PAUL Nicholls' highly regarded Royal Charm heads back to Exeter today when he lines up for the valuable £40,000 added Ilfracombe Food Services Hurdle.

An easy winner at the course in November, he looked a bright prospect that day, winning easily in the hands of Christian Williams and looking every inch a Festival prospect.

However, this looks an interesting race with in-form Nick Williams saddling Greatwood Hurdle third James De Vassy and Philip Hobbs running Bruslini, who showed plenty of resolution when running out an easy winner at Haydock in October.

Five line up for the Harry Dutfield Memorial Novices' Chase and although Alan King's horses have not looked quite on their game so far this term, Bensalem defied the stable's lack of form to win on his chasing bow at Plumpton last month.

The six-year-old was beaten just once over hurdles, going down to leading World Hurdle candidate Diamond Harry, and was sent off odds-on to make a winning bow over fences. Jockey Robert Thornton decided to make most of the running due to a feared lack of pace and such tactics did not really suit Bensalem.

He looked to make hard work of beating Chariot Charger by half a length but the runner-up could also be decent.

The four-mile Axminster Carpets Devon Marathon Handicap Chase looks set to be a stamina sapping race and the six-year-old mud-loving Peut Etre Sivola has all the right credentials to enjoy a run in the muck.

His last appearance was at Fontwell in November when he was staying on well at the finish so this extra half a mile will hold no fears although he's been raised 6lb for that success.

Shaka Pearl has gone up a massive 15lb in the handicap since annihilating the field at Fontwell at the beginning of November. The handicapper took a lean view of that success and is attempting to put the stoppers on him but there's a chance there's more to come from the Nick Gifford-trained nine-year-old. Another to consider is the consistent Go West, who is sure to keep plugging on at the same pace.

Cricket Boy finished fourth in a good race at Exeter won by Rebel de Maquis in October and may get a little closer this time in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle with a step up in trip aiding his cause. Lansdowne Princess should also go well on the back of her half-length defeat at Hereford last month.

Victor Dartnall won the EBF novices' hurdle last year with Darstardley Dick and Honourable Arthur could go close for the Barnstaple-based handler in the same race. He's had two decent bumper runs and is interesting on his first start over hurdles. Robert and Sally Alner saddle Swincombe Rock and Time to Think and both have chances with the nod going to Swincombe Rock while More The Merrier can feature in the novices' handicap chase.