Exeter, Friday 17 April 2026: Tips and Best Bets

Exeter, Friday 17 April 2026: Tips and Best Bets

Exeter's evening card is a modest but workable one, three races offering genuine betting angles on going that sits Good to Good to Firm. Small fields throughout, so each-way opportunities are limited, but there are some clear angles if you know where to look. David Pipe's runners have gone quiet in the last fortnight, which is worth filing away, while Jamie Snowden's yard continues to fire at a decent clip and has two runners across the card. Let's get into it.

5:10 Sandygate Inn, Kingsteignton National Hunt Maiden Hurdle (2m½f)

Selection: Our Guide (11/8, Bet Victor / Betano)

Five runners, so no each-way play here. This is a straightforward win-only situation, and the form points firmly to Our Guide under Gavin Sheehan.

The horse cost £82,000 after winning a Galway bumper on debut, which tells you the people around him think he's got quality. His first hurdles run at Wetherby last month, fifth of 15 but described as nearest at the finish, reads better than the bare placing. He was beaten at odds of 2/1 that day in a bigger field over 2m, and this 2m½f trip at Exeter on good ground looks an upgrade in terms of suitability. Snowden's yard has hit 5 from 24 in the last 14 days, the stable is ticking over nicely.

October Hill is respected. David Pipe's mare went a creditable second at Ludlow last month and picks up cheekpieces today, but Pipe's 0 from 8 in the last fortnight is a flag you can't ignore. Granpa Ger at 10/3 has a solid RPR of 120 but he's a longstanding maiden at age eight, and that tells its own story. Our Guide at 11/8 is the standout.

6:40 Heavitree Brewery PLC Handicap Hurdle (2m5½f)

Selection: Blue In The West (5/2, William Hill / Boyle Sports / Bet Victor)

Six runners, so technically each-way territory on some interpretations, but 5/2 makes win-only the correct call here.

Blue In The West is the bet. Ben Lund's nine-year-old won over course and distance just ten days ago, and the Spotlight note is encouraging: he had something to spare. The handicapper has gone 6lb higher, which is fair, but not punishing given the manner of the victory. Shane Quinlan takes a 3lb claim, which claws back half that rise. This horse clearly loves Exeter, it suits his running style, and the Good ground is fine for him.

Got A Dream at 9/4 is the obvious danger. He's been progressive and 9/4 suggests market confidence, but he hasn't run over this course before and Nicky Martin's yard is thin on recent winners. Thank You Blue rattled off a hat-trick at Ludlow earlier in the year but was well beaten at Newcastle six days ago on a 7lb higher mark. He's dropped 2lb, fair enough, but the quick turnaround is a concern. Blue In The West at 5/2 is the value play on confirmed course-and-distance form.

7:40 Globe Inn Chudleigh Hunters' Chase (3m, Good To Firm)

Selection: Ultimate Survivor (no published price)

Hunter chases are tricky at the best of times, and this one has no RPR or TS data for any of the five runners, with two jockeys still listed as TBC. Ratings are off the table, so this is purely a form read.

Ultimate Survivor stands out on recent consistency. A form line of 2-2132 shows a horse that keeps hitting the frame, and the 2132 sequence in particular suggests a horse building into his chase career without throwing in a stinker. At six years old, he's also the youngest in the field by three years, which matters as the season progresses and the ground firms up.

Minella Jab is the main threat on paper with two wins in that form string, but the PP entries either side of them signal jumping fragility. Get Off Your Phone showed up for a win last time and will have supporters, but a mare on good-to-firm ground over 3m in hunters' company is a leap of faith without stronger data behind her. Take Ultimate Survivor as the anchor, ideally each-way if you can get a bookmaker to go three places on a five-runner field, though most will not.

Today's NAP