Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams' NAP is a mare at Exeter

Return to hurdling to be far more suitable

Exeter 13:00: Marta Des Mottes 1pt win 14/1

Bellatrixsa is the favourite for this opening mares' handicap hurdle and she's taking a big step back in trip over 3m1½f last time. Midnight Ginger and Good Luck Charm are also back down in trip while Credo and Jaunty Freyja have led or raced very handily of late. All of that could result in this race being strongly run and that may set the race up nicely for the remaining runner and outsider of the field.

Marta Des Mottes was well beaten last time but that was over fences and some hesitant jumping meant that she could never get into the race.

Earlier this season she had run well twice over hurdles off higher marks than she races off today. On her first start of the season and first start after a wind op at Carlisle, she moved smoothly into contention just behind the leaders approaching 3 out but got in tight at that hurdle and lost momentum and her position. She was pushed along and made up ground again going to 2 out but she landed awkwardly at that hurdle. She was better at the last and ran on well up the hill to finish second.

She was 5lb out of the handicap next time at Ludlow and matters were made tougher when Miranda shied into her at the start and the pair were left over ten lengths behind the field. Marta Des Mottes gradually made up the lost ground and was in contention on the long run to 3 out but was pushed wide on the final bend. She looked a bit awkward under pressure in the home straight and was beaten 6¾ lengths in fifth.

The handicapper has been generous in dropping Marta Des Mottes' hurdles rating in line with her chase rating so she's now 3lb lower than when finishing second at Carlisle and races off 8lb lower than when running well at Ludlow.

There is a worry that she has been inconsistent in the past and it might be that her confidence will be impacted by those two runs over fences but she looks overpriced based on what she's achieved over hurdles this season and any 10/1 or bigger appeals.