Can Grade 1 hurdle winner Elixir De Nutz get it together over fences?

betting.bet Novices' Chase (Class 2) | 4yo+ | 2m3f | ITV4/RTV

Racecourse sightings of Elixir De Nutz since his defeat of Grand Sancy in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle of January 2019 have been rare and somewhat dispiriting, the talented son of Al Namix having been restricted to just four starts in almost three years.

Having been beaten over fences at Hereford on his only start of the last campaign, the Tizzard team sent Elixir De Nutz to Warwick for another relaunch last month.

Although the seven-year-old was beaten 50 lengths by the well-regarded Edwardstone, Colin Tizzard is pleased to finally be getting a straight run with Terry Warner's horse.

"He's tightened up a lot for his first run," said Tizzard. "There were issues last year and he only ran once. But he's been fine this year and probably needed his first race both mentally and physically after hardly running last season. I expect him to be an awful lot better."

Elixir De Nutz is not the only winner at Graded level in the six-runner line-up, with the talented Adrimel set to make his chasing debut – as long as conditions don't turn up unexpectedly quick – freezing temperatures having called a halt to his planned reappearance at Carlisle last Sunday.

"The novice chases are few and far between but there are no better tracks to start off a novice than Carlisle and Exeter, so you'll always find a deep and competitive race," said trainer Tom Lacey. "He deserves to be there.

The talented Adrimel is set to start down the novice chasing route at ExeterCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He won the Ballymore Hurdle over two miles and five around Warwick, he's a Grade 2 winner, and he should be able to go to a nice track."

Asked about making his first start over fences against rivals who have had a run or two, Lacey added: "He was bought out of the Irish point-to-point scene, so he'd have had plenty of schooling runs before he got to the track."

Boothill will also be jumping a fence for the first time in public but has the benefit of an encouraging third in a handicap hurdle at Ascot.

"We've always thought of him as a chaser and had hoped to go to Newbury with him last week," said Harry Fry. "The ground was a bit on the quick side for him there, but Exeter has rain forecast overnight and it’s a lovely place to get started at.

"The schooling has gone well at home and hopefully he can replicate that. I’m really looking forward to getting him started over fences."

Gladiateur Allen also makes the first-time transition from hurdles to fences, something she was bred to do as a daughter of Auteuil Grade 3 chase winner Une Epoque.

For those wishing to side with more proven recent ability over fences, the Olly Murphy-trained Champagnesuperover shaped well in a two-mile graduation chase at Carlisle before fading late on behind War Lord.

Murphy said: "He's in good form. This is a more adequate trip and he's better than his first run, which hopefully will stand him in good stead."

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