Top chasers in Exeter showdown

The old king meets the new pretender at Exeter tomorrow when Edredon Bleu and Azertyuiop do battle in what has all the makings of a thrilling renewal of the William Hill Haldon Gold Cup.

Azertyuiop is 3-1 joint favourite with Moscow Flyer to win next year's Queen Mother Champion Chase with Hills, but he faces no easy task on his reappearance in a race which also includes his prolific winning stablemate Kadarann and Martin Pipe's Seebald and Wahiba Sands.

However, his trainer Paul Nicholls has had this race in mind for his reappearance for several weeks and feels that the sixyearold has still to reveal his true potential after winning four out of four over fences.

He said: "The sign of a really good horse is how he jumps and it's amazing just how athletic Azertyuiop is.

"He's only six, so he's entitled to improve, and if he has improved then the rest had better watch out." The fact that Exeter is one of the courses which operates outside the umbrella of the dedicated racing channel attheraces means that anyone who wants to see tomorrow's £50,000 contest live on television will have to visit a betting shop to do so.

Bookmakers can expect a sudden increase in business at just before 2.40, and Henrietta Knight has warned against underestimating Edredon Bleu as he bids to win tomorrow's race for the second year running.