Five horses to keep the right side of on Haldon Gold Cup day at Exeter

The Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter takes centre stage on Tuesday when half of the ten-runner field will be second-season chasers.

It promises to be an exciting feature and there are plenty of intriguing runners in the support races as well for Racing TV presenters Alex Steedman and Jonathan Neesom to discuss.

Here are five runners on the card worth keeping in mind.

_Watch how Ask A Honey Bee won at Wetherby _

The form of the Champion Bumper already has a glow with the third, fourth, fifth, tenth, thirteenth, fourteenth, eighteenth and 22nd all having since won over hurdles.

Oh, and the sixth, Ocean Wind won off a mark of 96 on the Flat on his latest start.

Ask A Honey Bee was the horse who filled thirteenth spot, and he might have been expected to make more of an impact having won his first three bumpers.

He showed a good attitude when chalking up her hat-trick, and that was again evident when the six-year-old beat Ashtown Lad (a winner since) by half a length on her hurdling bow over the best part of 2m4f at Wetherby last month. This slightly stiffer test should be no bother and he should make a bold bid to follow up. He's a general 2-1.

This novice hurdle has a rich history with recent winners including Jollyallan, Yanworth, Dynamite Dollars and, last year, Sporting John. Alan King, the trainer of Yanworth, is represented by Dal Horrisgle on this occasion and the useful Flat performer is likely to command plenty of attention.

A three-time winner on the level for William Haggas, he then found pattern company beyond him but made an encouraging start for King when third at Ascot last time in a 2m handicap off a mark of 95.

If Dal Horrisgle can translate that kind of ability over jumps then he should have no trouble making a name for himself over the months ahead. He's 100-30 with most firms for Tuesday's contest.

None of Paul Nicholls’ 17 runners in this race since 2008 have been rated below 152 which suggests Greaneteen, who runs off a mark of 151, either lacks the class of usual Ditcheat challengers or is simply well-handicapped. I have a strong hunch it is the latter and that the 9-4 offered by William Hill will not last.

Greaneteen won three small-field novice chases in taking style before losing his unbeaten record over fences when a close fourth in the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham in March. However, he was not seen to best advantage in a hot renewal and emerged with his reputation enhanced.

Time may tell he faced a tall order giving weight to the three Irish-trained challengers who finished ahead of him and that his days in handicaps may be limited.

If there’s a Champion Chase horse in the field then it is probably him.

Truckin Away made such a good impression when beating winning on his hurdling bow at Ffos Las two years ago that he went off favourite for a Grade Two contest at Sandown the following month.

However, he fell at the first after being short of room and there have subsequently only been flashes of that early potential.

On a couple of occasions, he has delivered a lot less than promised after moving menacingly. He’s had another wind op since we last saw him in action, suggesting that has been the root of the problem.

Catching him first time out away from winter ground after being eased a bit on the weights makes sense. He’s a sound jumper and Philip Hobbs has had four winners in recent days. The general 14-1 available appeals.

Orchardstown Cross, winner of the race last year on his return, seeks to repeat the trick but is 7lb higher and did run poorly in his two races afterwards.

It’s one thing having a well-handicapped horse, but sometimes quite another when trying to get a win on the board.

Lady Reset ran off a mark of 75 on the Flat at Windsor in late June, on her first start for David Pipe, before offering little in three novice hurdles. That was reflected in her being allotted a rating of 97 over hurdles.

She really should be able to make an impact over jumps off such a mark and came mighty close to doing so at the first attempt Stratford a couple of weeks ago when beaten a neck by Scrutinise, who has since again run well.

That looked like one which got away for Lady Reset – she traded at 1.16 in-running on Betfair – but she’s only 3lb higher and that is offset by the 7lb claim of Fergus Gillard, who rides her for the first time in public.

Gillard has won two of the past three races he has ridden in – both times for Pipe – and will fancy his chances of improving that tally. The combination are available at 2-1.