BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup: runner-by-runner guide and tip

A quick glance at the roll of honour for Exeter's feature race of the year leaves you in little doubt about the quality of runners the Grade Two chase attracts each November. Best Mate, Edredon Bleu, Azertyuiop, Cue Card, Politologue and Greaneteen have all came home victorious this century. This year, JPR One is back to defend his title, but standing in his way is another 150+ rated runner, Grade One-winning novice Kalif Du Berlais. Below is my predicted finishing order.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Jockey: Harry Cobden. Official Rating: 156. Weight: 11-12.

RaceiQ Career Jump Index: 7.5

The top-rated runner and for a reason. Paul Nicholls has never shied away from the regard in which he holds Kalif Du Berlais and the son of Masked Marvel signed off last season in style by running out the emphatic winner of the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree in April.

It wasn't all plain sailing during his novice chase campaign, however. He fell on his first start over fences at Carlisle, won his next two starts, and then trailed home last of four in the Scilly Isles at Sandown in heavy ground over two and a half miles.

Back on a faster surface over two miles, he bounced back to form last time out, comfortably accounting for Brookie and L'Eau Du Sud.

This trip and ground look perfect for him here and if he is going to be a serious Champion Chase contender, he ought to be winning this. He sets a high standard and can become the first winning favourite in the race since the fellow Paul Nicholls-trained Greaneteen landed the spoils in 2020.

Trainer: Joe Tizzard. Jockey: Brendan Powell. Official Rating: 153. Weight: 11-9.

RaceiQ Career Jump Index: 8.2

JPR One is winless since his victory in this last year, but he faced tough assigments after that, finishing third in the Tingle Creek, fourth in the Game Spirit and 12th in the Grand Annual under a huge weight burden. He signed off his campaign with a fifth-placed finish at Plumpton in the Sussex Champion Chase.

There is no doubt he is a better horse when fresh and he is unbeaten in two starts at the track, having also won a novice hurdle here on his first start four years ago. This has been his target yet again, so he is likely to be primed for this and will run a solid race, but I suspect he will find one too strong.

Trainer: Jane Williams. Jockey: Ciaran Gethings. Official Rating: 148. Weight: 11-4.

RaceiQ Career Jump Index: 7.2

Culverhill Racing Club's talented chaser was an impressive winner on his reappearance at Chepstow where he comfortably accounted for Il Ridoto. That race fell apart somewhat, however, with just the four runners going to post after the good to firm ground led to five non-runners.

His win last time out was Ciaran Gethings's first ride on him over fences and he is back on board. It is interesting that six of his seven wins have came at left-handed tracks, so on the face of it, he has something to prove around this undulating right-handed course, but he finished second in the Scottish Champion Chase at Musselburgh last season and he has been steadily progressive since then.

He may yet have more improvement in him, but another career best will be needed if he is to challenge the front pair in the market.

Trainer: Venetia Williams. Jockey: Charlie Deutsch. Official Rating: 141. Weight: 10-11.

RaceiQ Career Jump Index: 6.4

Venetia Williams has only had one winner this National Hunt season and that was in the Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday. Despite that, she is operating at a 25 per cent strike rate as she has had just the four runners!

Martator was five, turning six, when he made his debut for the yard having been bought from France. There, he won twice over the smaller obstacles and finished second in the Prix Alain du Breil, otherwise known as the French Triumph Hurdle.

He has accumulated five wins for Williams, with all of those coming in 2024. Those successive victories saw his mark rise from 118 to a career-high 151, but after five defeats, he is now 10lb lower than his peak rating.

Although he ran creditably when tenth in the Grand Annual, he was beaten a long way on his two starts prior to that as well as after that, on his final run of the season at Plumpton. He therefore arrives at Exeter with a bit to prove, for all  he has dropped to a very winnable mark.

Trainer: Dan Skelton. Jockey: Harry Skelton. Official Rating: 123. Weight: 10-6.

RaceiQ Career Jump Index: 6.7

Despite being an eight-year-old, Thistle Ask has only ran 11 times under Rules and is unbeaten in two starts for the Skeltons. Those latest winning efforts have both came this Autumn, after he was picked up for just £11,000 out of James Ewart's yard at Goffs in the spring.

He never looked like winning in his first seven starts, including when pulled-up in an Irish Point-to-Point for Stuart Crawford, and he has twice had wind surgery, but he has won four of his past five starts, including his last three races by a cumulative 19 lengths. In fact, his only defeat in his four starts over fences came on his chasing debut 13 months ago, where he finished second.

Connections clearly want to strike whilst the iron is hot, as this will be the son of Ask's third run in quick succession. His latest win came off a mark of 121 at Wetherby on October 31, where he was 2lb well-in for his first win of the season just six days earlier.

He will carry a 4lb penalty here and looks ahead of his mark, but this is a huge step up in class.

Trainer: Dylan Cunha. Jockey: Lee Edwards. Official Rating: 127. Weight: 10-6.

RaceiQ Career Jump Index: 7.8

Here Comes Georgie makes his stable debut for Newmarket handler Dylan Cunha after leaving Patrick Neville's yard early this autumn.

He ran well in his final two starts for his old yard, winning a Class 2 handicap hurdle at Perth in August, before running to a similar level when third at Kelso on his most recent start in September.

This will be his first start over fences since finishing last of six in the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and, although he won his two chases prior to that, he has a mountain to climb on overall form and this is likely to prove too hot.

Nevertheless, he should provide plenty of fun days out for the Hold My Beer Syndicate this season and he can certainly win plenty of decent pots at a lower level for his very capable trainer.