JONJO O'NEILL'S horses are emerging from the doldrums, which should ensure Canon Barney (3.25) gives his supporters a great run for their money in the stamina-sapping Devon National at Exeter.

O'Neill's powerful team were struck down by a debilitating virus over the Christmas period and Canon Barney had an enforced period on the sidelines until reappearing 12 days ago.

The Huntingdon race he contested was won by another of today's leading contenders, Kelatan, but Canon Barney finished a close-up third in a thrilling three-way drive to the line.

From a punting point of view, it's worth taking into account that Kelatan was undoubtedly hard-fit that day, whereas the selection just needed the outing following his long absence.

All things being considered, it is not hard to envisage Canon Barney reversing the form, especially as Tony McCoy has a particularly good record in long-distance events at Exeter.

In the opening Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle, Devito (2.25) has every chance of adding to his recent success at Leicester.

Devito was excellent value for his seven-length triumph at the Midlands venue that day, which was achieved on a similarly testing surface over a more-or-less identical distance.

Shape Up's experience of Southwell's fibre-sand will surely stand him in good stead for one of the feature events on the card, the £10,000 Press Red ITV Handicap.

Although the Ray Craggs-trained gelding has been shoved up 7lb in the ratings for his recent track and trip victory, Shape Up (3.10) won with a good deal of authority and possesses further scope for improvement.

Tony Newcombe regularly brings his horses up from Devon in order to plunder the all-weather prize-money, a case in point being Mufreh (4.10), who might easily defy top-weight in the one-mile Littlewoods Handicap.

Mufreh re-opposes Wessex on 6lb better terms since the pair finished third and second respectively over track and trip last time out. There were three lengths between them, but it's well worth noting that Mufreh was badly hampered at the two-furlong marker and never really recovered.

For the closing Classified Stakes, Abbeygate (4.40) has found an ideal opportunity to get back on the winning trail.

Having opened his account at the track in February, the superbly bred son of Unfuwain then lost absolutely nothing in defeat by failing to concede 8lb to the in-form Vizulise at Wolverhampton last week.