Big-race Verdict: Owen & Matt do battle in the Betfair Exchange Trophy ⚔️

‘His yard won the feature race last weekend’

A confidence booster last time out when dropped into a Class 3 at Exeter can help bring Mack The Man back to his peak. He was a regular in Grade 3 handicaps like this prior, third in the Imperial Cup in March. He was still in with a solid chance when brought down at the last in the 2020 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury from this same mark.

The pick of his form would suggest he is still well enough treated. He needs to have his run timed to perfection so it’s conceivable that he hit the front too soon at Exeter, idling close home. Three wins and a third from five handicap hurdles when going right-handed is a strong record to bring to the table here.

His yard won the feature race last weekend with Coole Cody and with a strong pace to give him a perfect tow into this race, he should be right in the mix late on to pick up at least some of the place money – Owen Goulding

‘If he’s on a going day, he could be absolutely thrown in’

It’s hard to know what kind of form Goshen is going to be in whenever he runs. He is just as likely to hack up as he is to spit the dummy and produce a shocking effort, it’s all guess work with him. Right-handed might just suit him better these days than left, for all that his Triumph Hurdle run in 2020 will live long in the memory of many.

He absolutely hacked up in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton in February, beating an excellent yardstick in the process. Close to two and a half miles was perhaps too far for him at this track last time out, dropping back to two miles here.

Plenty needs to be taken on trust to support him but realistically off a mark of just 153, if he’s on a going day, he could be absolutely thrown in – Matt Newman

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