Exeter, Tuesday 7 April 2026 — Tips & Analysis
A modest seven-race card at Exeter on good ground, and that going condition is the key filter throughout. The rail-fresh surface suits horses with proven form on a sound surface, and any runner whose form was achieved on soft or heavy should be treated with caution regardless of how attractive the price looks. Three races stand out as genuinely puntable. Here is the breakdown.
2:40 — Travel Incentive For British Buyers Novices' Selling Hurdle (2m2½f)
Eight runners, a selling hurdle, and a field full of horses the form book hasn't been particularly kind to. Do not overthink this one. Madame De Labrunie at 4/9 is odds-on for a reason, and for once the market is right. She won a claiming hurdle in France, has shown enough in British company to suggest she handles this level, and a selling hurdle at Exeter is a significant drop from the company she has been mixing in. Fergal O'Brien's yard is ticking over at 3/27 in the last 14 days, which is not a barn-firing stat, but Jonathan Burke takes the ride and that combination is capable of getting the job done in this grade.
At 4/9 she is not a betting race for the serious punter. The interest here for each-way purposes is Getone Each-Way at 10/1 with BoyleSports. Daisy Hitchins has put first-time headgear on a horse who wasn't disgraced behind a useful type at Tramore in October. New trainer, new gear, lowered sights, and a price of 10/1 in an eight-runner seller with three places paid at 1/5 odds is workable. Not a strong conviction play, but the angle is there.
- Selection: Madame De Labrunie (nap-level confidence, win only at 4/9)
- Each-Way flier: Getone at 10/1 (BoyleSports)
3:10 — Visit Irish Bloodstock Sales With ITM Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)
Five runners and a genuinely interesting puzzle. The market makes Arnie Moon the 5/4 favourite off the back of bolting up at Hereford 13 days ago on good ground over two miles. That C&D victory is relevant, and Joe Tickle's horse is clearly on an upward curve. The 8lb rise is the question, but he was strong in the betting that day and probably did it within himself. He is the one to beat.
The selection here is Circle Of Secrets Each-Way at 11/2 with Bet365. This is a four-year-old on handicap debut with an age allowance, trained by Fergal O'Brien and carrying the form of a fourth-of-fifteen in a 3yo hurdle in Ireland on good to yielding ground. When he ran at Taunton and was tailed off, the ground was heavy. He was sent off 4/1 that day suggesting the yard had expectations. Back on a sound surface today, the handicap mark is unexposed, the age allowance bites, and 11/2 with two places paid at 1/4 odds is worth attacking each-way. Western Cross is respected at 13/8 but has been beaten in four of his last four and the stable is 1/13 in 14 days.
- Selection: Circle Of Secrets each-way, 11/2 Bet365
- Main danger: Arnie Moon (5/4)
4:40 — Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap Chase (3m)
Three runners over three miles on good ground, and the Spotlight data here does a lot of the work. Dyno Dave is a horse who edged home in a course-and-distance handicap on good ground three weeks ago on only his fourth start over fences. Nicky Henderson's yard is running at 3/11 in the last 14 days, which is a perfectly solid strike rate for a yard that places horses with care. The 5lb rise is noted, but the comment that he is "probably improving" from a horse on his fourth chase start is the key line. He has barely scratched the surface as a chaser, and good ground at Exeter suits.
Saint Cyr De Pail is 0/7 for Jane Williams in the last fortnight and faces a significant trip hike from 2m3f to three miles, having finished last of three finishers at this track 21 days ago. That is not a combination that inspires confidence. Mahler Moon has placed form but Fergal O'Brien's 3/27 stat is not lighting up the stats sheet.
Dyno Dave at 6/5 wins this small-field chase on form, trainer, going, and course suitability. No each-way badge, three runners only.
- Selection: Dyno Dave, 6/5 Bet365 or William Hill
Today's NAP
Odds: 6/5 — Bet365 (others: 6/5 William Hill, 2.22 Betfair Exchange)
Four starts over fences and still improving, according to the assessors. Nicky Henderson placed this horse in a course-and-distance good-ground handicap three weeks ago and he won it. He faces a 5lb rise, but this is a horse whose chasing career is barely started and the yard is in decent nick. Good ground at Exeter on a track he has already won over. Three-runner field removes traffic concerns entirely. This is the most straightforward call on the card.