Racing: Edredon leads return of the two-mile monsters

There will be rustling and displacement among the purpleness of the the gorse and heather around Exeter racecourse today. Some people might even convince themselves they have seen a frightening beast. They will be right.

Whatever might be lurking in the flora, there is a guaranteed supply of awesome animals on the more manicured athletic area of the Devon racecourse. Top-class chasers racing over short distances are always a spectacle for the brave. And that's just the spectators.

The Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup has always been a good race and, this season, it can certainly rejoice in the title of the best contest thus far of the jumping campaign. An individual award, that of the best young jumping horse, must surely have been earned by Azertyuiop last term. That is easy to say, unlike the horse's name itself.

The six-year-old won the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy by 11 lengths at the Cheltenham Festival and is unbeaten in four starts over fences. While Ruby Walsh, his regular but injured jockey is recovering and cursing at the same time, Mick Fitzgerald comes in for his first ride on Azertyuiop.

Paul Nicholls, the gelding's trainer, has chiselled away most of the rust, but has not quite yet steam-cleaned the machinery. "He's in good order and this was always going to be his prep race," he said. "Because of the dry weather we haven't been able to get as much work into him as we would like and he's about 12 kilos heavier than his best weight, so he'll probably come on for the race.

"As long as the ground is good it should be fine for him. They've had some rain and the ground is supposed to be perfect."

Nicholls also has Kadarann in the two miles and one furlong race. His summit last year was beating stablemate Cenkos in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury and, as on that day, he will be the mount of Joe Tizzard. "Kadarann is well but he would prefer to go left-handed and there aren't too many opportunities for him," Nicholls added.

It might seem crazy but Azertyuiop does not have to carry top weight in today's limited handicap. That dubious honour is left to Edredon Bleu, who at least has a race victory, that of 12 months ago, to his name. Nicholls's horse, however, must prove his ground-devouring stride can adapt at full racing pace to this undulating circuit.

Edredon Bleu gave weight away in this last year when beating Seebald and Armaturk and the 11-year-old established that the cobwebs had not taken over when he reappeared successfully in the Desert Orchid Chase at Wincanton recently. Exit Swinger was the nearest member of the retinue that day, 15 lengths back.

Edredon Bleu usually lies poolside and waits for the daiquiris between races, but, on this occasion, he is being pressed back into action relatively quickly. It is a prospect which perturbs his trainer, Henrietta Knight. But then Edredon Bleu has to be kept going at this point in the calendar, as he is no lion in winter.

"He didn't turn a hair at all from his last race," Knight said yesterday. "He was very happy and he enjoyed the run. He does like it in the autumn and the spring. He's never run with such a short break in between his races, though, because he seems to take a long time to recover. So that's the experiment.

"But he didn't seem to take much out of himself last time. I don't know if that's because he's getting older, but it's what's prompted us to run tomorrow. He should run a big race but it does look to be a hot event."

Seebald has another stab 12 months on but the weights are violently against him, in conjunction with Edredon Bleu at least. This time round it is blues against the Bleu, as Seebald's owners, Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler, are both now with Manchester City. Pipe also saddles Wahiba Sands, who fell at the fifth when second favourite behind Edredon Bleu at Wincanton.

The cardboard cutouts of the race are Castle Prince and Dual Star, who will both compete from at least two stones out of the handicap. Yet lightweight does not necessarily equal makeweight if Ballybough Rasher's success in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on Saturday is to make any sense. The good might win and so might the bad. It won't be ugly.

HALDON GOLD CUP (Exeter today) Coral: 10-11 Azertyuiop, 100-30 Seebald, 7-2 Edredon Bleu, 8-1 Kadarann, 10-1 Wahiba Sands, 100-1 Castle Prince, 500-1 Dual Star

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE (Cheltenham, March) Coral: 3-1 Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, 10-1 Le Roi Miguel, 12-1 Cenkos, Flagship Uberalles, 14-1 Impek, Native Upmanship, 16-1 Seebald, 20-1 others.

Racing in brief: Breath test costs fanning victory

Joe Fanning was banned from riding at Redcar yesterday after failing a breathalyser test for alcohol and missed a winner on Go Padero. Keith Dalgleish failed the same test, also at Redcar, in September. Fanning failed a second test 15 minutes later and consequently gave a urine sample. Tests will be made on the urine sample to determine whether Fanning was in breach of the rules.

Paul Cole's contenders head the betting for Saturday's November Handicap at Doncaster on the final day of the turf Flat season. Harcourt is 7-1 favourite with Blue Square and Capitano Corelli is on 8-1.

CD Europe, owned in partnership by the Blackburn Rovers footballers Lucas Neill and Gary Flitcroft, won the sprint handicap at Redcar under a good ride from Neil Callan.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Scotney has been appointed as Jockey Club Director of Security.