16:15 Taunton

Tuesday 19 February 2019

All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:1516:5017:20

Greene King Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 4.0s

Fidux⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 143| D

16/1

Decent hurdler at his best, and won in Listed company at Ascot earlier in the season. Held in a Grade 3 back there last time, but if back to his previous run, then he has a chance from this career-high mark.

Form: 3-34110

Misterton³⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 141| CD

10/1

Progressive over hurdles in 2017, but not seen since finishing a 26L ninth in last year's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. 1lb lower for this belated reappearance, and a market check looks prudent to gauge confidence after a year off.

Form: P21/129-

Garo De Juilley^t⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 140| C

25/1

Grade 3 winner at Chepstow (2m3f, good) in October, when 6lb lower. Has put in two creditable efforts since then. Course winner. Drops back in trip here, but should get the strong pace he will need, so is far from ruled out.

Form: 224146

Sternrubin^p⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| D

22/1

4-17 over hurdles and reverts to this discipline after a couple of hurdles wins this season. Only 4lb higher than the more recent of those at Ludlow in November, but hasn't been able to win from this high a mark over hurdles for some time.

Form: 3-01613

Anemoi⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 135| D

7/1

Has won on both his rules debut in a Huntingdon bumper and his hurdles debut at Ascot. Also followed up the latter with success under a penalty at Doncaster. Looks useful and could go very well from this mark on his handicap debut.

Form: 15-113

Nube Negra⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

13/2

Won twice over hurdles last season when there was soft in the going description and was a very good 4L third in the Grade 3 Fred Winter at Cheltenham. Not as good on reappearance back there, but frame claims from this mark if bouncing back.

Form: 12135-8

Flying Tiger⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 133| D

9/1

Won the Fred Winter in 2017, but has been unable to add to that, despite some heroic efforts. Handicapper has relented not, but it is a concern that he has so far been unable to give a positive response.

Form: 00-23B8

Encore Champs³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 133| D

10/1

Although put in his place in an Ascot Grade 2 in December, he has won novice hurdles either side of that and looked potentially very useful. Open to improvement, will need some from this mark on handicap debut in a tough race, but should go well.

Form: 21171

Space Oddity^h⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 132| C| D

50/1

3-11 over hurdles, but not seen in this discipline since being second here from 3lb lower in April 2017. Has won here twice, but all three of his wins have come over further. Not written off, but a bit to prove after recent efforts.

Form: U54-4FU

Capitaine^t¹⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| DWS

3/1

Grade 2 hurdle winner as a novice, and improved in a brief spell chasing in 2017. Recent attempts over hurdles not as good, so now returns from wind surgery, hoping that a revival can be sparked. Market check advised.

Form: 11F5-04

Storm Home²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 130| CD

22/1

Won novice hurdles both here and at Wincanton back-to-back this time last year. Switch to chasing proved fruitless, as did his recent return to hurdles. Bit to prove at present, despite receding mark.

Form: 0-547P5

Fiesole^h⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: David England| T: O Murphy| OR: 130| D

50/1

Triple winner over hurdles in Ireland, including an easy success when last seen there in October. Looks on a tough mark at the moment, based on his stable debut last month.

Form: 212-710

Smaoineamh Alainn³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 128| D

8/1

3-8 over hurdles, and is now 1lb lower than her last win, which came in December 2017. Has not managed to replicate that effort, but she is not dismissed from this mark.

Form: 1P-3563

Court Royale⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121| CD

8/1

Scored here in a class 4 event in November, when 4lb lower. Held both starts since and this looks very tough on that evidence.

Form: 314195

Forecasts

Capitaine (3/1), Nube Negra (13/2), Anemoi (7/1), Court Royale (8/1), Smaoineamh Alainn (8/1), Flying Tiger (9/1), Encore Champs (10/1), Misterton (10/1), Fidux (16/1), Sternrubin (22/1), Storm Home (22/1), Garo De Juilley (25/1), Fiesole (50/1), Space Oddity (50/1)

A really competitive handicap hurdle, where the suggestion is to side with the unexposed ANEMOI. The fact that connections choose to go down the handicap route from this mark is hopefully an indicator that the gelding can win from it, but irrespective of that, he is one of the few here who has not yet peaked. Similar can be said of Encore Champs, who is also of interest. Smaoineamh Alainn is not ruled out, with Nube Negra, Fidux and Garo De Juilley also much respected.