Wednesday preview: Racecard, analysis and tips for the Beginners’ Chase at Exeter
IT'S generally a quiet week of racing up until Cheltenham gets going on Friday.
There's a Listed chase at Bangor - however only four run - and so we head to Exeter for the race of the day preview.
Nick Gifford's The Mighty Don should be winning this on bare ratings, but we all know that's not quite how things work in this world.
He was a solid staying hurdler last season, without troubling the big guns, and has the benefit of a run over fences under his belt.
However, he was beat here in a similar race at the end of October and this again looks to be an inadequate trip for him to really shine.
That leaves this race wide-open with only 2lbs separating the next three in the betting.
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Fergal O'Brien has his team flying along at a rate of knots and has Coolanly make his chase debut in this.
He was a Grade 2-winning novice hurdler but lost his way last season and unless the fences really bring out some major improvement, he looks vulnerable to a less exposed type.
Couer Blimey goes well at Exeter but connections have left it late to go over fences and he's never screamed chaser.
He started out back in this sphere with a solid fourth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle but was fit from the flat and there's little sign of any significant improvement to come.
ESPRIT DU LARGE has a lot of growing to do still but made a taking chase debut at Carlisle last time and will love the extra distance here.
He was given an easy enough time and made good late progress to grab second behind a smart Brian Ellison winner.
There will be plenty more to come this season from Evan Williams' horse, but he has the scope to take this and the stiff finish at Exeter should suit.
Williams never rushes his horses and this lightly-raced five-year-old still has plenty of time to come good but should get that underway here.
The two we haven't mentioned - Noruki and Sea Destination - look to have little chance.
The latter makes only his second start under rules and hardly set the Point-to-Point world alight, while Noruki has shown very, very little of late.
3.05 Exeter Selection
3.05 Exeter - Esprit Du Large