Exeter’s Super Sunday attracts stellar cast

Exeter Racecourse’s Super Sunday fixture, which coincides with Valentine’s Day, has drawn a strong card of entries for its seven races, including plenty on target for the Cheltenham Festival that begins in five weeks time and the Crabbie’s Grand National which takes place three weeks later.

The ten entries in the listed Bathwick Tyres novices’ hurdle include the Nicky Henderson-trained Buveur D’Air an impressive winner of his last two starts over hurdles and an entry for both the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, for which he is currently 7-1, and the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival.

He’ll face the Warren Greatrex-trained Ma De Fou, also entered in the latter race at Cheltenham, the Paul Nicholls-trained Emerging Talent, a course and distance winner in January and Pemba who hails from Alan King’s in form yard.

The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle qualifier looks certain to offer punters plenty to get stuck into with a competitive race on the cards. Among the 30 entries are the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Shutthefrontdoor, who is likely to be having a pipe-opener ahead of another tilt at the Crabbie’s Grand National in which he finished fifth last year, Solstice Star, who has been brilliantly placed by Martin Keighley to win his last five starts and the Harry Fry-trained UnowhatImeanharry who is bidding for a four-timer.

Fry is also responsible for course and distance winner Activial who heads the entries in the Bathwick Tyres Bideford Novices’ Chase. He has multiple entries at the Cheltenham Festival including the JLT Novices’ Chase in which he is as short at 14-1 after his impressive performance at Exeter on New Year’s Day where he came home the easy 16 lengths winner.

The talented grey is also entered in the three mile Bathwick Tyres Graduation Chase where his opponents might include the Paul Nicholls-trained Easter Day and Nicky Henderson’s Vyta Du Roc, another with Festival entries. Rebecca Curtis and Nigel Twiston-Davies have both entered their Crabbie’s Grand National hopes Doing Fine and Splash of Ginge.

The Bathwick Tyres Veteran’s Handicap Chase has drawn a strong entry including the Anthony Honeyball-trained As De Fer who has won his last two starts and Buckers Bridge, a notable runner from Henry de Bromhead’s County Waterford yard. Alan King saddles Midnight Prayer who has entries in Haydock’s Betfred Grand National Trial and the Crabbie’s Grand National.

The first of seven races gets under way at 2.10pm with the gates opening at 12.10pm. Two pre-booked Grandstand and Paddock tickets are available for just £14 with children aged 17 and under racing free. All pre-booked tickets will be booked into a draw to win a night, dinner and breakfast at the Hartnoll Hotel which nestles in the Exe Valley near Tiverton.

A courtesy bus will leave Exeter St David’s at 12.30pm and Exeter’s Bus and Coach Station at 12.45pm. For further information please visit www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk.