The ITV4 cameras will be at Exeter for a competitive card on Sunday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns with his three best bets for the televised action.
2.25 Exeter
Gustavian @ 8/1
1pt win
3.00 Exeter
St Erney @ 8/1
1pt each-way
3.35 Exeter
Forever Blessed @ 3/1
1pt win
Gustavian can step on the gas
Anthony Honeyball hit form with two winners at Chepstow on Friday and the trainer can land another success with Gustavian in the Devonshire Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2.25).
The seven-year-old failed to win in six starts over fences last season, but that might prove to be a blessing in disguise as he retains his novice status this year and can put that to good use.
Gustavian ran several good races in defeat last term, including a half-length second over 3m at this course in January and a career-best second behind Saint Palais at Uttoxeter last time.
That latest Uttoxeter race is traditionally strong and the form has already been franked by the third, Midnight River, who finished third in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Gustavian races off the same mark back at the scene of some of his best efforts, on ground that should suit, and it's worth taking a chance on him having no problem with the 2m3f trip.
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St Erney set to strike
The Exeter On Haldon Handicap Chase (3.00) looks like a good opportunity for the 11-year-old course specialist St Erney to record his third victory at the Devon track.
The Jackie Du Plessis-trained runner has been sparingly campaigned over the last few seasons, so is still quite lightly raced for his age, and he made a promising seasonal reappearance when fourth behind Masters Legacy over course and distance two weeks ago.
St Erney was competing against some unexposed rivals that day and he did well to finish on the heels of the leaders, seven and a quarter-lengths behind the chasing debutant who won.
The selection has dropped another 1lb in the weights and often improves for his first outing of the season, so there is every chance he can step forward from that promising run.
Ground on the soft side of good should be ideal for St Erney and he can go three better.
Forever Blessed can stamp his class
The Plymouth Handicap Hurdle (3.35) will feature the return of the promising Forever Blessed after nearly a year off the track and he is fancied to make a winning reappearance.
The lightly raced four-year-old looked like a top juvenile hurdler in the making when bolting up by 11 lengths at Ffos Las, and 18 lengths at Sandown, on his first two starts of last season.
He went off favourite for the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on the back of those efforts but failed to fire. He slipped and almost unseated the rider early, presumably doing some damage in the process. He weakened quickly late on and has been off since.
Trainer Harry Fry has had this race in mind for his return for a while according to his recent stable tour and Forever Blessed is likely to be fully wound up following the lengthy absence.
If he can bounce back to the form he showed on his first two starts, he should outclass these.
