Punting pointers and trainer views for a fiercely competitive handicap hurdle

Betfair Exchange Trophy (Handicap Hurdle) | Class 1 | 4yo + | 1m 7f 152y | ITV4/RTV

PUNTING POINTERS

Jolly's worthy jolly at favourite track

It has been three long years since Jolly’s Cracked It dead-heated with the rallying Sternrubin at the end of a prolonged duel in what was then The Ladbroke, and in all of that time the nine-year-old has made it to the track only twice more.

However, having been down the field in the 2016 running of this race he overcame a huge absence in style back over this same course and distance last month, when his six-length defeat of well-treated Chatez confirmed the impression Harry Fry had been getting on the gallops – that he had lost none of his class.

He is back up 9lb to 147 but has an impressive Ascot record of four wins in six races and looks a worthy favourite.

Fry said: "It was great to get a good horse like him back in winning form and there was added satisfaction after such a long layoff. The handicapper has put him back on a career-high mark, so he needs more improvement, but his best form has always been at Ascot and he'll relish the conditions.

"He came out of the race well and we're looking forward to running him again."

Murphy bidding for back-to-back wins

Punters have inevitably been drawn to ex-Irish Fiesole, having his first run for Olly Murphy, whose emotional success a year ago with Hunters Call was memorably described as the best moment of his career "by an absolute million miles".

Murphy is not as optimistic as he was with Hunters Call, who has been sidelined since, but he is not without hope, despite Fiesole running off a 21lb higher mark than when winning at Tipperary in October.

Olly Murphy: trains Fiesole, who is running off a 21lb higher mark than when winning at Tipperary in OctoberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He said: "This lad hasn’t been given an easy time by the handicapper but his work’s been good and a fast-run two miles will suit him well.

"He’s run okay on soft ground, but I’d say the better the ground the better he is. If he doesn’t handle it he’ll be a grand horse for the spring."

King trio not easy to choose between

Fidux is the shortest-priced of three runners being saddled by Alan King, who won this with Raya Star in 2011, but the others are not to be underestimated and Chatez, who has scraped in at the foot of the handicap, remains well treated on his Flat form.

King said: "This has been the target for Fidux since he won over course and distance early last month. He’s improved significantly since we learned how to train him, keeping him fresh and not giving him a lot of work. He’s up 10lb but that was fully deserved."

Fidux (Wayne Hutchinson, far side) beats Global Citizen at Ascot last monthCredit: Mark Cranham

He added: "I was delighted with Lisp in the Gerry Feilden, even though he was just beaten, as he was a lot more settled. The worry is that he’s a better horse left-handed, but he could get away with it at Ascot as you can finish up the stands’ side.

"Chatez gets in on a lovely low weight and ran a pleasing first race back considering he pulled very hard early on."

What they say

Warren Greatrex, trainer of Western Ryder
He ran very well at Cheltenham last week and has gone up 5lb for it, so we thought we’d have a crack at this. He's come out of that race well and is in there with a chance.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Mont Des Avaloirs and Grand Sancy
Mont Des Avaloirs ran very well in the Gerry Feilden last time and I’m hoping for a nice run. Grand Sancy has done really well this season. His wins have been on good ground, so the more it dries out the better for him. He’s in good shape.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Mr Antolini
He's done nothing wrong since we've had him and the ground has come right for him, so I'm hopeful he'll have a nice chance. Ascot's not unlike Sandown, where he won the Imperial Cup.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Nietzsche
He seems in good fettle and we're really happy with him. Danny [McMenamin], who rode rode him well at Cheltenham, takes 7lb off again and soft ground will be all right, but I'm not so sure about heavy. He won on it on the Flat, but it's not the same thing.

Gary Moore, trainer of Not Never
It’s his first run in nearly a year but he's been working well. It’s a bit of a jump up in grade, but my only slight concern is the fact he’s going right-handed – most of his wins have been on left-handed tracks. He did win at Huntingdon, but almost ended up in Peterborough that day! He’s grown up a lot since.

Venetia Williams, trainer of First Figaro
It's his first run in a handicap and we've slightly thrown him in at the deep end, but he's a horse I hope will travel reasonably well and a light weight is no bad thing in the soft ground.

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