Ex Patriot was attracting support soon after betting began on the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and there is a lot to like about Ellmarie Holden’s runner
![Talking Horses: Bank on Irish raider Ex Patriot to collect bookies’ cash](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/079c75c174430dba9436efca32ea47e411e12ec6/19_159_3316_1991/master/3316.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=9d84d8315f89b46848d85d34ee614b85)
It is a new year at Cheltenham racecourse but some things will never change at the home of jump racing, among them the respect that must be given to well-backed
Irish raiders. Ex Patriot (2.00) was attracting support soon after betting began on today’s Paddy Power Handicap Chase and there is a lot to like about Ellmarie Holden’s runner.
This is only his second chance in a handicap chase and he won the first, comfortably beating 10 rivals at Gowran in March. He was well treated at the weights that day but he still looks on a fair mark, judging by two efforts in quality novice contests in November. He did not get home on his last visit here, in the Cleeve, but this should be much less of a stamina test.