15:10 Taunton

Thursday 28 February 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Newton King Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 16.8s

Sammylou^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 112

5/1

Left previous form behind when opening account last month at Huntingdon (2m3½f, good to soft), travelling powerfully and winning with plenty in hand. 9lb hike in the ratings poses a tougher question going up in distance, but respected.

Form: 8-500B1

Oscar Ceremony²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 110

7/2

Unconvincing in three maidens, looked in need of a staying trip but failed to justify the money on handicap bow at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft; 4-1) and question to answer for the moment.

Form: 4835

Drama King^b,t1³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 107

10/1

Little form at shorter trips and handicapping last time brought no improvement. Hard to fancy unless market tells us otherwise now tackling this longer journey.

Form: 7/6P-58

Doctor Thea²⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Stefan Kirwan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Chapman| OR: 106

66/1

Handicap hurdle winner at Market Rasen (2m4½f, good) last May, showed she stays this sort of trip with close third there in August (first-time visor) and just 1lb higher on return / stable bow. Rider lacks experience (0-8).

Form: 85-1553

Soldier Of Love^p1⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105

4/1

Son of Yeats, has made the frame (albeit remotely) in trio of hurdles starts so far, latest when 29L second over 2m3f (good) here last month. Could have more to offer now upped in distance and remains of interest with new headgear.

Form: 27-332

Passam^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 104

9/2

Shaped better over C&D this month on soft going when just under 15L down in third. Yet to race on good ground, interesting to see how he fares with better surface likely now.

Form: 393-U73

Mauna Kea^v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Gundry| OR: 102| CD

5/1

Transformed by a visor to run away with two low-grade handicaps on differing ground over C&D (good) and Exeter (2m5½f, heavy) in December. Not as good either run since from increased mark, possible return here could see him competitive again.

Form: 6511P6

Itsaboutime^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 86

12/1

Not seen much on racecourses these days, beaten 32L over 2m3f around here last month on return from latest layoff (just second run since 2016) and makes no appeal upped in distance.

Form: 0395/7-8

Macca's Stowaway⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: James Best| T: K Bishop| OR: 85

25/1

0-14 under rules. Some encouragement from here 18L third over C&D (good) in December (race won by Mauna Kea) but 3lb wrong on these terms and beaten again here since in a lower grade race.

Form: 093807

Non-Runners

Mr Magill¹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: Kieran Burke J: Ben Godfrey

Forecasts

Oscar Ceremony (7/2), Soldier Of Love (4/1), Passam (9/2), Sammylou (5/1), Mauna Kea (5/1), Mr Magill (15/2), Drama King (10/1), Itsaboutime (12/1), Macca's Stowaway (25/1), Doctor Thea (66/1)

Sammylou can be seen in a different light following a win at Huntingdon recently and should go well despite a 9lb hike in the ratings for that success. Previous C&D winner Mauna Kea might do better back here after a couple of lesser efforts while Soldier Of Love goes up in distance and has scope to improve. DOCTOR THEA has winning form over shorter trips last summer, but has also shown she'll stay this trip. She's back from a break on stable bow and has a good chance to give claiming rider Stefan Kirwan a first winner under rules.