14:10 Taunton

Thursday 12 April 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:5516:3017:0517:35

toteplacepot Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 22.9s

Tierra Verde³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 100

7/2

Third over C&D last time when conditions were similar. Runner-up well-beaten since in a handicap and that suggests she has plenty of work to do from this mark.

Form: 42-7533

Scorpion Star^p²⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: M Hill| OR: 99

33/1

Winning point-to-pointer who was placed in a Sedgefield hunter chase almost a year ago. Tends to avoid encountering ground as soft as this and he has been absent for more than eight months.

Form: 35-2P59

Fire Ahead³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98

10/1

Has not shown a great deal in novice company, but he is not highly tried on handicap debut. Stable have been flying lately and he would be very interesting if coming in for support.

Form: 908

Oologist³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Gallagher| OR: 94

14/1

Can take a keen hold which is a problem when conditions are as testing as these. Hood removed after pulling up last time and there are few reasons to be optimistic.

Form: PPF88P

Cropley¹⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Alan Johns| T: D Burchell| OR: 91

11/2

Capable on his day and particularly in this grade. Needs to bounce back from a tame effort last time, but he has done so before.

Form: 4F1/8-30

Amour D'Or^t⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 90

40/1

Has shown little over the past two years and recent return offered little encouragement things were about to get better.

Form: 9PPP5-0

Zoltan Varga¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 94

5/2

Improved effort recently in a first-time hood which is now removed. Sire not renowned for NH winners and his stock are better on faster ground. As a result he looks worth opposing.

Form: 449474

Hoola Hula¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 87

14/1

First three career starts promised a lot more than she has delivered since. Hard to fancy on recent form though.

Form: 3-300PP

Karl Marx^b³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Dave Crosse| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 81| D

8/1

Has managed to string two good runs together lately and would probably have won last time but for making a mess of the last. Has every chance of going one better in a race as weak as this.

Form: 3P0422

Upham Running³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: Mrs K A Buckett| OR: 80

8/1

Has improved following wind surgery and posted a couple of good runs at Plumpton before finding 2m4f too far last time when behind Karl Marx. Last success was in 2014 so he carries risks, but the booking of James Bowen looks a significant statement.

Form: 3P-P246

Blackadder⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 79

66/1

Flat sprinter and 27-race maiden who has failed to make the frame in eight starts over hurdles. Has been withdrawn several times when the ground has been soft and deemed unsuitable. Impossible to fancy if taking his chance.

Form: FU6/407-

Eggesford^h1⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 74

33/1

Tailed off on his two completed starts over hurdles and a hood is applied this time. Races from 6lb out of the handicap.

Form: P8F0

Forecasts

Zoltan Varga (5/2), Tierra Verde (7/2), Cropley (11/2), Karl Marx (8/1), Upham Running (8/1), Fire Ahead (10/1), Oologist (14/1), Hoola Hula (14/1), Scorpion Star (33/1), Eggesford (33/1), Amour D'Or (40/1), Blackadder (66/1)

Few of these have a realistic chance but with ground conditions likely to take their toll, this will come down to who can handle conditions best. In that regard Karl Marx and UPHAM RUNNING take the eye. The former should have won last time when runner-up at Wincanton last time over 2m4f. The selection was behind him that day but promises to do better at this trip and the securing of James Bowen adds confidence. Fire Ahead is not highly tried on handicap debut and his yard are in good form so a market move would be noteworthy. Cropley is capable of bouncing back in this grade and has each-way prospects.