It is the race that we savor on the first Tuesday in November of each year. OK, so bragging about ‘stopping the nation’ might be a bit of a stretch but, make no mistake, many of us will find five minutes in our shows to watch what happens in the Betway Haldon Gold Cup. in Exeter.

Typically, there’s a relatively small field, but it’s an intriguing renewal where you can defend each of the six runners. And with a strong gallop on the maps, there will be no hiding places.

Here is a guide for each of the contenders.

1. GREENETEEN

Time form evaluation: 178. Sponsor’s ratings: 7-2

Greaneteen masters Altior in Sandown

Provided Paul Nicholls with a seventh success in this race, beating Moonlighter last year. He went on to be one of the best two-mile hunters in training, with his efforts including a second in Tingle Creek; a fourth place in the Champion Chase; and a loss of Altior in the celebratory pursuit at Sandown. It weighs 17 pounds more than 12 months ago and Paul Nicholls had suggested it was a stepping stone to another crack in Tingle Creek. A daring race is on the cards but, conceding chunks of all-out weight and short of fitness, he could fail in his quest to become the first consecutive winner since Edredon Bleu in 2002/03.

2. HITMAN

Time form evaluation: 180p. Sponsor’s ratings: 11-10

Hitman hunting at the Allmankind house

He fits the profile of many of Nicholls’ previous winners, being a second-season hunter who promises more after having achieved a lot already. He won a wide margin of novice events at Ffos Las and Newbury, but achieved more when he finished second to Allmankind in Henry VIII at Sandown and third at Protektorat in Manifesto at Aintree. A true run of over 2m2 should be fine for him and a line through Allmankind, who won the Old Roan last month with a 160 rating, suggests that a 151 rating may well underestimate him. Fitness seems unlikely to be an issue, and a confident jumper is likely to stop.

3. ELDORADO ALLEN

Time form evaluation: 177. Sponsor’s ratings: 5-1

Hunted House Shishkin a few times last year, including in the Arkle, after early fencing wins at Newton Abbot and Cheltenham. His fresh record deserves a second look and it is interesting he fell into handicap society, but he has twice finished well adrift of Hitman when they met last year and this suggests that ‘He is not faced with an easy task beating him on level weights.

4. BY MOONLIGHT

Time form evaluation: 176. Sponsor’s ratings: 17-2

Moonlighter closes its doors 12 months ago

Going fresh and leading pretty much everywhere except the line last year when Greaneteen caught up with him in the last strides. He and that rival meet this rival in better 11-pound conditions, although their careers have followed different paths thereafter. Moonlighter was more missed than hit afterwards, although he had the lead in Sandown in February. If he’s on his A Game, he could still get them all to go but the presence of another leader in the peloton, the racefit King D’Argent, is of no use to him.

5. THE KING OF MONEY

Time form evaluation: 177. Sponsor’s ratings: 17-2

Won just one of his first 16 races (flat and over hurdles), but was transformed when he lashed out over the fences and was encouraged to run last season. His score increased by 32 pounds after wins at Warwick (twice) and Southwell, which were followed by a near miss at Ayr. He picked up where he left off when he moved closer to Kelso last month and, given he’s the only runner on the pitch with a recent run under his belt, he looks certain to be aggressively mounted in an attempt to expose any physical defects. Has a good attitude and won’t go down without a fight.

6 ZANZA

Time form evaluation: 174+. Sponsor’s ratings: 14-1

Zanza has fun in Newbury

There is a suspicion that we didn’t see the best of him last season, when his team had a mixed run. An easy winner at Newbury at the end of November, admittedly in a race that went in part, he was running well when he fell to three at Cheltenham next time around and, on his last start, ran much better than bare form does suggests it to Aintree. His jump, which at times let him down, will be closely examined here, and he’s forced to run from 4 pounds on the handicap, but it’s interesting that Richard Johnson recently included him in his Tote team. Ten To Follow. “He gave me a good impression at Newbury,” Johnson said.

VERDICT

A dazzling revival, with HITMAN having a lot going for him. Leader King D’Argent is fit and fit so he could be one for the forecast.

1. Hitman. 2. King of Silver.