15:10 Taunton

Thursday 4 April 2019

All14:0514:4015:1015:5016:2517:0017:35

Porter Dodson Solicitors & Advisors Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 5m 58.75s

Choix Des Armes¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122

7/2

Not made much progress over hurdles since winning at Wincanton last April but it's still relatively early days for the gelding. This is still a marked step up in trip though. The market can guide as to how he'll cope with carrying top weight.

Form: 313-285

Eur Gone West^h,t¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 113

6/4

Appreciated the return to a longer trip when scoring over 2m7f at Exeter last time out; he jumped out to the right on that occasion, so may appreciate this course lay out. Has to merit an interest despite his 7lb penalty.

Form: 424741

Zero Grand^t,v1³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: J Farrelly| OR: 119

16/1

Has already won twice around this sort of trip and has also gone well at this course before now; not been so effective since returning from wind surgery and needs to improve upon his last three starts in a big way.

Form: PU7-8PP

Muthabir⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 118| CD

9/1

Went up just 4lb for winning at Ludlow (over this trip) in January but held twice since. Won this in 2017 so no doubts about his stamina; limitations exposed but likely to handle the conditions well if the forecast rain gets into the ground.

Form: 4-84145

Night Generation^t¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 110WS

16/1

Showed promise when first stepped up to this trip but did disappoint in both of his last couple of starts. Been given time off since, so feasible the gelding could have been freshened up by the break. Had wind surgery since last seen though.

Form: 18-2296

Kootenay River³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 110

10/1

Won a point-to-point but his first couple of starts over hurdles left a lot to be desired. Had wind surgery before he posted an improved effort at Hereford latest, which bodes well for this slightly longer trip. Worth a betting check at least.

Form: 12-2893

Winter Soldier³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 109| DWS

9/2

Won four times in point-to-points and once in a bumper but not yet seen the best of him over hurdles; three starts in January left a bit to be desired; had wind surgery since but has a bit to prove still.

Form: 315/505

Non-Runners

Flying Verse¹⁴⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: David Dennis J: David Bass

Forecasts

Eur Gone West (6/4), Choix Des Armes (7/2), Winter Soldier (9/2), Flying Verse (7/1), Muthabir (9/1), Kootenay River (10/1), Night Generation (16/1), Zero Grand (16/1)

David Pipe has his string in good order and has found a decent opening for EUR GONE WEST to attempt to shrug aside his 7lb penalty for winning at Exeter last month. The right handed course here will suit the gelding judging by the way he jumped last time and another bold attempt can be expected. Muthabir won the 2017 renewal of this race and can go close again if the heavens open up in time for enough rain to get into the ground for him. Kootenay Rivershowed improvement last time and is also shortlisted as a live danger.