GREANETEEN is fancied to repeat his victory of 2020 by defying top weight in the Betway Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (3.35) this afternoon.
Paul Nicholls’ eight-year-old, who lifted this contest from a British Horseracing Authority mark of 151 two years ago, finished fourth from a rating of 168 in the defence of his crown last season.
But Greaneteen subsequently showed himself better than ever with top-flight successes in the Tingle Creek Chase and Celebration Chase, and Harry Cobden’s mount should give a good account with his stable firing on all cylinders.
A Grade 1 winner over hurdles, THYME HILL looks an exciting recruit to the larger obstacles and should justify short odds in the Betway ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase (2.25).
He hardly came out of second gear to make a winning start over fences at Kempton Park last month, so Emma Lavelle’s MINELLA BUSTER looks up to defying a 9lb rise in the Betway ‘Challenger’ Stayers’ Handicap Chase (3.00), while BONNIE BRESIL gets the vote to beat 15 rivals for the in-form Henry Daly in the Betway ‘Challenger’ Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (1.50).
FRIDAY'S SELECTIONS
FONTWELL PARK
12.30 SKYACE
1.05 TEDDY BLUE
1.40 WHATSUPWITHYOU
2.15 DESQUE DE L’ISLE
2.50 FORWARD PLAN
3.25 TOAD OF TOAD HALL
4.00 TARA ITI
EXETER
12.40 OUTLAW PETER
1.15 HUNTING BROOK
1.50 BONNIE BRESIL
2.25 THYME HILL
3.00 MINELLA BUSTER (NB)
3.35 GREANETEEN
4.08 UBERMAN
HEXHAM
12.48 AAZZA
1.23 ROCKONSOPH
1.58 ROCK HOUSE
2.35 MALPAS
3.10 BEAT BOX
3.45 FENLAND TIGER
NEWCASTLE
2.30 BISHOP’S GLORY
3.05 GOING UNDERGROUND
3.40 AWARD DANCER
4.15 IDOAPOLOGISE (NAP)
4.45 MAXZENO
5.15 REDZONE
5.45 STARSONG
6.15 THRILLA IN MANILA
DOWN ROYAL (ITV4 races)
1.30 NIKINI
2.05 PIED PIPER
2.40 GEVREY
KEENELAND (ITV3 races)
7.00 LOVE REIGNS
7.40 AND TELL ME NOLIES
8.20 DELIGHT
9.00 CAVE ROCK
9.40 SILVER KNOTT
DOUBLE: IDOAPOLOGISE and MINELLA BUSTER
