14:50 Taunton

Sunday 5 February 2017

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Bathwick Tyres Taunton Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 13.20s

Go Long⁴⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 134

12/1

Defeated high class rival on penultimate outing at Doncaster in november 2015. Runner-up at the same venue subsequently but has been off the track for over a year since and carries top weight in this. Interesting if attracting market support.

Form: 23/12-

Bertimont^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130

8/1

Highly tried two seasons back but little form in competitive handicaps of late including when beaten at Kempton in december. Ground and trip should suit and a winner off an 8lb higher mark in the past but appears to be a risky proposition at present.

Form: 26277/8

Hint Of Mint⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 130

7/2

Justified odds-on favouritism by a neck over CD in december while four other course runs have yielded two victories and a head defeat. Put up just 2lbs for that latest success he looks to be a leading player here.

Form: 4730/03

Matchaway^b³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 126

3/1

First time blinkers did the job when successful at Hereford on latest outing having been beaten less than two lengths there on previous outing. Upped 5lbs for that victory but he remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 2/1P415-

Marquis Of Carabas³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 125

15/2

Beaten favourite under amateur rider on soft ground latest, sole in in eleven rules outings came in Warwick novice hurdle on good last may and this looks a tough enough assignment.

Form: 275324-

Caid Du Lin²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: D A Jacob| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 123

15/2

Winner at Niort on final outing in France in october. Disappointed on debut for this yard when sent off favourite on soft ground at Fontwell latest, interesting to see how he fares off the same mark here.

Form: 21P33U

Daklondike⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 120

7/2

Point-to-point winner last march and successful at the third attempt when encountering heavy ground for the first time at Lingfield in november. Absent since then and any rain looks likely to aid his cause.

Form: 1-43

Aldeburgh⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

33/1

Contested some decent novice and maiden events over hurdles in his time but unraced in this sphere since december 2015. Winner on the flat at Nottingham in may and interesting to see how he fares for a yard who have an 18% strike rate of late.

Form: 0026/77-

Non-Runners

Sigurd²⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Aidan Coleman

Forecasts

Matchaway (3/1), Hint Of Mint (7/2), Daklondike (7/2), Sigurd (13/2), Caid Du Lin (15/2), Marquis Of Carabas (15/2), Bertimont (8/1), Go Long (12/1), Aldeburgh (33/1)

HINT OF MINT can continue his trainers good run of form (31% strike rate of late) by following up his odds-on success here in december. Matchaway is another to win on his latest outing and he is a rare runner at this venue for his trainer (sole runner was a winner) and should also be their at the business end of the race assuming the blinkers work for a second time while Daklondike can also go well for his local yard. 1. Hint Of Mint 2. Matchaway 3. Daklondike