Tightenourbelts

Tightenourbelts kept on well to win the three-mile handicap chase at Exeter on Friday. He had to use up a little bit of energy to get to the front after jumping the third fence but, once there, he settled into his task nicely.

His jumping was good, and several of his rivals had to be ridden along a little at different stages of the race. They did congregate in behind him as they started to turn for home, but the leader still travelled best of all into the home straight. He picked up nicely when Harry Cobden asked him to and, while Beachcomber and Tea Clipper closed at the final fence, it never really looked like they were going to get the better of the leader and, actually, Tightenourbelts was going away again on the run-in.

It was a really nice performance by Emma Lavelle's horse. It is probable that he was idling in front, so he was able to find more when his rivals got close. Also, he didn't get a soft lead, he led at a fast pace. He did well to keep on as well as he did. He obviously stays well.

The handicapper raised him by just 3lb for this win to a mark of 132, and that is more than fair. This was just his second run of the season, his first since he warmed up with a run in the Silver Trophy over hurdles at Chepstow last month, and it was just his sixth chase, so he has the potential to go beyond that mark. He stays well, and he remains unexposed over three miles. And, while he goes well on good to soft ground, he also goes on soft. He will be of interest wherever he goes now. He jumped a little to his left here and, third in a Grade 2 novices' chase at Newbury last December, he might do even better back on a left-handed track.

Exeter, 8^th November 2024