1.20pm Exeter Tips & Betting Preview 20/11/2016

A fascinating staying chase with a number of horses who look to have an each way chance on the peak of their form. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: A competitive looking handicap chase with top weight Abracadabra Sivola one of a number who are well treated. If he can cut out the mistakes he would have a good chance of hitting the frame. Ardkilly Witness and Wizards Bridge are both well enough handicapped to figure if there is confidence in the market for them, but this could go to one of the lighter raced chasing types. Both Bronco Billy and Cailleach Annie are having just their second chase starts, with preference for the latter who shaped well on her reappearance and can strike for an under-rated trainer.

1 Abracadabra Sivola – Has not looked like a natural chaser yet, his races littered with mistakes. A mark of 125 looks tasty on his hurdles form if he can finally reproduce a similar level over fences. He was sent off favourite on his most recent start in a far better quality race than this at Uttoxeter and he has an excellent each way chance.

2 Beforeall – A winner on his seasonal return last season at Fakenham off just a pound lower gives some hope. The Oliver Sherwood yard are struggling for consistency at the moment though and most from the yard are looking in need of their first run.

3 The Italian Yob – A bit of a thinker, he threw away a winning opportunity at Fakenham in February. A galloping track is more to his taste and has won at Exeter in the past. The Nick Williams yard are ticking over nicely enough, but he is a tough horse to support with any great confidence.

4 Ardkilly Witness – Formally well above average for Dr Richard Newland, he finds himself very well handicapped these days. Eight lbs below his most recent winning mark, it is worth watching the market for any confidence. All four of his wins have come right-handed, so the track should suit if the first time blinkers can spark him back into life.

5 Dancing Shadow – Well backed when narrowly denied over C&D last time out. He finds himself five lbs higher in the weights now but with race fitness on his side over a number of these, he could be in the firing line again despite the inflated mark.

6 Royal Palladium – Rattled up a hat-trick at the end of 2014, he has scuffled for form since. Second on his return last season was an excellent run off a similar mark. If able to repeat that, he would go very close, but the majority from this yard are needing their first run of the season.

7 Desert Joe – Very lightly raced under rules for one who is coming up eleven. He runs here off a workable mark for a yard in good health, while a galloping track is very much in his favour. He certainly deserves each way consideration, but could be more of a place prospect than a winner in waiting.

8 Dreamsoftheatre – Having won four times in five starts in the summer of 2013, he has been rather more inconsistent since. The yard are just starting to show a few glimmers of life and he is well enough handicapped to get involved, but his most recent effort over C&D was moderate at best.

9 Bronco Billy – Connections wasted no time sending him chasing after just two bumpers and four hurdle runs, but his chasing debut was disappointing. Probably a little harsh to judge him too poorly on that given the yard couldn’t buy a winner at the time and in first time headgear. He is a fascinating contender, especially if there is further rain.

10 Wizards Bridge – Well backed into favouritism a couple of times recently, it was a switch back to hurdles last time that saw a return to form. If that has restored his confidence then he is very well treated here, but pulled up four times in his last seven chases sounds a note of caution.

11 Albert D’Olivate – Signed off last campaign with a well deserved win having crept up the weights for some consistently placed efforts. Retains potential to do better still this season, but might require considerably softer ground to be able to be competitive here.

12 Cailleach Annie – Showed up well in novice hurdles behind the likes of Jessber’s Dream and Vieux Lille last season, so it was no surprise to see her win on her handicap debut. She looked in need of the run on her seasonal return, but should be sharper for that now. She is lightly raced and, having already won around Exeter, she looks to be a big player.

13 Nail ‘M – Dour stayer who has run well at this track over longer trips in the past. A softer surface might help him to slow a few of the others down but if they go a healthy clip, he might be picking a few off late in the day.

14 Castarnie – Dual chase winner in early 2015 including over C&D, he struggled in a pair of runs last year. Two lbs higher than that Exeter win, he would have a squeak if able to reproduce. However, he has a few questions to answer over his current well being and realistically can only be watched here.