Horse racing tips: Dave Nevison's best bets at Exeter

Trainers have been waiting for some rain and soft ground in the west country, and it is good that it has finally arrived as we now have some really competitive races to look forward to at Exeter on Thursday, live on Racing TV. Best of luck!

This five-year-old is in really good form and has plenty in his favour in this 2m3f handicap hurdle. He is returning to Exeter on Thursday and was successful over this course and distance earlier in the season where he stayed on well from off the pace to score comfortably.

It certainly looks as though a strong pace at this stiffest of tracks suits him, and with several front runners up against him here, a similar race looks set to ensue.

He possibly could have won at Taunton last time out but was run out of it by a rival who gave him a tow into the race, and he didn't quite have the speed to catch the winner on that much sharper track.

This will be much more of a slog and even though he hasn’t yet won on soft ground, he has run well enough in these conditions in the past, so I don’t think it will inconvenience him.

A highly speculative selection and perhaps not a horse to bet each-way, even in a massive field where bookies are sure to be offering extra places.

It is hard to believe this horse went off 3-1 favourite for the Ladbrokes Trophy a couple of years ago, such was his promising profile. He never figured in that event and has failed to fire ever since.

He returns here after a wind operation, and off a mark 24lb lower than his peak, from a yard in good form. In my opinion, he also has the best rider of a staying chaser in the mud on board, too.

If all those factors combine positively, he will win this event easily, but it is a big if. However, I am prepared to risk a few quid but will not be surprised if he ends up with another letter in his form figures, either!

I am sticking with this mare, even though she was very disappointing for this column and others who made her favourite for her reappearance at Market Rasen last time out.

Even though she went off market leader on that occasion, she was actually weak in the betting and very much ran as though she needed that run. She was passing horses at the end of the race, and I thought watching her pass the post that there would be another day.

This stiffer track and softer ground may suit World Trip better, and the opposition is not strong, so she is worth sticking with.