15:20 Taunton

Thursday 30 November 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Collect totepool Winnings At Betfred Shops Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 43.55s

Marju's Quest⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 100| C| D

10/1

Back to form at Market Rasen last time where he seems to go well. This course has similar characteristics and he is 1-2 here. Good claimer on board and more than capable despite topweight.

Form: 0P3243

Love The Leader¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: James Best| T: J Farrelly| OR: 100| D

33/1

Quick four-timer landed in 2015 now a distant memory. Brief glimpses of that form since and last two efforts are discouraging.

Form: 739P99

Triple Chief^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Le Clerc⁽⁵⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 100| D

7/1

Reverts to hurdling after a good spell over fences this year. Better handicapped in this sphere and the trip/ground combination would be ideal.

Form: 312-224

Justice Knight²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: L Treadwell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 99

6/1

Much improved effort of handicap debut when positively ridden at Exeter. The ground was a lot softer than forecast here and this is a much sharper track. His Flat pedigree would indicate that is a reason to be optimistic despite a 5lb rise.

Form: 8-5S562

Sweeping Rock²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: J L Spearing| OR: 98

14/1

Winner at Worcester during the summer but his runs since show he has work to do in order to defy his current mark.

Form: 127346

Soulsaver^t¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: David Noonan| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 91| D

9/2

Returned from six months to score at Fontwell despite idling in the closing stages. A 7lb rise seems fair enough and his yard are 7-16 in the past two weeks, however this looks more competitive.

Form: 0052-31

Dunn's River^b1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr C Barber⁽⁷⁾| T: Jack Barber| OR: 97

20/1

Expected more back over hurdles last time after his success in the point-to-point ranks. Blinkers are fitted now, but his last run was so poor the transformation needs to be dramatic

Form: 32-3350

Princess Roania^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 96| C

10/1

Record now 0-14 over hurdles and she continues to flatter to deceive. Her record indicates she is better on slower ground than predicted here.

Form: 545423

Aristocles^p³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 95

33/1

Winner on the Flat over 1m6f on fast ground and yet to have conditions to suit since going handicapping over hurdles. That is corrected here, but his last two runs still failed to indicate he was ready to resume winning ways.

Form: 7563P-P

Ice Konig¹⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: J D Frost| OR: 95

14/1

Just three wins in 62 starts tells it's own story, although he often travels well in his races before finding little for pressure. Similar story in selling company last time and Triple Chief would appear to be the yard's main hope.

Form: 8355-74

One Cool Boy^t²⁰⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Miss Brodie Hampson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss T Watkins| OR: 94

33/1

Almost three years since his last win during which he has raced only eight times. Interesting to see rider on board who steered him to his two best performances. Up in trip on return from another layoff, but down in grade so not entirely dismissed.

Form: 8/2U95-7

Fearsome Fred²³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Dr J R J Naylor| OR: 92

14/1

Fourth in a modest Chepstow contest on handicap debut in April. Likely to need the run and easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 2P5/774-

Willyegolassiego¹²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 91

20/1

Scraped home in a mares race in June and hit by a harsh looking 8lb rise and that was reaffirmed by a poor run subsequently. Returns from four months off needing to prove she has improved in the interim.

Form: 89P-219

Fidelity¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Conor Shoemark| T: J A Geake| OR: 84

10/1

Yet to score over hurdles but some good efforts in defeat have seen his mark rise 12lb during the year. Has been on the sidelines five months and the market will be informative. Stable took this in 2014 when Shot In The Dark landed a gamble.

Form: 335-222

Darloa^b,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 78

8/1

First time blinkers inspired a better effort three weeks ago when unfortunate to catch Yasir on a good day. Handicapper has reacted, but rider's claim offsets that. The ground was softer than advertised then and today's conditions are a concern.

Form: 0PPP-72

Ordensritter^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: C J Down| OR: 77

33/1

0-17 over hurdles and well beaten on both starts since return from 21 month absence. Nevertheless, the signs were more positive last time and his new mark is beginning to look attractive.

Form: 632P/78

It's All An Act¹⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 74

66/1

Soon gave up the ghost when last seen in May. Has his favoured conditions but a spell in the paddock needs to have had a positive effect.

Form: 7779-4P

Forecasts

Soulsaver (9/2), Justice Knight (6/1), Triple Chief (7/1), Darloa (8/1), Fidelity (10/1), Marju's Quest (10/1), Princess Roania (10/1), Sweeping Rock (14/1), Fearsome Fred (14/1), Ice Konig (14/1), Willyegolassiego (20/1), Dunn's River (20/1), One Cool Boy (33/1), Ordensritter (33/1), Love The Leader (33/1), Aristocles (33/1), It's All An Act (66/1)

Fidelity and Darloa are longstanding maidens who arrive on the back of career best performances last time. Both have claims but the former returns from a break and the latter may need a slower surface. Ordensritter could outrun his early odds having signalled he was not far from returning to his best last time. Willyegolassiego has to prove herself off this mark and Princess Roania is proving hard to win with. Marju's Quest has form off higher marks than this and has ground conditions to suit. The topweight clearly likes tight right-handed tracks and, under James Bowen, he would be expected to be thereabouts. On this occasion he may find JUSTICE KNIGHT too good. The five-year-old produced his best run so far at Exeter last time and, although the handicapper has reacted, there should be more improvement to come on this faster ground. Soulsaver won with a bit to spare last time and he is another to consider despite a 7lb higher mark.