Essential punting pointers and key quotes for the Betfair Exchange Trophy

Betfair Exchange Trophy (Grade 3) | 1m7½f, 4yo+ | ITV4/SSR

Williams hopes Quoi can handle hustle and bustle

High streets and shopping centres across the land will be packed with shoppers jostling for position and attempting to get that perfect last-minute gift on the final Saturday before Christmas, so it always seems appropriate for racing to stage its own version of this in the form of Ascot’s Betfair Exchange Trophy.

While some of the runners are old pros at navigating through large fields to snare a prize, others will need their natural talent to help them overcome their relative inexperience.

One such inexperienced runner is leading contender Quoi De Neuf, who finished fourth to Harambe in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle last time, and his trainer Evan Williams said: “He ran very well at Cheltenham and you’d hope that race would bring him forward as it will have given him more experience and ringcraft for this.

“It will be tough again for him as he’s inexperienced but he deserves his place in the race.”

Specialist Skelton eyes further success

Dan Skelton has become something of an expert at getting his horses spot on for races such as this, with his first major success coming when Willow’s Savior took this contest in 2013 before Mohaayed landed the prize for the stable last year.

Mohaayed also landed the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, a race the yard has annexed with Superb Story and Ch’Tibello as well.

As such, it is noteworthy that only Mohaayed represents Skelton in the Betfair Exchange Trophy.

What they say

Charles Byrnes, trainer of Turnpike Trip
It's his first handicap hurdle and he has plenty of weight. He's not quite good enough for Grade 1s in Ireland although he ran well in the Royal Bond last time, so we decided to try something new.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Mohaayed
He ran okay at Cheltenham last time. He has a big weight and after all the rain the ground is going to be horrendously wet and heavy.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Tamaroc Du Mathan and Scaramanga
Bryan [Carver] won on Scaramanga the other day and he’s gone up 12lb which I think is harsh on what he did. With the testing ground and 12lb he’s got a lot on his plate but he’s in great form and hopefully he’ll run well. Tamaroc Du Mathon had a run in France and then got a leg so he had to miss all of last year. That run the other day was a real nice prep. He’s off 135 and we’re all guessing on that a little bit. He’s bound to have improved for the run after all that time off and hopefully he can run a big race.

David Pipe, trainer of Umbrigado
We’re dropping back in trip and given the conditions you’re going to need to stay well, so we think it’s worthwhile having a go as he seems to have a high cruising speed. It looks like a wide open race, but he’ll cope with the ground as well as anything I think.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Countister
She's a good horse and put up a good performance last time and arrives in good form. I’m sitting on the fence a little bit and I think a lot will depend on how she handles the ground. Sometimes fresh fillies like Countister can skip through it a little easier.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Crooks Peak and Zanza
I’m a bit worried about the heavy ground for both of them. Zanza wouldn’t be the most consistent, but didn’t run too badly last time, while Crooks Peak has got plenty of talent.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Sir Valentine
He lost a shoe at Wetherby but that wasn’t really a problem. I’m very hopeful.

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