The well-treated Marleno caught the eye on his comeback run five days ago and looks overpriced at 12/1 in the 3.40 at Exeter.
The gelding was entitled to need the run on after a 220 days absence, and was ridden accordingly when finishing 13th of 20 to Cruise In Style at Wincanton.
Held-up well off the pace, he was never put in the race at any stage but stayed on late past beaten horses under very tender handling.
It was clear that connections expected him to need the race badly, and with that run under his belt I feel that much better can be expected this afternoon.
The six-year-old was a progressive sort over the smaller obstacles in 2010/11 when trained by Milton Harris, winning a handicap at Taunton off 106 and going on to finish runner-up at Uttoxeter off 112.
Since then he has been with a couple of different handlers and has mainly been campaigned over fences.
His best run over the larger obstacles came when third at Southwell last November off a mark of 112, but he didn’t really take to fencing and his form over hurdles was far better.
Now in the care of Tony Middleton, he gets into this contest off a mark of just 104 and that gives him a major chance from a handicapping perspective.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Marleno (12/1 bet365, Betfred, BetVictor, Hills, Stan James – BOG)