13:05 Taunton

Saturday 19 January 2019

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:5516:25

Evening With Tommo And Champ Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:07 | Winning time: 4m 47.8s

Telson Barley^t1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 100

8/1

Hadn't shown a lot first four starts but much better when a staying-on fifth at Warwick, not beaten far at the death. Should improve again and if so, has chances here, with conditions fine.

Form: 05-F05

Rebel Commander⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Platt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Jack Barber| OR: 99

16/1

Placed in a couple of bumpers but generally disappointing since, and gave up the fight a bit too quickly for comfort at Exeter last time. Drops in grade but far too many question marks against him at present.

Form: 228-35P

Bouggietopieces^p⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 95

33/1

Placed in an open point-to-point last June, a reasonable piece of form in the context of this event, but generally disappointing otherwise. Starts out life for new yard here and worth a look in the market, as support would make him of interest.

Form: 7P4-42P

Oologist⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: J Gallagher| OR: 93

6/1

Decent effort when a close second at Huntingdon in November and things didn't quite go his way at Warwick latest, so is excused that. Looks on a fair mark and conditions fine, good jockey booking and has chances.

Form: 8P6-325

The Major^h,t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 93

8/1

Has the odd effort to his name from last summer that gives him chances in this but tends to finish off weakly whatever the trip and on that, others make more appeal here.

Form: 746-284

Dont Be Robin^p1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 91

16/1

Had looked to be going nowhere until a better effort against a few in-form rivals at Hereford last time, only fading late in the contest. Gets another drop in the weights and may yet be capable of a bit better. Not discounted.

Form: 84-9086

Candyman Can^h,t1²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: L Hurley| OR: 91

25/1

Has been on a downward spiral for some time now and it was no better at Wincanton last time, finishing well beaten. Upped in trip here but hard to see how that is going to help.

Form: 4/P4-750

Dollnamix³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 90

3/1

Well beaten in novice hurdles but first effort in handicaps was a bit better, finishing second (albeit at a respectable distance behind the winner). Drop back in trip may well help, as he didn't seem to get 3m there, so an obvious candidate today.

Form: 9/54472

Itsaboutime^t1²⁷¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Alain Cawley| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 90

20/1

Not seen much on racecourses these days, and is coming back off another absence here. Has the odd effort to his name that's respectable but bottom line is that he's still a maiden and that looks unlikely to change here.

Form: 30395/7-

Silver Quay³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 90

7/2

Looks on a fair mark these days and last couple of efforts seem to indicate he might be on the way back to some form. Seems to go well here too, which can only help, and a good pace on up front will help. One with solid chances.

Form: 650543

I'll Be Your Clown⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: S D Dixon| OR: 89

50/1

Early promise all but evaporated now and last few efforts suggest that he's going to be struggling again here. Others readily preferred.

Form: 9P79-90

Norse Light^p,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 88| D

25/1

Falling fast in the handicap now, but that's due to a series of poor efforts, beating only a handful of horses home last three starts. Change of headgear did little last time and he can't really be entertained as the winner here.

Form: 975000

Menapian⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 88

25/1

Has given the odd indication that he has some ability but is generally doing a good job of not showcasing it. Well beaten again last time and although the step into handicaps offers more of a chance, he's simply too risky.

Form: 03P/F8-5

Mr Lando^t⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 86

20/1

On a dangerously low mark for a yard that like to land a gamble, and on that alone is worth a look in the market, especially as has C&D form to his name. Well beaten in the week at Fontwell but not easy to rule out here.

Form: 700778

Fire Ahead¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Lee Edwards| T: Ian Williams| OR: 80

14/1

With a good yard but not really going anywhere at present and was soon seen off at Wincanton last time, May well be capable of better but a risky proposition at present, and only of interest if there's market support.

Form: 08P-9F9

Zorlu^b³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: D Burchell| OR: 72

25/1

Not going anywhere quickly at present, weakened out of it at Ffos Las last time and although the better ground here may help, bottom line with him is that he's yet to hit the places in 12 starts. Can't really be looked at as the winner here.

Form: 0/5758

Sundance Boy^b¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: T J Phelan| T: G Fierro| OR: 69

33/1

No wins or places from 11 starts to date and looks very moderate. Hard to see where the necessary improvement is coming from.

Form: P/704-87

Forecasts

Dollnamix (3/1), Silver Quay (7/2), Oologist (6/1), Telson Barley (8/1), The Major (8/1), Fire Ahead (14/1), Dont Be Robin (16/1), Rebel Commander (16/1), Mr Lando (20/1), Itsaboutime (20/1), Menapian (25/1), Candyman Can (25/1), Norse Light (25/1), Zorlu (25/1), Sundance Boy (33/1), Bouggietopieces (33/1), I'll Be Your Clown (50/1)

As tricky an opener as you could wish for. Dollnamix looks the obvious one after a solid effort here last time out, and given the way he didn't quite see it out, this drop back in trip is likely to be a plus point. Silver Quay is in good form and is on a low-looking handicap mark, so should go close if running his race, but a chance is taken on MR LANDO bouncing back to form. He ran well over C&D around this time last year, that coming off a moderate effort, so a better effort here wouldn't be the biggest surprise. On a very good handicap mark if he can, and any market support would make him more interesting still.