Haldon Gold Cup Odds: Hitman heads six declared for Exeter showpiece

The Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup is the showpiece of Exeter Races' card on Tuesday 2nd November as Paul Nicholls bids for back to back winners in a race he's looking to win for an eighth time.

Run over two miles and a furlong, it historically has a record for producing good winners, with many having featured prominently at the Cheltenham Festival. Best Mate was a winner of the race in 2001 and the race has also thrown up some top chasers with the likes of Viking Flagship, Flagship Uberalles, Edredon Bleu, Azertyuiop and Cue Card all winners here, plus more recently Politilogue won here for Nicholls in 2017.

Last year's winner Greaneteen heads the weights for this limited handicap and is a second favourite for Nicholls at 10/3 in the Haldon Gold Cup odds. Bryony Frost will be teaming up with Nicholls in the saddle fresh from winning the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Downpatrick on Saturday in fine style. The seven year old won by a neck in this race last season and went on to finish fourth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase before landing the Celebration Chase at Sandown at the end of the season under Frost.

Bidding to defy top weight, stable jockey Harry Cobden has decided to ride Paul Nicholls other runner in the race, an 11/8 favourite and perhaps a tip in itself. Still only five, Hitman was one of last season's top novice chasers and should have a lot more to offer here.

In what looks like being a pretty competitive renewal, Colin Tizzard trains third favourite Eldorado Allen at 6/1. The seven year old won a Grade 2 chase last November but looked fairly exposed later. Second in the Arkle albeit beaten 12 lengths by Shishkin he's a big price in this season's Queen Mother.

At 7/1 is Nick Williams' Moonlighter who was beaten a neck in this race by Greaneteen 12 months ago. The eight year old will have been laid out for this but the top two in the market might prove to be too strong. Tom Scudamore takes the ride.

Further down the betting, King D'Argent might give the Skelton's a squeak at 8/1 with Bet365. The six year old was progressive last season and as as good as ever when third last month and its a stable in form.

Zanza makes up the six runners for Phillip Hobbs who has a good record at Exeter best price 14/1. The outsider of the field, not much went to plan after he won a good handicap chase at Newbury last November and makes his seasonal reappearance here.