Exeter Placepot tips: Tom Segal with his perm for the £50,000 guaranteed pool

The last three legs of the Placepot at Exeter are tricky handicaps so it makes sense to back-load any perm, but the weak-looking juvenile hurdle (12.30) that kicks off the card looks much more straightforward, as the Paul Nicholls-trained Clotilda showed more than enough in France to suggest she can win a race of this nature.

Similarly, Dameofthecotswolds has much the best form in the mares' novice hurdle (1.05).

Novice handicap chases (1.40) are usually fraught with danger and Lord Of Thunder did come down on his chase debut at Cheltenham, but he had jumped well in a good race up until two out. He would have gone close that day and this softer ground will suit him much better.

Local trainer Jimmy Frost looks to have two live chances in the handicap hurdle (2.15) and the recent course-and-distance winner Asian Spice is sure to go well again with decent 7lb claimer Cameron Iles offsetting her rise in the weights.

However, this is a much stronger contest so the classy topweight Altobelli goes in as well because a reproduction of his third to Luccia off a 2lb higher mark at Ascot last season would give him a huge chance. 

The Skeltons rarely leave any meeting without a winner and their best chance on the card looks to be Coco Mademoiselle in the staying chase (2.50). She will appreciate any rain that falls and jumped well on her chase debut. Recent course-and-distance scorer Jupiter Allen goes in, too, as he did well to win last time having made an early mistake. 

The last Placepot race (3.25) might be the hardest of all to get through. Having said that, Double Dragon's Ffos Las win looks better now than it did at the time, while bottomweight Star Of Affinity remains in good form.

Exeter Placepot perm

12.30
8 Clotilda

1.05
1 Dameofthecotswolds

1.40
2 Lord Of Thunder

2.15
1 Altobelli
9 Asian Spice

2.50
9 Coco Mademoiselle
11 Jupiter Allen

3.25
4 Double Dragon
9 Star Of Affinity

1x1x1x2x2x2=8 lines

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