Runner-by-runner guide to the Betway Haldon Gold Cup

It’s the race we savour the first Tuesday in November every year. OK, so boasts that it “stops the nation” may be a little exaggerated but, make no mistake, plenty of us will find five minutes in our schedules to watch what happens in the Betway Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.

Typically, there’s a relatively small field but it’s an intriguing renewal in which you can make a case for each of the six runners. And with a strong gallop on the cards, there will be no hiding places.

Here’s a guide to each of the contenders.

Timeform rating: 178. Sponsor’s odds: 7-2

Provided Paul Nicholls with a seventh success in in this race when edging out Moonlighter last year. He went on to show himself as among the best two-mile chasers in training, with his efforts including a second in the Tingle Creek; a close fourth in the Champion Chase; and a defeat of Altior in the Celebration Chase at Sandown. He is 17lb higher than 12 months ago and Paul Nicholls had intimated this is a stepping stone towards another crack at the Tingle Creek. A bold run is on the cards but, conceding chunks of weight all-round and short of peak fitness, he may come up short in his quest to become the first back-to-back winner since Edredon Bleu in 2002/03.

Timeform rating: 180p. Sponsor’s odds: 11-10

He fits the profile of many of Nicholls’ previous winners, being a second-season chaser who promises more having already achieved plenty. He was a wide-margin winner of novice events at Ffos Las and Newbury, but achieved more when runner-up to Allmankind in the Henry VIII at Sandown and when third to Protektorat in the Manifesto at Aintree. A true-run race over 2m2f should suit him well and a line through Allmankind, who won the Old Roan last month off a mark of 160, suggests a rating of 151 may well underestimate him. Fitness seems unlikely to be an issue and, an assured jumper, he is likely to take some stopping.

Timeform rating: 177. Sponsor’s odds: 5-1

Chased home Shishkin on a couple of occasions last year, including in the Arkle, after early wins over fences at Newton Abbot and Cheltenham. His record when fresh warrants a second look and he is interesting dropped to handicap company, but he twice finished well adrift of Hitman when they met last year and that suggests he faces no easy task beating him on level weights.

Timeform rating: 176. Sponsor’s odds: 17-2

Goes well fresh and led just about everywhere apart from the line last year, when Greaneteen grabbed him in the final strides. He and meets that rival on 11lb better terms, although their careers did go in different trajectories afterwards. Moonlighter was more miss than hit afterwards, although he did get his head in front at Sandown in February. If he’s on his A Game, he could again make them all go but the presence of another front-runner in the field, the racefit King D’Argent, is not helpful for him.

Timeform rating: 177. Sponsor’s odds: 17-2

Won only one of his first 16 races (on the Flat and over hurdles) but was transformed when unleashed over fences and encouraged to make the running last season. His rating zoomed up 32lb after wins at Warwick (twice) and Southwell, which were followed by a near-miss at Ayr. He picked up from where he left off when going close at Kelso last month and, given he’s the only runner in the field with a recent run under his belt, seems certain to be aggressively ridden in an attempt to expose any fitness flaws. Has a good attitude and won’t go down without a fight.

Timeform rating: 174+. Sponsor’s odds: 14-1

There’s a suspicion we did not see the best of him last season, when his stable had a mixed time of things. An easy winner at Newbury in late November, admittedly in a race that fell part, he was running well when falling three out at Cheltenham next time and, on his final start, ran much better than the bare form suggests at Aintree. His jumping, which let him down on occasions, will come under scrutiny here, and he’s obliged to race from 4lb out of the handicap, but it’s interesting that Richard Johnson recently included him in his Tote Ten To Follow team. “He gave me a great feel at Newbury,” Johnson said.

A cracking renewal, with HITMAN having plenty going for him. Front-running King D’Argent is fit and in-form, so he may be then one for the forecast.