Andrew’s Devon National Day race by race betting tips

We are inching ever closer to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, but today Exeter hosts the Devon National.

But away from the National, Gavin Cromwell has sent over two runners for the Listed Mares Chase at 3:00.

Get the latest horse racing promotions and odds with the best online horse racing bookmakers here.

Exeter 2:00 South West Rail Solutions Ltd Novices’ Hurdle – 2m½f (4yo+)

South Omo Zone, who won by eight lengths at Wincanton on the back of a 367-day layoff, has an obvious chance of following up.

But, he has since been taken out of his latest engagement at Wetherby because of soft ground, so the predicted soft ground looks to be against him here.

Ambion View has won over further, and he won’t mind if ground conditions deteriorate, but he was beaten for speed last time out, and that may be the case once more.

So, it may pay to side with the class dropper, KAP VERT.

This five-year-old has only had four runs over hurdles so far, winning one and placing third twice.

He ran well for a long way at Sandown, and with this drop in class, he can find enough to be a danger to all.

• Selection: Kap Vert 11/4
• Danger: Ambion View 10/3

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Exeter 2:30 South West Rail Solutions Ltd Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 3m (5yo+ 0-130)

The Paul Nicholls-trained Largy Poet makes his chase debut today, and, granted a clear round, this Irish point winner can play a leading role in the finish.

But he may have to go some to get the better of last time out winner, ALCEDO.

Having made his seasonal return/chase debut at this track in January, Alcedo left that run well behind him when knuckling down to reel in Gris Majeur in the shadows of the post at Ffos Las.

The step-up in the trip should hold no fear for this lightly raced seven-year-old, who only has to deal with a 4 lb rise in weight.

If Atalanta Brave can rediscover his form from last season, he can be the one to cause Alcedo the biggest problem.

• Selection: Alcedo 2/1
• Danger: Atalanta Brave 7/2

🐎 Bet on Alcedo with Sky Bet 🐎

Exeter 3:00 Listed South West Rail Solutions Ltd Mares’ Chase – 3m (5yo+)

Gavin Cromwell has sent over La Malmason and Malina Girl to try to claim this Listed prize today, and it’s not often that he comes away empty-handed.

But, today, he may have to settle for second best to the progressive DON’T RIGHTLY KNOW.

Since being sent chasing this season, Don’t Rightly Know has not looked back, notching up two wins, the latest of which came over Apple Away at this level.

That win smacked of a horse who has yet to show her ceiling over fences, and if she can get away on the front end once again, her rivals will have a tough task at hand to reel this course and distance winner.

• Selection: Don’t Rightly Know 6/4
• Danger: La Malmason 6/4

🐎 Bet on Don’t Rightly Know with Paddy Power 🐎

Exeter 3:30 Nick Ansell, Devon National Handicap Chase – 3m6½f (5yo+ 0-135)

Jacks Parrot is the obvious starting point here. He was a good second in the Tommy Whittle two starts back, and if he can replicate that run here, he can be hard to beat.

But the one that is most interesting for me is ART DECCO.

He rattled off a hat-trick of wins at the end of last season and returned this season with a neck defeat over course and distance (16 lengths clear of 3rd) before a creditable 4th at Windsor.

The return to this track and trip will hold no fear for Art Decco, and off just 4 lb higher than for his second here in December; he must have a strong chance of taking home today’s feature race.

Neo King goes over three miles for the first time today and would be a player if see out the trip.

• Selection: Art Decco 11/2
• Danger: Jacks Parrot 7/2

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Exeter 4:00 South West Rail Solutions Ltd Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – 2m½f (4yo+ 0-120)

Only four runners, but this should be between the top two in the betting who both come in on the back of easy wins.

The Harry Derham-trained Ascending Lark won after 278 days on the sidelines, and even though he is sure to come on for that run, he may find it tough to hold at bay SHANTWOPOINTFIVE.

Shantwopointfive won easily over 2m4f last time out, making it two wins in four starts over hurdles. With the ground conditions likely to be on the testing side, the ability to stay further may come into play in the closing stages.

And if it does turn into a test of stamina, Shantwopointfive may have too much in reserves for Ascending Lark.

• Selection: Shantwopointfive 5/4
• Danger: Ascending Lark 5/4

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Exeter 4:30 South West Rail Solutions Ltd Handicap Hurdle – 2m5½f (4yo+ 0-105)

Shuil Ceoil took advantage of a return to hurdling at Fontwell last time out when holding on in the dying strides to make it 2-12 over hurdles.

He has gone up 6 lb in weights, which may be enough to prevent him from following up.

The current favourite Native Moon has run well on his two starts for Jeremy Scott and has his chance to go close here, but a chance is taken with COOLEENYMORE.

A winner over fences at this track back in April was followed up by a second over slightly shorter here.

He hasn’t been seen since running no sort of race when sent off the 9/2 favourite for a staying handicap chase at Chepstow, but the return to this track and hurdles can see him bounce right back to form.

Wot You Wearing was a triple hurdle winner back in 2023, and if he can show the benefit of a wind-op and the assistance of Sean Bowen, he is on a mark that can see him going close.

• Selection: Cooleenymore 9/1 (e/w)
• Danger: Wot You Wearing 16/1

🐎 Bet on Cooleenymore with Sky Bet 🐎

Exeter 5:05 South West Rail Solutions Ltd Open National Hunt Flat Race – 2m½f (4-6yo)

Seven come in here with racecourse experience, and it can pay to side with the current market leader UPTOWN DANDY.

Uptown Dandy finished 2nd over the course and distance to subsequent listed placed Realco.

With the likelihood that the brother of smart novice hurdler Bill Joyce can improve more on his second start, he can close off today’s card by going one place better than his debut.

Walk Tall, a cheeky winner of his point-to-point and a close relation to dual Champion Hurdler, Hurricane Fly, looks the most interesting of the ones without racecourse experience.

• Selection: Uptown Dandy 5/2
• Danger: Walk Tall 6/1

🐎 Bet on Uptown Dandy with Paddy Power 🐎

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