Exeter puts its support behind Denman on Devon National Day next Tuesday

THE atmosphere will be buzzing at Exeter Racecourse next Tuesday (March 9) as anticipation for the Cheltenham Festival, which begins a week later, grows. With the nation getting behind the Kauto Star versus Denman frenzy, Exeter is of course sticking with the latter having named its new extension after the Gold Cup winning racehorse.

A spokesman said: “It’s going to be a terrific race and although Kauto Star looks to have the nod over Denman on recent form, we cannot desert “The Tank” who was here on November 9 to open the new building and who won his first race here over fence in 2006.”

With three meetings in all staged in March, Exeter has another terrific value for money offer and anyone wishing to attend each one can do so for just £25 by pre-booking (call 0844 5793005) and quoting Exmar.

The highlight of next Tuesday’s six race card is the Elizabeth Finn Care Devon Marathon, run over an extended three miles six furlongs. The race normally attracts a competitive entry and the rule of thumb is to stick with horses with proven stamina as they need everything they’ve got to finish this tough race.

Racing kicks off at 2.30pm with the European Breeders’ Fund Mares National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle, a qualifier for the final at Newbury later in the month which has a total prize fund of more than £50,000.  Then its the Wetherby’s “Single Race” Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Hurdle over 2m7f.

Then there’s the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Novices’ Steeple Chase run over three miles  followed by a 2m7f novices hurdle. Concluding the day is the Exeter Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle run over 2m1f.

Tickets booked online at www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk receive a 10% discount and there’s a free bus to and from the racecourse from Exeter St Davids and Exeter bus station.

Love is in the air at Exeter Racecourse with unique Valentine’s Day offer

EXETER Racecourse, sponsors of the 10-race point-to-point intermediate series in the Devon and Cornwall area which culminates in a hunter chase final at the course on Tuesday May 4, is offering two Grandstand and Paddock tickets for just £10 on Sunday, February 14.

The Valentine’s Day meeting coincides with a blank weekend for point-to-point enthusiasts in the Devon and Cornwall area. “It’s a great incentive which will encourage people who would normally go pointing to come racing instead at Exeter. And you never know, with a good crowd, there could be love in the air too,” said a spokesman from the course.

The offer is for pre-bookings only and tickets can be obtained by calling the ticket hotline 0844 5793005 and quoting Exval.

SOME of racings most exciting prospects have lined up at Exeter this season and that trend is sure to continue at the course’s popular New Year’s Day meeting.

Managing director Steven Clarke said: “A New Year’s meeting at Exeter has been a tradition for many years and it’s an incredibly popular way to begin the year with superb sporting action guaranteed. People have done everything else over Christmas so now they like to get out in the fresh air and blow away the cobwebs.”

He added: “We’ve had some exceptional racing this autumn and we’ve seen some very good horses at the track including the exciting novice chaser Tataniano who won on his debut over fences here. He actually won over hurdles on New Year’s Day in 2009 and it would be great to have a horse of that calibre racing next Friday.”

The restaurant is fully booked with a waiting list but there are still savings to be had by booking race day tickets on-line and receiving 10 per cent discount . There’s also a free bus from Exeter St David’s and Exeter Bus Station.

Seven races are on the card  starting at 12.50pm with the Billy Williams Memorial Novice Handicap Hurdle race. Long term sponsors The Thurlestone Hotel take the name of the National Hunt novice hurdle and the beginners’ chase. The Royal Castle Hotel sponsors the 2m3f handicap hurdle and Bathwick Tyres sponsor the 3m novice chase, a handicap chase over the same distance and the bumper at the end of the card.

Mr Clarke said: “Following are terrific meeting last week, we are expecting another great day of racing and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone at Exeter.”

Grandstand and Paddock badges cost £13 and Premier tickets, allowing exclusive access into the Haldon Stand, are £18.

Media partner for Exeter’s Ladies’ Night

Exeter Racecourse has confirmed its media partner for ladies’ night on May 4 is Devon Life, the county’s leading monthly magazine. On board as a sponsor for the first ever time is the award winning Devon-based business The Old Bag Company. Mother of five and owner Sally Hurst from Kingsbridge in South Devon said: “The Old Bag Company is delighted to be part of this prestigious event.  We ladies love an excuse to dress up and what better occasion to do this than Ladies’ Day at Exeter Races where all the ladies are looking lovely”.

The racecourse has also secured sponsorship from several other locally based companies and the best dressed ladies will receive an array of prizes including weekend spa breaks, clothing and jewelry.

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls and Gold Cup winning owner Harry Findlay star at Exeter’s Cheltenham Festival preview evening

PADDY Power is to sponsor Exeter  Racecourse’s annual Cheltenham Festival Preview night, on Thursday, February 25. Panellists Paul Nicholls, Harry Findlay, Philip Hobbs, David Pipe, the Racing Post’s Andrew King will be joined by Paddy Power with host for the evening Zoey Bird . Tickets for the evening cost £20 per person and include a hot one course supper. The racecourse advises early booking due to previous events selling out. Please contact the racecourse on 01392 832599.

Devon Marathon at Exeter will prove a test of stamina

WITH Exeter’s free bus service to and from the city centre worries about letting your hair down are firmly allayed at the racecourse which holds the first of two December meetings next Friday (December 4). Bargain hunters will also be making use of the 10% discount for tickets booked on line at www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.

It’s a cracking card with long term sponsors Axminster Carpers taking the name of the feature four mile steeple chase which has some £22,000 in added prize money and is sure to attract the stars of staying chases who have guts and stamina in abundance.

The Harry Dutfield Memorial Novices’ Steeple Chase, run over two miles three and a half furlongs, has attracted some decent horses in the past including last year’s winner Exmoor Ranger who is widely regarded as a good prospect for the future and the multiple Grade 1 winning The Listener won the race in 2006.

Axminster Carpets and Exeter Racecourse have enjoyed a long and successful association.  A spokesman from the course said: “Axminster Carpets have been very loyal supporters here and we are particularly thrilled to have a race named after it owner Simon Dutfield’s father Harry. We are also delighted that all the racecourse buildings are carpeted with Axminster carpets.”

Also on the card is the valuable Ilfracombe Foodservice Hurdle Race. With £40,000 in prize money, this limited handicap is sure to attract some of racing’s bright stars. Ilfracombe Foodservice, wholesale catering suppliers servicing Devon, North Cornwall and West Somerset, is another long-standing sponsor at Exeter.

The highly rated Abragante won a handicap hurdle at the equivalent meeting in 2006 – he’s now amassed over £100,00 in prize money  and there will be plenty of racing aficionados keeping an eye on the paddock for another horse of that calibre.

Racing kicks off at 12.30 with the Desert Orchid Restaurant Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. There is also a European Breeders Fund NH Novices Hurdle (Qualifier)  over 2m 1f; the Book Your Christmas Party Here Novices’ Handicap Steeplechase  over 2m 7½f and an EBF “Junior” Standard Open NH Flat Race.

THREE-LEGGED RACE FOR CHILDREN IN NEED KICKS OFF THE CARD AT EXETER NEXT WEEK

EXETER Racecourse is getting behind the BBC’s Children In Need appeal at its race meeting next Friday (November 20) by hosting a racing celebrity three-legged race in the paddock about 40 minutes before the first race at 12.35pm. Jockeys, trainers and owners, including Harry Findlay, David Pipe and Nick Scholfield have all pledged to support the race and proceeds from a bucket collection will be given to the appeal.

The raceday is know as Prize Winners’ Day and this year Exeter has three holidays to win - at Hillfield Cottages near Dartmouth, Holwell Cottages on Dartmoor and the luxurious Somerset Long Barn near Taunton.

Lucy Fielding-Johnson who owns Somerset Long Barn, said “We have supported this every year since Prize Winners’ Day began. It is one of the most cost effective ways of advertising there is and it seems to work really well. It also means we have a really enjoyable day at the races.”

Other prizes up for grabs include a year’s subscription to the magazine Devon Life, books and tickets to the South West Christmas Equine Fair at the beginning of the month.

A spokesman  from the course said: “We’ve worked out there’s about a 20-1 chance of winning a prize given the number we have and the average number of entries we receive at each meeting for our racecard giveaways. Those are great odds and it has to be worth coming racing just for that.”

The six races come under starters’ orders at 12.35 with the Somerset Long Barn Novices’ Hurdle Race over 2m1f. Bathwick Tyres sponsor two races – a novices’ handicap steeplechase and a handicap steeple chase. The Devon County Show takes the name of the Exeter Novices’ Steeple Chase run over three miles, The Desert Orchid Restaurant Novices’ Handicap Hurdle will be run over 2m5f and concluding race of the day is the Book Your Raceday Hospitality at Exeter Racecourse Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Tickets booked online receive a 10% discount and there’s a free bus from Exeter.

DENMAN DAY ROUND-UP

THE day started well for Paul Nicholls yesterday (November 10) at Exeter after Denman delighted him during a racecourse gallop and things just got better and better for the champion trainer who saddled a treble, all ridden by Ruby Walsh.

As part of his preparation for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on November 28, Denman was partnered by Walsh in a gallop with stablemate Beshabar that left Nicholls smiling.

Nicholls told At The Races: "That's just what he wanted - absolutely perfect. He always goes better at the track than at home and he's a different horse to last year, which was dreadful. He wasn't fit and he's better when he's heavier and can work. That was ideal."

The racehorse had gone to Exeter to open a new extension which has been named after him and his owners Paul Barber and Harry Findlay cut the ribbon and then watched their own Inchidaly Rock win the Bathwick Tyres Taunton Novices' Chase very easily. He was the 8-13 favourite for the three-mile event on the back of decent hurdles form and his jumping saw him shrug off the weakening Giles Cross, eventually coasting 14 lengths clear. Findlay hopes to run the horse again in three weeks time at Lingfield.

The grey Take The Breeze  then collected the Deloitte LLP Beginners' Chase with equal conviction before the Graham Roach-owned The Minack followed his example in the Haldon Stand Extension Is Now Open Novices' Hurdle.

Nicholls said: "It has been a good afternoon. Inchidaly Rock is one of those who does nothing at home, but he had a breathing operation in the summer.

"He needs a month between races and will probably go for another one of these first.

"He's not going to be tops - he's not big enough - but he's the sort who might run in a Welsh National one day, or end up in the four-miler at Cheltenham.

"It's similar with Take The Breeze - I wouldn't know where he went next and he loves soft ground.”

Of The Minack, Nicholls later added: "He’s a lovely horse and a real ‘boy’ at home. He's very green, but certainly the sort you could run in a nice race."

Will Williams, 18, saddled his first ever winner when representing his father Evan  in the opening Wilson’s 20th Anniversary Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle which saw Gilwen Glory come home the length and a quarter winner. Christian Williams lost his stirrup during the race and owners Keith and Sue Lowry’s nearly didn’t make it to the races after their son Martin’s car caught fire on the way to the course. “But we got here in the end and although the car is a right off its always lovely to have a winner,” said Mrs Lowry.

The Great Alfie out battled Sir Bathwick on the run in to land the Bathwick Tyres Plymouth Handicap Hurdle by a neck while Fighting Chance’s win in the Denman Room Handicap Steeple Chase was another example of trainer Richard Lee’s knack for putting horses right.

“This horse was a right-off as he used to be a bleeder but we’ve managed to sort him out. He should have won at Southwell last time out but for unseating and he’s done this well,” said Lee.

Exeter’s next meeting is on Friday, November 20 where several leading owners, trainers and jockeys have pledged to support the BBC’s Children in Need Appeal by taking part in a three-legged race.

DENMAN DAY - A HERO RETURNS AND TOP RACING ACTION TO FOLLOW 

THE eagerly awaited appearance of 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winning racehorse Denman will happen at 12.15pm on Tuesday (November 3rd) at Exeter Racecourse. The Paul Nicholls-trained racehorse will have a gallop with a yet-to-be-named stable mate before he officially opens a new £2.2m extension which has been named the Denman building. Paul Barber, who jointly owns Denman with professional gambler Harry Findlay, said: “Harry Findlay and I are delighted to be part of Exeter’s big day on November 10 and we are thrilled that Denman will have a racecourse gallop, if his training schedule allows, before he opens the building.” Tuesday’s card has attracted a wealth of top class entries including Emma Lavelle’s highly regarded Crack Away Jack, Philip Hobbs’ potential Arkle Trophy contender Copper Bleu and Henrietta Knight’s exciting prospect Sommersby. The gates will open at 11am.

DENMAN DAY A ONE-OFF AT EXETER RACECOURSE

EXETER Racecourse stages its richest raceday next Tuesday (Nov 3) with top billing going to the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup and with a value of £75,000 it has once again attracted some top class chasers.

Philip Hobbs plans to run Planet of Sound  who won two decent novice chases at Newbury last season before his luck ran out at the Cheltenham Festival where he missed the break in the Arkle.

“For a second season novice it’s the idea place to start and if the ground isn’t too soft that’s where we’ll go with Planet of Sound,” said the trainer.

Paul Nicholls has earmarked the race for Twist Magic who ended last season winning the Celebration Chase at Sandown. Last year he was fourth in the race, carrying 3lbs more, and if this race goes well he then heads for the Tingle Creek at Sandown. Nicholls said: “At best he’d be a match for anything over two miles bar Master Minded.”

Last year’s Racing Post Chase winner Nacarat is also on course to make his seasonal reappearance in the race with his major goal the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Managing director Steven Clarke said: “This meeting is a our flagship day of the season and in the past has attracted some of the best horses in the country like Desert Orchid,  Kauto Star, Best Mate and Viking Flagship. We fully expect the race to live up to its billing as the first real test for National  Hunt horses of the season. The other races on the card should also attract a high class entry which can prove pointers for the Cheltenham Festival in March.”

Potential top calibre horses who could line up are Royal Charm. He’ll run in a novice hurdle and Paul Nicholls has said he is a high-class chaser of the future. Nicholls  will also be saddling Red Harbour, described as a “smashing prospect” for staying novice hurdles. He’s makes his debut over 2m5f.

The first of six races is off at 1.30pm, with William Hill sponsoring the card. A National Hunt novices’ hurdle begins the day. Run over two miles three furlongs, it has an added value of £8,000.

Next on the card is a novices’ hurdle over two miles one furlong. The novices’ steeplechase will be run over an extended two miles one furlong, the handicap steeplechase is over three miles with £15,000 added and the handicap hurdle is over two miles seven and half furlongs.

Grandstand and Paddock tickets cost £13, Haldon Premier badges £18 and children under 16 go free.