18:15 Taunton

Wednesday 25 April 2018

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1019:4020:10

Get Daily Tips At racinguk.com Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 4m 36.2s

Spoilt Rotten^h²⁰²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 107

11/4

First start for new yard (who can ready them first time), dropping to a winnable mark but will need to jump and settle better than has been the case. Chances if new yard have found the key, with trip and likely ground ideal.

Form: P2-32F3

Charlie Papa Lima^t1¹⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 104

11/4

Takes a big drop in trip after seemingly not getting home over further on last two starts, which may help, and as a point-to-point winner on quick ground the switch to fences could be a plus too. Not without hope if putting in an error-free round.

Form: 423455

Tikkinthebox^t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Robert Hawker⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 99

16/1

There's the odd run that gives hope he can win one over fences at some point but equally his form is littered with weak finishes and moderate efforts. Better ground may help but too risky to be looked at as the likely winner.

Form: 2-PF63P

Royal Act^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: S-J Davies| OR: 98| CD

3/1

Has found his form lately, twice a winner at the track and won with a bit in hand last time out. However, hit with a 10lb rise for those wins and will face likely quicker ground here, so new questions to answer, and the hat-trick is no gimme.

Form: 024311

Smoking Dixie^h1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 97

20/1

Half-brother to winning hurdler Shoofly Milly, showed a bit more here last time out and unexposed enough to improve again. This better ground may help his cause as well and he's quite interesting for a yard going well.

Form: 7644-P3

Presenting Berkley³²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 90| BF

22/1

Consistent over hurdles but clearly hard to win with, having twice been a beaten favourite and has had a change of headgear already as well. Probably needs decent ground but this trip short enough, and likely to need the run after a break.

Form: 2P43-23

Brinestine^p,t³⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: J E Moore| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 87| C

16/1

Not seen out for well over a year, has plenty of chase experience under his belt but overall strike rate isn't great and he may be best at a bare 2m anyway. Bit to prove here and likely to need the outing.

Form: 5432F7-

Darloa^p,t¹⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Shoemark| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 80

25/1

No win in 17 starts so far, close second to Yasir over hurdles at Uttoxeter last November but that's by far the recent highlight. Late in the day to try fences and is hard to fancy.

Form: PPP-729

Kahdian³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs H E Rees| OR: 78

16/1

Maiden after 27 starts, so confidence immediately tempered by that stat, but did at least do a little better on chase debut here last month when out of the handicap. This looks easier, so not out of it if building on that effort. Not discounted.

Form: 68/P09-3

Badilou^p,h⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Hill| OR: 77| BF

10/1

Definite signs of ability in five chase starts to date and may have gone close at Chepstow in January but for a shuddering mistake three out. Clear round vital and if refreshed by a short break, has e/w chances.

Form: 63F83P

Forecasts

Charlie Papa Lima (11/4), Spoilt Rotten (11/4), Royal Act (3/1), Badilou (10/1), Tikkinthebox (16/1), Brinestine (16/1), Kahdian (16/1), Smoking Dixie (20/1), Presenting Berkley (22/1), Darloa (25/1)

Royal Act loos the one to beat after a couple of victories but he faces a harder task here and may be vulnerable. SMOKING DIXIE is unexposed and showed enough last time to think he's got a future over fences. The hood and better ground should both help his cause and the yard are in cracking form. He's given the vote in an open contest. Kahdian is winless so far but would have a decent chance if improving a little on his chase debut last time. He can get in the places, with Charlie Papa Lima, Spoilt Rotten and Badilou all worthy of consideration too.