Bistouri D'Honore lands Exeter opener

A review of the rest of Tuesday's meeting at Exeter where Bistouri D'Honore made his first start over a hurdles a winning one.

Bistouri D'Honore made his first start over a hurdles a winning one when grinding out victory from the front in the Bathwick Tyres 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle at Exeter.

Having finished sixth in a bumper on his first start under rules at Newton Abbot last month, the giant-framed four-year-old made the expected improvement on his switch to timber.

Left to his own devices out in front in the extended two-mile-five-furlong contest, the Paul Nicholls-trained 6-5 favourite proved two and a quarter lengths too strong for Swoop To Conquer.

Nicholls said: "He is a lovely big horse for a four-year-old. I ran him in a bumper the other day and he was a bit green.

"Today was not ideal being in front, but I said to Nick (Scholfield) that he probably would be left in front.

"He just had a gallop round with his ears pricked, really. He would get three miles, but the stiff track round here was ideal today.

"He is a work in progress and will be a chaser in time."

Resolution Bay left his disappointing debut bumper effort well behind him when making his seasonal return a winning one in the Bathwick Tyres Plymouth Novices' Hurdle.

The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding looked a different proposition on his first hurdles start when proving a class above his rivals in the extended two-mile contest.

Taking up matters on the run to the fourth-last the 13-8 market leader only needed to be kept up to his work by champion jockey Richard Johnson over the final flight and up the run-in before passing the post a four-length winner.

Hobbs said: "He was very disappointing in a bumper at Chepstow when we thought he was a nice horse and there was no reason for it.

"It was an appalling race but he could have done no more than that. We will find another similar race with a penalty."

Emerging Force followed up his debut win over fences at Hereford four weeks ago when landing the odds in the 188bet.co.uk Novices' Chase.

The 8-15 shot, trained by Harry Whittington, ranged alongside the pace-setting Southfield Vic four out and gradually got on top to land a cosy success.

Emerging Force pulled out more for Gavin Sheehan from the final fence to win by two lengths.

Whittington said: "Relief is the word. It was always going to be a tactical affair with four runners.

"We walked the course, Gavin and I, beforehand. I just said we had the choice of making it or the Paul Nicholls' horse. The other horse was a little bit keener than us, so we decided to take a lead.

"He was very laid back and didn't do too much for the first two miles. It turned into a sprint up the straight, but he's a real stayer and his class got him through.

"It's job done and on to the next one."

He added: "There was worry all the way. I was only confident after he jumped the last as I knew we were there.

"He'll go to Newbury's Hennessy meeting for the Grade Two three-mile chase that Native River won last year. Whether we have another run before the depth of the winter after that I don't know.

"The RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival will be his long-term target."

Caulfields Venture (7-1) registered a fourth course and distance success when defying top weight in the Smith & Williamson Handicap Chase.

The 10-year-old, trained by Emma Lavelle, made most of the running over the three miles with Silver Commander sharing pacemaking duties for a mile.

The well-backed 9-2 chance Dancing Shadow put in a strong challenge but Caulfields Venture kept on gamely for Daryl Jacob to hang on by a neck. Fort Worth was six lengths away in third.

Lavelle said: "He likes it round here. He just didn't face up to the blinkers the last time he came here. We just put the visor back on today.

"By the end of last season, he was not running his races at all and we thought maybe putting the blinkers on might sharpen him up. Hence that's why they were on last time.

"The problem he has is when he leaves the 0-130 bracket he's in trouble.

"I think he's better giving weight away in a race like this rather than off a light weight in a better race."

The Fergal O'Brien-trained Mighty Leader showed no ill effects from his run at Hereford 24 hours earlier as justified his position as 2-1 favourite in the £25 Free Bet At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle with a four-length success.

O'Brien said: "He did it well. He didn't have a hard race on Monday and Paddy (Brennan) felt the track didn't suit him.

"He was a bit far back (at Hereford) and he (Brennan) felt he never got into the race as he was a bit too switched off. That is why we rode him handy today."