Roco to lord it over rivals
Back Lord Roco @ 11/1 in the 14:25 at Newcastle
Harry Fry trains the favourite Deeper Blue, and at 5/4, my gut instinct is to always oppose his short price runners. He was in a much stronger race last time and reverts back to maiden company over hurdles, but he was well beaten there and his best effort was on good ground.
With two 8/1 chances, we can go each-way on our double today with James Ewart's Lord Roco - who shaped much better behind his stablemate Escapeandevade at Ayr last time in a novice. Escapeandevade his since finished second to decent prospect Bold Endeavour, so he proved the win was no fluke.
Lord Roco came from a lot further back at Ayr and was outpaced but to his credit he stayed on in the soft conditions.
Cheekpieces are on for the first time and the stiff finish at Newcastle should aid a strong finish.
Annie to be the Doyen at Exeter
Back Doyannie @ 8/1 in the 15:40 at Exeter
We can utilise the Extra Place Special with the 17 runners for the penultimate race at Exeter, and the selection is Jack Barber's Doyannie. We can back her at 8/1.
Rewinding back to 2019, she made her debut in a bumper at Wincanton, and was not only well backed, but travelled well to finish third. It was a fine beginning, but her next outing didn't come until a break of 254 days, where she finished third to Anthony Honeyball's Coquelicot.
With those two runs, it's been frustrating that her hurdling efforts were underwhelming - without a win in six starts. Her best effort over the smaller obstacles came last spring at Taunton, although the track looked a bit too sharp for her and she appeared to be ready to go up in distance for a stiffer test.
Her latest start was her chase debut at Hereford, and not a bad little mares' contest where she finished a well beaten fourth. She made a few jumping errors, but it was her first run after a break and she can put that run behind her with a 5lb decrease down to 94.
Barber hasn't had a winner over fences this term from nine runners, which is surprising as his strike-rate over the timber is 17% - superior to his bumper and hurdles number.