By the time Friday afternoon unfolds over Devon, Exeter Racecourse will stage a competitive seven-race National Hunt programme from 2:14pm to 5:20pm. The Exeter Racecards 20 February blends progressive novices, competitive handicaps and demanding staying chases, with Race 3 the £40,000 Mares’ Steeple Chase standing as the highest-prize contest of the day. Alongside it, Race 4’s Devon National Handicap Steeple Chase provides one of the sternest stamina examinations on the winter calendar.
Race 1 (2:14pm) begins with the Novices’ Hurdle Race, a Class 4 contest over 2m 161y worth £10,000 and featuring eight runners. Exeter’s undulating terrain places emphasis on fluent jumping and balance, while the uphill finish ensures the contest often favours those conserving energy for a late challenge.
Race 2 (2:44pm) follows with the Bev, Margaret & Iris Bond Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase. This Class 3 event over 3m 54y carries £15,500 in prize money and has attracted four runners. With a compact field, tactical positioning and precise fencing will be critical over the extended trip.
The spotlight intensifies in Race 3 (3:14pm) – the Mares’ Steeple Chase. This Class 1 contest over 3m 54y offers the day’s highest purse of £40,000 and, despite featuring only three runners, boasts notable quality. Irish challenger Fun Fun Fun (IRE) arrives from the powerful W. P. Mullins stable, owned by Mr Simon Munir and Mr Isaac Souede, with P. Townend in the saddle.
At 3:45pm comes the Nick Ansell, Devon National Handicap Steeple Chase (Race4). Run over a gruelling 3m 6f 153y, this Class 3 handicap worth £25,000 has drawn eight runners prepared for one of the most demanding stamina examinations of the winter. Energy conservation early will be key before the race intensifies in the closing mile. Proven stayers with economical jumping techniques are likely to come to the fore in what could become an attritional contest.
The programme continues at 4:15pm with the Ludo Sports & Live Lounge Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Race. This Class 4 event over 2m 161y, worth £11,000, features four runners. With limited numbers, tactics again take centre stage. A steadily run affair could transform into a sharp sprint between the final two flights.
At 4:45pm, Race 6, the Guildhall Shopping, Exeter Handicap Hurdle Race presents an eight-runner Class 5 contest over 2m 5f 137y for £9,000. The intermediate distance ensures both stamina and tactical speed are required. Races over this trip at Exeter often hinge on sustained momentum up the long home straight.
The curtain falls at 5:20pm with Race 7 the Greendale Farm Shop Open National Hunt Flat Race. This Class 5 bumper over 2m 161y carries £4,000 and features seven runners. Without obstacles, emphasis falls on raw ability and racecraft. Such contests frequently unveil future hurdle or chase prospects, making the finale one to note for seasons ahead.
As the final strides are taken, Exeter’s 20 February racecard will reflect a meeting defined by stamina, strategy and quality. From novice beginnings to the £40,000 feature mares’ chase and the relentless Devon National, the afternoon encapsulates the enduring challenge and theatre of National Hunt racing in Devon.
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