Bathwick Tyres Taunton Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 4m 22.60s

The Gipper²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 122| D

7/1

Testing ground would be in his favour but three recent efforts over hurdles have been discouraging and had previously fallen early on in second chase start at Ludlow (2m, good to firm) in October. Bit to prove.

Form: 1-2F556

Master Of Verse¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 117| D

17/2

Maiden hurdle winner in Ireland for Willie Mullins, unable to register in four chase starts after moving to Noel Meade and was well beaten at Ludlow (2m, soft) this month on debut for new trainer. Pulled hard and may have needed that run.

Form: 2-P4655

Enola Gay²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 117| D

5/4

Won a Catterick maiden hurdle late last month on fourth start for this yard ((2m, good to soft). Goes chasing for the first time and one of two for trainer in the field, market may split them.

Form: 526-201

Vocaliser⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Poste| T: R Dickin| OR: 107| D

11/8

Impressive start to chasing career, second at Warwick (2m, good) in May and built on that last month on reappearance to win at Leicester in 2m good-ground handicap. Since finished second back there (soft) in novice handicap and likely to go well.

Form: 430-212

Forecasts

Enola Gay (5/4), Vocaliser (11/8), The Gipper (7/1), Master Of Verse (17/2)

A case could be made for any of the quartet but VOCALISER is the one that has impressed jumping these obstacles and so he earns the vote. He was second at Warwick in May on chase bow and won a Leicester handicap on reappearance before again going well over that C&D in novice company since to be second. Receiving weight all round, he can improve again and land this. Master Of Verse will likely improve in time for Venetia Williams, but he was too keen on stable debut at Ludlow and so stablemate Enola Gay could prove the big danger if taking to this discipline on the back of winning a Catterick maiden hurdle. The Gipper appeared to have his confidence dented by a fall over fences at Ludlow in October and has run poorly over timber since.