Exeter preview: God’s Own can strike Gold again
David Metcalf | November 3, 2015
The big race of the day at Exeter is the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup (14.20), and God’s Own looks decent value to land back-to-back success in the 2m 1f contest.
Trained by Tom George, God’s Own made a winning reappearance in the race 12 months ago when storming clear to beat Balder Succes by five lengths.
God’s Own went on to run some cracking races at the highest level, including when a six length runner-up to the brilliant Un De Sceaux in a Grade 1 Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old finished two places and seven lengths in front of Vibrato Valtat and now meets that rival on just 2lb worse terms.
God’s Own went to to finish a fine length runner-up to Sizing Granite in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree, before coming to grief at the second on his final start of the campaign in another Grade 1 affair at Sandown.
The form of his runs at Cheltenham and Aintree reads extremely well in the context of this contest, and another plus is that God’s Own has a good record fresh.
God’s Own also receives a handy 7lb from top weight Sire De Grugy, and everything points to a huge run.
An Tarbh Og under radar
In the 2m 7f handicap hurdle (15.50), An Tarbh Og could well have got in lightly and is a fascinating contender now stepped up in trip.
The gelding finished runner-up three times in 3m points in Ireland, finishing behind horses now rated 116 and 123.
An Tarbh Og then then joined Caroline Keevil, and ran really well when runner-up to the now 125-rated Pull The Chord over 2m 1f at this venue.
The seven-year-old then had a narrow lead next time up over 2m 4f at Chepstow when coming to grief at the second last, and shaped as if needing his recent comeback run when a a tenderly handled fifth over 2m 4f at Uttoxeter.
An Tarbh Og has been allotted and opening handicap mark of 105 on the back of those runs, and that looks exploitable given the promise he has shown behind some useful types.
The seven-year-old also remains unexposed, and looks a potential improver now going handicapping.
An Tarbh Og will also appreciate the step up in trip judged on his point runs, and has been found a weak looking class 4 contest in which he is weighted to be very competitive.
Selections:
13.20: Boa Island
13.50: Yanworth
14.20: God’s Own (NAP)
14.50: Flintham
15.20: Belmount
15.50: An Tarbh Og (NB)
16.20: Dunmallet Belle
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