there were only two finishers. The handicapper has dropped him 3lbs for that down to a mark of 94 so he looks well handicapped and should run well with up to four places available.

2:40 Exeter

Tip 2: Excelero - 1pt

Best odds of 10/3 at Unibet while publishing.

Kap Ouest ran well on his chasing debut last time at Doncaster behind Western Knight but EXCELERO (best priced at 10/3) looks overpriced bidding to concede 10lbs to that rival. The Jane Williams trained six-year-old was an impressive 9 ½ length winner of a novice handicap chase at Warwick in November but slightly disappointing when sent off favourite on his next two starts at Ascot and Warwick.

Excelero has now dropped back down to a mark of 126 which is only 5lbs higher than his impressive success earlier this season and has also been given a short break since his last run in January. He won a novice hurdle on his only other start at this track and he is expected to beat the short priced favourite.

3:10 Exeter

Tip 3: Diamond Ri - 0.5pt EW

Best odds of 11/1 at bet365 while publishing.

The Joe Tizzard trained DIAMOND RI (best priced at 11/1) looked a potential graded level performer as a bumper and novice hurdler and he now drops into a Class 4 0-120 handicap hurdle. The seven-year-old beat the now 141 rated chaser Vincenzo by 3 ¼ lengths in a maiden hurdle at Warwick before finishing last of 4 behind Handstands and Jango Baie in the listed Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on his next start. Another good run followed when 2nd to Peaky Boy at Cheltenham in April 2024 off a mark of 129 but he then off for 590 days having suffered an injury.

Form figures of P0P this season hardly inspires confidence but Diamond Ri has had a wind operation since his last run and is now fitted with a first-time tongue tie. He can hopefully bounce back off a mark of 122.

3:50 Ayr

Tip 4: Platin Moon - 1pt

Best odds of 2/1 at bet365 while publishing.

Nick Alexander has won this race for the previous four seasons and he looks to have the leading contender with PLATIN MOON (best priced at 2/1). The five-year-old won over this course and distance on his penultimate start off a mark of 95 on heavy ground despite making a couple of jumping errors late on. He ran with credit to finish 3rd beaten 3 ¼ lengths at Musselburgh last time off this mark of 100 but should prefer coming back left-handed at this track.

Platin Moon remains competitively handicapped off a mark of 100 for a stable who have had three winners from their previous seven runners.