13:50 Taunton

Sunday 30 December 2018

All12:4513:1513:5014:2014:5515:2515:55

Setsquare Recruitment Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 58.85s

Pop Rockstar^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 118| BF| D

3/1

Dual hurdles winner who has returned from wind surgery to show plenty of aptitude for a chasing career showing plenty of promise in three starts so far. Well-backed last time he was unfortunate to bump into a well-handicapped one; definite chance.

Form: 176-572

Inaminna^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117

25/1

Despite winning an Irish point-to-point on his debut he's nor really looked the sort for fences having been pulled up on both his starts in this sphere so far. Hard to take seriously on that form and best watched here.

Form: 431-4PP

Master Tradesman^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 117| BF

14/1

Dual point-to-point winner who has been set some stiff tasks on his return over hurdles from a 7 month break. Initial hurdles mark (122) looked high and also ran poorly back in novice company last time; cheekpieces now on for return to fences.

Form: P522-85

Mahlermade^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 115

6/1

Showed some fair form over hurdles in the summer and ran to a similar level on his chasing debut last time returning from a break. Looks as though a real stamina test will suit and even this trip/track may prove on the sharp side.

Form: 5-33442

Camron De Chaillac⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Hawke| OR: 115| C

20/1

Dual hurdles winner around this time last year (one over 2m3f here) but shaped well below form last time after a break. Now needs to show a lot more on his chasing debut off what looks to be a stiff mark still.

Form: 11P53-0

Night Of Sin¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 115| C

5/1

Stepped forward from his chase debut to defeat two rivals easily over 2m here on his 2nd start in this sphere (novice company). Not in quite the same form in his next two starts however (both handicaps) although this mark shouldn't be beyond him.

Form: 3-57136

Ballyknock Cloud^p,t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Platt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jack Barber| OR: 113

12/1

3-8 in point-to-points all those wins coming early in 2017 and that led to him winning a hurdle on his Rules debut (3m). Appeared twice over fences since a wind op faring better on the 2nd occasion but still looks to reside on a stiff mark.

Form: 1/1P7-77

Battle Of Ideas³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 112

8/1

Winning hurdler who wasn't really in the mix on his chasing debut but put that experience to good use last time at Chepstow; shaped better than his finishing position suggests. Looked at home over the trip and could do better this time around.

Form: 634-549

Seaston Spirit³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Garner| T: O Sherwood| OR: 112

16/1

Winning hurdler in testing conditions who fell on his chase debut (yet to be asked for his effort) at Kempton. Recovered to make more of an impact last time in a C&D handicap (looked to need further); more needed off this current mark.

Form: 42-B0F4

The Go Tou Man²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 110

33/1

Has a few placed efforts in bumpers and over hurdles to his name but his profile overall has a rather uneven feel about it; failed to really progress in truth. Now goes chasing for the first time with the headgear he wore last time now removed.

Form: 44-0276

Triggitas²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 109

50/1

Lightly-raced sort who looks to have been hard to get to the track over the past few years although he has shown some glimmers of promise over hurdles. Made an unpromising start to his chasing career; jumped left and always behind (best watched).

Form: 78/32-56

Plantagenet^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P J Brennan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 107| BF| D

5/1

Made an excellent start to life with this yard winning four handicap hurdles on the bounce; failed to win since. Let down by his jumping in previous chase starts but returns for another try off the back of two good hurdles efforts; remains a risk.

Form: 44-P322

Bolving²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: C Gethings| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 100

10/1

Shown some promise in both his chase starts although he made plenty of errors in the 2nd half of the race last time that rather halted his progress. Reported to have bled again last time and remains one to handle with caution.

Form: 0042-64

Non-Runners

Foxy Lass⁹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 4

T: Alexandra Dunn J: M G Nolan

Forecasts

Pop Rockstar (3/1), Plantagenet (5/1), Night Of Sin (5/1), Mahlermade (6/1), Battle Of Ideas (8/1), Bolving (10/1), Ballyknock Cloud (12/1), Master Tradesman (14/1), Seaston Spirit (16/1), Camron De Chaillac (20/1), Inaminna (25/1), The Go Tou Man (33/1), Triggitas (50/1), Foxy Lass (50/1)

This looks a good opportunity for POP ROCKSTAR to open his chasing account having twice caught the eye in chases moving through the race easily and jumping well. He ran into a progressive sort last time and there don’t look to be any of that ilk in this field. Mahlermade should run a sound race although a greater test of stamina looks to be needed for him to show his best. Plantagenet would be nicely weighted on his hurdles form but has yet to show that he is a proficient jumper over fences and Night Of Sin and Battle Of Ideas are preferred as place chances.