Racing tips: Lightly raced chaser Ree Okka eyes Exeter Gold before bigger and better things

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Meatloaf ended Thursday with a win for us, after a shocking run from Undercover Lover who was terrible and another frustrating run from Iceman Dennis who travelled well into his race but found zilch for pressure.

We didn't get to see much of the Meatloaf win at Wincanton due to the fog which has been a problem over the last couple of days for a few racecourses, but when he emerged with the lead from the clouds he found another gear and scooted a few lengths clear.

Exeter 2:35

I am a big fan of this race and it's great to see so many trainers and owners putting their horses into this race for just 10k, as you could say a fair few of these are well-handicapped and could easily win much easier races, but they've decided to come here. This race last year was won by L'Homme Presse, who is now rated 170 and is one of the main fancies for this seasons Gold Cup. Chances are that we won't have another superstar like him but we could have a few nice ones.

I really do like the chance of REE OKKA. I think his chase debut was full of promise and it looked like he might've needed the run. He shot clear by a few lengths but then the gas tank emptied and he had to settle for runner-up. He jumped well in the main, did very little wrong, and lost to a decent horse who has finished 2nd since. Chasing has always been the plan for this horse since he was bought and moved to Harry Fry's yard, he's looked like a chaser since I first saw him on a racetrack and his PTP win shows that.

A mark of 129 is fair for this horse, who could be rated in the 140s quite soon if he is as good as I think he could be. He is on the short side in terms of odds for a competitive race but I think he has the profile needed to win a race of this nature and he can go on to bigger and better things.

Exeter 3:10

This is another competitive race but I'm not as confident with SOME DETAIL as I am with Ree Okka, but I do think this track and trip could bring out the revival needed to win.

I'm begging that there's no low sun as it kills the vibe, but also ruins the point in jumps racing as normally half of the fences are removed and at that point, it's who is the quickest horse than who is the best jumper. Obviously, they do it for safety reasons which I totally understand but for my sake where Some Detail is a horse who needs a stamina test and a jumping test, I'd like for the sun to stay away from Exeter.

This horse has always looked like a horse who needs an extreme trip to test his stamina and get the best out of him. He has won over shorter in the past but off his current mark, he will need things to be in his favour. I rate the form of his 3rd/5 at Taunton in March behind Revels Hill. That winner has raced once since which saw him finish in the placed at Ascot in a very tough race. Some Detail wasn't on a going day that day but plugged on in eye-catching style over 3m 4f and it looked like today's trip would be perfect. He was tried over this trip in April when finishing 3rd. That was a decent effort as the winner was well-handicapped and has improved 17lbs since and I think the runner-up is more than capable of winning off his current mark too. Since then Some Detail has dropped 2lbs and has had two runs this season which should have his fitness spot on for this. I think he is an EW player for sure, but I wouldn't go crazy.

Sandown 2:55

One of my favourite jumps horses in recent years is DAREBIN. On his day he would destroy this field off his current handicap mark, which is what has drawn me to back him. Whether or not he has the ability to do so anymore at the age of 10 we'll have to see, but I'll be having a few quid on him as he has his conditions.

This race has been a target of Darebin's for the past four seasons where he has run well on most occasions, including a win back in 2020. He won this race off a handicap mark of 109 and has been placed off 113 and 121, so his current mark of 99 make him of huge interest despite his age.

He loves Sandown and goes on any ground it seems. You might have a couple of horses in this who could progress again past their handicap marks, but I can't stop myself from backing this lad who is a lovely horse and has been an amazing horse for connections. It wouldn't surprise me to see him go off second favourite and compete for favouritism as I'm sure many tipsters and punters will be all over him for the same reason I am, but if you can't get on when this thread goes up at around 11/2 I wouldn't be wanting to back him off less than 4/1 or so.

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