Haldon Gold Cup 2012

2.50 Exeter

Sportingbet Haldon Gold Cup Chase (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) (Class 1) (4yo+) Winner £35,594

Advice: 2pts Menorah w/o Cue Card (10/11 Ladbrokes)

Ante Post: 1 pt each/way Cue Card for the King George (25/1 general)

Menorah: Top class over hurdles when winning Supreme Novices and then making into a big Champion Hurdles contender; Novice chasing didn’t quite go to plan last year despite winning three races (well behind Cue Card in Arkle) but jumping got better towards the end of the campaign and impressive when winning Grade 1 Chase at Aintree with ease (then stuck in the mud at Punchestown); Should go well here despite having to give 3lbs to Cue Card and small field should be ideal for him.

Edgardo Sol: Spectacular first season in the UK, finishing second in County Hurdle before running away with Aintree handicap chase (now 14lbs higher today but won by 14 lengths); Could still have more to give here and serious contender anyway fir all that he’s not so favourably treated over the

Cue Card: Never quite lived upto the hype set by his 2010 Champion Bumper win but not done at all badly since and bumped into some top notchers; First season chasing was very successful, only being beaten by RSA and Arkle winners when staying up, and scoring in convincing style at Newbury (beat For Non Stop with ease at Newbury); Gets 3lbs from Menorah and level with Edgardo Sol, which gives him excellent chance at weights, and has to be the favourite here.

Renard: Struck a four timer in handicap chases last season, two in the South West (one here, one at Taunton); Appeared to run upto his best when third on seasonal reappearance and while he’ll come on for that, does look a touch exposed despite this mark looking workable.

Webberys Dream: Made up into useful novice chaser last year but won over 2m5f at Wincanton in Jaunary; 11lbs out of the handicap here though and doesn’t look good enough.

VERDICT: An exciting matchup between three chasers who could have big seasons ahead. Everything looks set for Cue Card to make another successful reappearance (he’s 3-3 first time out) and getting 3lbs from Menorah, he’s a very solid favourite here to take this on his way to bigger targets, one of which may be the King George in midseason. Should he win impressively, his odds for that should tumble and it might be best taking an ante post position on him before today. MENORAH was over 20 lengths behind Cue Card in the Arkle but hadn't taken to fences yet and with a small field likely to prove ideal for him, Philip Hobbs’s charge can take second ahead of Edgardo Sol and Renard, both of whom have legitimate claims.