'He'll love the track' - quotes and analysis for Exeter's feature handicap chase

Identifying who is ready for the task is crucial at this time of year and eight of the 11 contesting this 3m contest are returning from an absence of over 150 days. The fact the three race-fit runners arrive in decent form is a potentially ominous sign for the returners.

Any News won a walkover at Wetherby last week but bolted up in a novice handicap at Worcester in September, while Snipe recorded a comfortable success on his chasing debut at Southwell 21 days ago for Dan Skelton and can potentially rate much higher. A revitalised Copperhead is the other with a run behind him.

Copperhead is remarkably without a victory since his 17-length Grade 2 Reynoldstown triumph at Ascot in 2020, a performance that prompted a 6-1 SP for an RSA Chase for the ages containing Champ, Minella Indo and Allaho.

There have been signs of life lately from Copperhead, though, and a 1lb rise for his runner-up finish at Fontwell off a mark of 119 is clearly workable as the winner, Sacre Coeur, followed up at Plumpton on Monday.

Emma Lavelle's excellent stable form (5-13 in the past fortnight) makes Sam Barton of immediate interest, for all he bled again at Haydock to round off his previous campaign in April. Manothepeople drops significantly in class after pulling up in the Scottish National. He was certainly improving enough last season to justify a 9-1 SP in the Ayr showpiece.

The claims of topweight Back On The Lash are also evident. His form figures following breaks of 51 days or more read 31411305P231 (a few of those unrealistic assignments) and he is 1-1 at Exeter. That his past five triumphs have also come under Sean Bowen is another plus.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Going update

The going at Exeter on Monday was good, with some parts of the track reported to be on the quick side of that description. The outlook is mainly dry but rain is forecast overnight, potentially up to 5mm.

What they say

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Any News
He won his bumper round there and he likes the track. He's a good, solid horse and if the ground is nice, he'll run a nice race.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Manothepeople
He's a lovely horse who ran in the Scottish National last year. He won for us first time out last year and this looks like the right spot for him.

Henry Daly, trainer of Lounge Lizard
He slowly got the hang of things last season and his last run at Aintree wasn't bad either, as the race didn't really work out for him. It's his first run since May but we've got him pretty straight at home. He seems in good heart and I'm very happy with him.

Henry Daly: runs Lounge Lizard at ExeterCredit: Edward Whitaker

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Sam Barton
It was no secret plenty of them weren't right last season and he finished up bursting a blood vessel in a couple of races, which clearly didn't help our cause. He seems in really good order and you'd have to say he's on a fair mark for what he's achieved. He likes nice ground, so I'll be looking forward to him here.

Nick Gifford, trainer of Northern Poet
He's in great order. I want to see the rain come for him and he'll run as long as it's genuine good ground. He'll love the track because he's a stayer and I'm looking forward to seeing him run.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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