UK Horse Racing Tips

In the Higos Insurance Services Handicap Chase (4.10) at Exeter on Tuesday, Two Faces West was beaten, but far from disgraced, by subsequent Midlands Grand National runner-up, Milansbar, over 3 miles on the undulating Devon course last month and can regain the winning thread. The pair pulled 52 lengths of the third, Kingswell Theatre, on that occasion and with the winner only beaten 2 lengths, off an 8lb higher mark, in a much better race at Uttoxeter, the form has a solid look to it.

Philip Hobbs’ 8-year-old has had just two starts over regulation fences, but won a point-to-point in Ireland as a 5-year-old and, while the ground is likely to be faster than any he’s encountered so far, he has winning form on good to soft going. The Dr. Massini gelding takes a slight rise in class, but is only 2lb higher in the weights than when last winning over hurdles (for Donald McCain last March) and, with plenty of stamina in his pedigree, looks a decent staying chaser in the making.

Historically, the Somerset trainer has done better with his hurdlers than his chasers at Devon, but his record with the latter is still none too shabby and champion jockey-elect Richard Johnson has a 30% strike rate, overall, for the yard this season.

Selection: Exeter 4.10 Two Faces West to win

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