Betfair Exchange Trophy preview and tips: Horse by horse guide to Ascot feature

Betfair Exchange Trophy Handicap Hurdle

When: 3.35, Saturday December 23

Where: Ascot

First prize: £85,425

Going: Good to Soft (Good in places)

TV: ITV & Sky Sports Racing

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

HANSARD

Made a successful handicap debut when running out a game winner of the Gerry Feilden at Newbury. Still relatively low mileage and not out of this from only a four pounds higher perch.

NEMEAN LION

Good winner of the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on his return and not disgraced when fifth behind Iberico Lord in the Greatwood given he was slow three out and then made a bad mistake at the next flight. Appeals as the sort to win another valuable pot but the tendency to miss the odd hurdle is a worry.

FAIVOIR

Short-head winner of the County Hurdle in March and right back to form when second to Gin Coco here last month. Races from the same mark (three pounds higher than at Cheltenham) but this is tougher and he needs to find more.

LUCCIA

Not for the first time she didn’t seem to find quite as much as expected off the bridle when third in the Greatwood (yes that formline again) and she might need everything to fall right for her in a race as competitive as this.

TEDDY BLUE

Enjoyed a fruitful campaign last season but has shown little in two starts so far this time around, fading tamely down the straight at this track on his latest run last month. He has a bit to prove at the minute.

IBERICO LORD

The Greatwood winner himself who has done nothing but improve over hurdles and the handicapper probably still doesn’t have him with a mark of 134 (eight pounds higher than the Greatwood). One of three in the race for Nicky Henderson while owner JP McManus also has Impose Toi from the Seven Barrows team in here too. Clearly a huge player if turning up.

ALTOBELLI

Unexposed and lot to like about his handicap debut over course-and-distance last month when chasing home Knickerbockergloryy. He pulled clear of the rest that day and has only been raised a pound. Entitled to come forward for the run and is very interesting.

IMPOSE TOI

So is this fellow although you’d expect it’s a case of either him or Iberico Lord running here rather than both. He too made a winning start in this sphere at Cheltenham last month, readily beating Donnacha by two-and-a-quarter lengths. He’s up ten pounds and in a deeper race too but we haven’t seen the best of him.

SALSADA

Ran creditably when last seen in finishing third from out the handicap in the Scottish Champion Hurdle but at the same time didn’t show enough there to suggest she was a winner waiting to happen in this company.

MOVEIT LIKE MINNIE

On a roll this season winning at Ludlow and Huntingdon. He’s not been missed by the handicapper mind being six pounds higher than for his last win as he goes up in class.

ONLYAMATTEROFTIME

Interesting how strong he was in the market for the Greatwood only to run out approaching the fourth last. Having done the same thing at Cork the time before it has to be a watching brief with him for all he clearly represents top connections.

Conclusion

A fascinating renewal, even more so after Nicky Henderson and JP McManus declared their pair of Iberico Lord and Impose Toi.

Henderson also has Greatwood third Luccia to call upon, while Hansard was good in the Gerry Feilden last time but ALTOBELLI shaped really nicely on his handicap debut here last month. He’s only up a pound and there should be more to come from Harry Fry’s charge.

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