15:40 Taunton

Monday 12 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

South West Racing Club Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 7m 56.1s

Ask The Weatherman^v1³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 136| D

9/2

Prolific winning point-to-pointer who made a fine start under Rules when winnig at Exeter in November. Pulled up twice since in good company (including Welsh National) but needs to get back on the straight and narrow.

Form: 171-1PP

Bells Of Ailsworth^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 132| C

7/1

Has won both chase starts at this track and hacked up by a wide margin at Bangor last time in testing ground. Raised 10lb but clearly in great heart and should run another good race.

Form: U13F-31

Ballycross^p⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131

9/2

In-and-out performer who pulled up last time out at Warwick in Grade 3 company. This is less challenging and has claims on previous close fourth at Chepstow, but career record of 1-16 tells its own story.

Form: P0-3P4P

Regal Flow⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 129| C

4/1

Honest staying chaser who got his head in front at Wincanton on Boxing Day then just failed to follow up at Hereford in January. Further 3lb rise though doesn't make life easy.

Form: 12-3912

Emperor's Choice^b¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 129| C| D

6/1

2014 Welsh National hero, scored at Haydock in December off lenient mark, but has failed to complete in two starts in good company since. 2lb lower here and cannot be ruled out if he's in the mood.

Form: 5P-31FU

Goodtoknow^b⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 126| CD

6/1

At his best when the mud is flying and scored at hereford on heavy ground in February 2017. Hasn't shown much since and dropped 7lb since a poor effort six weeks ago. Won this race two years ago though and champion jockey booked.

Form: P0-UPP7

Theatrical Star³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 124| C

6/1

Hasn't won since December 2014 but has run a number of good races in defeat since then. Close third here in November and at Sandown a month later but has ran poorly last two starts. Eased 3lb but may need more help.

Form: 6F3374

Non-Runners

Wotzizname⁴⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: H Fry J: N D Fehily

Forecasts

Wotzizname (9/4), Regal Flow (4/1), Ballycross (9/2), Ask The Weatherman (9/2), Theatrical Star (6/1), Goodtoknow (6/1), Emperor's Choice (6/1), Bells Of Ailsworth (7/1)

Although he's been hiked 10lb in the weights for winning easily at Bangor last time, the handicapper might not yet have the measure of BELLS OF AILSWORTH who is fancied to follow up. In a competitive staying chase, top weight Wotzizname sets a good standard and is open to further improvement and Regal Flow may also make a race of it. The rest can all produce the goods when in the mood but have been inconsistent. The jockey booking suggests better might be expected of Goodtoknow, while Ballycross can't be ruled out either.