'22-1 was a surprise' - Keith Melrose has an outsider fancy at Exeter

Classic Ben
1.40 Exeter
1pt each-way at 22-1 with bet365 (20s generally)

Plenty of unexposed sorts feature among the 17 runners in this field, so I was not expecting Classic Ben to be 7-2 favourite as it felt like he so often has been for good-quality races in recent seasons. However, 20-1 or bigger was a surprise and for all the questions over his readiness he is worth chancing under these conditions.

Classic Ben needs three miles or a bit further, to go right-handed and ideally soft ground. That is as good a reason as any for him taking so long to reappear this season, but he gets all three factors now.