It’s a one-horse race at Exeter as only runner trots home alone to take prize | Horse racing tips

A light gallop from the furlong pole to the successful line was sufficient to safe a prize of practically £22,000 for the connections of Captain Teague at Exeter on Friday after the “Future Stars” Novice Chase, one of many primary supporting occasions on the observe’s largest day of the yr, was diminished to a walkover when two of the three declared runners had been withdrawn as a consequence of unusually quick floor.

Dan Skelton’s Deafening Silence, a winner on the identical card over hurdles 12 months in the past, was the primary horse to be pulled out of the competition, which was as a consequence of open a four-race broadcast on ITV4, after the identical coach’s five-year-old Jack Black was pulled up within the opening novice hurdle.

Sue Gardner’s Daring Plan, who had been anticipated to begin at lengthy odds, then failed to look within the paddock earlier than the race and following affirmation of his withdrawal, Captain Teague accomplished the formality of a quick gallop on the observe to safe the prize.

Friday’s walkover was the primary in British racing since March, and solely the seventh since April 2019. All seven had been chase occasions, with six being restricted to novices and 5 run as handicaps.

It is usually probably the most high-profile one-horse race in recent times, and comes after an prolonged interval of lifeless, dry climate that has left many trainers struggling to seek out wherever to run their novice chasers specifically.

Skelton mentioned on Friday that nobody could possibly be blamed for the scenario, and that each trainers and punters would have to be affected person till the going eases.

“After all it’s the bottom, nevertheless it’s not the bottom, it’s the climate,” Skelton, mentioned on Racing TV. “It’s irritating for everybody, it’s irritating for the business, I’m positive there can be plenty of feedback about how embarrassing it’s however you possibly can’t really feel embarrassment at this level, you possibly can solely do the best factor.

“It’s pushed into us from each angle about welfare. You must act appropriately and that’s what we’re doing. It could be much more embarrassing if we had been working horses and so they had been getting injured, so I feel if commentators might please bear with us that we’re making the best calls, that may be most useful.

“However it can change. It’s the UK, it can rain, it in all probability gained’t cease raining when it does.”

Exeter doesn’t have a watering system, though Skelton wouldn’t anticipate it to make any distinction if it had.

“You’re caught between a rock and a tough place,” he mentioned. “You’ve obtained to be watering for at the least every week prematurely, and who might probably water in November, as a result of the forecast might change in 48 hours. I want I might run and I want we might placed on a extra appetising present however that’s simply the best way the climate is and we are able to’t beat nature.”

The bottom is formally good, good-to-soft in place at Aintree on Saturday, the place the well-known fences on the Grand Nationwide course can be jumped for the primary time this season within the Grand Sefton Chase.

Latenightpass can gentle up Aintree

Latenightpass (2.40) has an exemplary file over these distinctive obstacles, having completed second, first and fourth within the Foxhunters’ after which twelfth within the Nationwide itself in April. He hit the entrance earlier than two on the market so Saturday’s drop again to a single circuit at Aintree seems best.

Wincanton 1.09 Progressive Tedley can prolong his unbeaten run over fences to 3 begins.

Doncaster 1.20 Zoum Zoum seems prepared for the step up from handicaps to Listed firm.

Aintree 1.30 Count on additional enchancment from Guard The Moon after one other career-best final time.

Wincanton 1.45 Pretending seemed higher than ever final time and has a good probability to comply with up.

Aintree 2.05 The six-year-old Imperial Saint ought to again up his track-and-trip win on his chase debut final month.

Wincanton 2.23 Soul Icon remains to be a maiden over fences however has run effectively in very sturdy firm and will lastly break his duck right here.

Wincanton 2.55 Harry Derham’s Brentford Hope seems a superb wager to take advantage of a 6lb concession from the probably favorite, Rubaud.

Doncaster 3.10 Ralph Beckett might effectively saddle a 3rd winner of this race in 4 seasons with Treasure.

Wincanton 3.30 Circumstances look best for Lord Accord to finish a hat-trick.

Doncaster 3.45 Handicap maestro David O’Meara can win the ultimate race of the Flat turf season with the flippantly raced Stressfree