SATURDAY
2.05pm
Djingle
He has to carry a 5lb penalty here, which makes life tough, but he certainly still has the talent to be competitive here. He was obviously up against it in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown last time, where he was again perhaps a touch too keen for his own good, but he showed what he was made of when winning at Roscommon in the autumn and he was in the process of running another big race when falling at the last at Carlisle afterwards. I can see this track suiting him.
2.40pm
Early Morning Rain
She has a bit to find with some of these and needs to put a below-par run at Haydock last time behind her, but she has form on this type of ground and hopefully there is more improvement in her.
3.15pm
King Of Realms
He ran a solid race at Kempton last time and has been dropped 1lb for it. The drying conditions will suit him, and hopefully the first-time blinkers will bring about some improvement, too. He has won over 3m around here, but has won over shorter, so he looks set to go well.
4.45pm
Champagnesuperover
He couldn’t have been much more impressive for me when winning on his debut on soft ground at Ayr last month. It remains to be seen what he beat there and he would certainly want plenty of rain to materialise, but he certainly looks a very exciting prospect.
EXETER – SUNDAY
2.25pm
Honest Exchange
I don’t know much about him as it stands, but he won two points and was a recent purchase in December for the yard. He seemed very well by testing ground in that sphere and this looks a good trip to be starting over for him over hurdles. It’s a decent race, though.
3.00pm
Portrush Ted
It looks like Exeter are going to get plenty of rain this weekend, and that should be fine for Portrush Ted, who handles testing conditions well. Winner of the Grade 2 Aintree bumper back in 2018, he obviously delighted us when winning on his return over an extended 2m5f at Ayr last month, and I'd be hopeful he can still make his presence felt off a 7lb higher mark. The step up in trip won't be a problem, and hopefully the Ayr run will brought him on a good deal, too. I schooled him on Friday morning and he really is in great form.
