Exeter preview: Border Breaker the one to beat
Published:
David Metcalf | October 20, 2015
Border Breaker has taken well to fences and looks the answer to the 3m handicap chase on today’s card at Exeter (15.45).
The David Pipe trained gelding has had just three starts over the larger obstacles, and came good on the second of those when scoring in game fashion over 2m 4f at Perth.
Border Breaker got hampered by a faller three from home, but showed a good attitude to dig deep and stay on strongly to get up close home and beat Russian Regent by a head off a mark of 125.
The six-year-old then ran well at the same venue off 4lb higher when third to By The Boardwalk last time out, only fading late on after attempting to make all.
Although eventually beaten 15 lengths, Border Breaker was far from disgraced having made a number of costly novice errors.
It was an effort which suggested there was better to come, and Border Breaker has since been dropped 1lb to a rating of 128.
That should enable Border Breaker to be very competitive, and the son of Indian Danehill also has the services in the saddle of promising 7lb claimer Michael Heard.
Taking his claim into account, Border Breaker is running off 4lb lower than when last successful and looks weighted to take all the beating.
Pipe looks to hold leading claims of landing with Prince Of Poets who runs in the 2m 2f handicap hurdle earlier on the card (14.40). The four-year-old won on debut in a bumper, but has so far failed to live up to expectations since going hurdling.
However, there was much more to like about the gelding’s latest effort when third of 10 to Bulletproof at this venue.
Prince Of Poets travelled well at the head of affairs until a bad mistake three from home, and could then only keep on at the one pace to be beaten seven lengths.
It was a performance which suggested the son of Bryon was finally getting his act together, and Prince Of Poets now meets the winner on 10lb better terms.
Selections:
14.10: The Eaglehaslanded
14.40: Prince Of Poets (NB)
15.10: Abidjan
15.45: Border Breaker (NAP)
16.15: Golden Gate Bridge
16.50: Chase The Wind
