Exeter Preview: Classical Art can follow-up, Adrenalin Flight a shout

Classical Art will relish the quick ground at Exeter today, and looks weighted to take all the beating in the 2m 1f handicap hurdle (15:35).

This gelding won a 1m 4f handicap on the level on good-to-firm ground at Windsor when trained by Roger Varian, and shaped with plenty of promise on his hurdling debut for David Pipe when fourth to Bivouac at Sandown on soft ground.

The winner is a useful sort, now rated 139, and the third home Baron Alco is rated 120.

That is strong form and, after failing to trouble the judged in four subsequent starts, Classical Art finally came good last time out at Taunton when getting up on the line to force a dead-heat off a mark of 107.

To me Classical Art was unlucky not to land the spoils outright, as he made a costly mistake at the last and also forfeited ground when drifting left in the final 100 yards.

In the circumstances, it was a solid effort, especially as the ground was softer than the official description of “good” following some heavy showers.

A 4lb rise for that success looks on the lenient side, and Classical Art should have even more to offer on today’s quicker ground judged on his flat form.

The four-year old also has the services of talented young rider Michael Heard in the saddle who is terrific value for his 7lb claim, and this looks a nice opportunity for Classical Art to go in again.

In the extended 3m 6f feature handicap chase (15:00), Adrenalin Flight has plenty going for him.

The Seamus Mullins trained nine-year-old posted a cracking effort when finishing fourth of 15 to Midnight Prayer in the 2014 running of the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and looked as good as ever when getting back on the winning trail at this venue three starts back in the 4m Devon National.