Daryl Carter's Tips: Skelton's 6hr round trip for 7/2 Novice unlikely to be wasted

• Unexposed Novice

• Skelton's only ride of the day

• Has the potential to improve significantly on his second chase outing

15:00 Exeter - Back Snipe @ 7/24.50 0.5pt

It's a competitive contest, but most of these are exposed, and it's a very interesting move for Dan Skelton to enter Snipe - 7/24.50 on the Betfair Sportsbook - into an open handicap on just his second go over fences.

His inexperience is a slight concern, but he was indeed worthy of more than a four-pound rise after his seasonal/chase debut in what was a dominant victory at Southwell over two fellow unexposed rivals. The third in that contest - a solid 115 horse - set the standard, and he was readily held at the death as the Skelton six-year-old put in a strong finishing effort.

That run can be upgraded, considering he sat well off the pace and gave the runner-up and third the run of the race. The clock suggests he did well to win as he did, and there's undoubtedly further improvement to come, having recorded figures ten pounds in excess of what he had achieved over hurdles.

Harry Skelton makes the 6-hour round trip from Warwick to Exeter for this one ride today when he could have a shoe in at Hereford (according to the market). Good ground looks essential to him, and perhaps this bold move is to get ahead of the incoming winter weather and land a nice pot (13k).

His inexperience does concern me, but on a very quiet day, he looks like one of the better-handicapped horses on the card, so he is worth chancing at 7/24.50 or bigger.

Back On The Lash eased in grade, and with a good record, fresh could provide the biggest threat ahead of Lounge Lizard.