'We couldn't wait to see him run over fences' - Fry excited ahead of Exeter test

2.50 Exeter
Paddy Power Handicap Chase (Class 3) | 5yo+ | 3m | ITV/RTV

Plenty fail to stay three miles on heavy ground around Exeter – a hilly track that often comes up sticky or bottomless after wintry conditions deteriorate the turf. Finding a horse who has the ability to handle the ground and stay well is crucial.

With the exception of the 2019 running when an abnormally dry Christmas period left the ground on the good side of soft, the last three renewals of this race have featured 31 runners, only 13 of whom have completed the course (42 per cent). You don't cross the finishing line, let alone win this with non-stayers.

Venetia Williams is well known for her success on bog-like ground and she is represented by the youngest chaser in the field, Hold That Taught. The dam's side of this six-year-old's pedigree indicates that this trip would be a stretch (out of an unraced mare who is by US-bred Jacques le Marois winner Exit To Nowhere), but the Kayf Tara influence is clearly dominant and he has already suggested that he is in need of 3m.

A winner in points and over hurdles, Hold That Taught has made a promising start to his chasing careerCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

A heavy-ground novice hurdle winner at Lingfield last November, Hold That Taught bumped into smart sorts Demachine and Young Bull at Ascot last time and only hit full stride in the straight. Freshened up after a month off with this track and trip set to suit, he has to be considered a probable winner.

Chief market rival, Ask Me Early, possesses a similarly progressive profile and looks to follow in the hoofprints of stablemate Captain Drake, a completely different sort but one who won this prize for the Harry Fry yard 12 months ago.

This point winner has a particularly high cruising speed for a horse in need of a thorough test and could spread-eagle the field from the halfway point. Whether that's sustainable in the long straight is another matter, especially given this is his first outing outside of novice company.

Dancing Shadow (no. 7) won an Edinburgh National over 4m1f and should not be found wanting for staminaCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Jumping doubts apply to Muckamore and Mr Clarkson, though the latter is a huge threat on his best form, while Exeter specialist and former Edinburgh National winner Dancing Shadow has to enter the equation if this turns into a slog.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

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What they say

Tim Vaughan, trainer of Looksnowtlikebrian
His pedigree suggests he wants it bottomless so we kept running him on heavy ground, which he has won on. But as he's got older we've found he struggles a little with his breathing and has found his form on better ground, running really consistently. We could have been waiting until February for anything approaching better ground so we thought we'd try. He's won round Carlisle which is also right-handed with an uphill finish. Richard Johnson has ridden him most of the time and he was available so when we added it all up, we thought we'd chance it.

Looksnowtlikebrian (under Richard Johnson) winning at Carlisle last NovemberCredit: Grossick Racing

Harry Fry, trainer of Ask Me Early
Since he first joined us we couldn't wait to see him run over fences and he made an ideal start to his chasing career. This is a race we won last year with Captain Drake and he's not too dissimilar in that he is a real mudlark and an out-an-out stayer. I think the handicapper has been fair in putting him up 6lb and he can progress again.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Hold That Taught
Exeter is a nice course for novices and he has already shown that staying is his forte. It's a competitive race and I hope he runs well.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Muckamore
Everything has been good since his chasing debut and he had some smart hurdles form. He jumps well and the trip holds no worries.

Reporting by Scott Burton

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