14:30 Taunton

Wednesday 30 October 2019

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Join The Taunton Racecourse Business Club Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 3.20s

Alfie's Angel²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Bradley

125/1

Has won three times over 6f on the Flat, but regressive in that sphere, and doesn't appeal as likely to excel in his new career.

Form: U-

Aria Rose¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington

16/1

Only moderate on the Flat but put in a respectable first effort over hurdles at Warwick in September. Stopped quickly after making most at Huntingdon last time, though, and questions to answer after that display.

Form: 56

Bathsheba Bay^p1,t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

15/8

Useful on the Flat in 2018 earning a rating of 87 and winning twice at up to 1¼m. Off a year and had wind surgery before a promising third of 9 to Nickolson in maiden at Wincanton on hurdling debut. Cheekpieces and tongue tie added now.

Form: 3

By Order Of²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: T Lacey

12/1

Son of Shantou who was readily held in a Hereford juvenile hurdle in March, but did attract support there, so not judged prematurely, for all a longer trip will suit in time.

Form: 8-

Dusky Hercules³⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D PipeWS

7/2

Shantou half-brother to JLT Chase winner Black Hercules. Disappointing to date given his pedigree, but has had wind surgery prior to this return, and may yet come good, so needs a market check.

Form: 7/548-

Finvarra²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams

100/1

Modest at best on the Flat for Niall Madden, and offered little starting out over hurdles for new yard at Stratford. Hood he wore there dispensed with now.

Form: 0

Jawshan²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: Ian Williams

25/1

Failed to win on the Flat, but showed fair form at around 1½m. Never in the hunt when distant fifth of 14 to Ashington in a 2m novice at Stratford on recent hurdling debut, but should do better with experience.

Form: 5

Niamh's Oscar⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: J D Frost

200/1

Placed between the flags in Ireland, but has shown no solid form in four starts under Rules to date, and impossible to see him being competitive given how far he's been beaten over hurdles.

Form: 772-60

Phoenix Lightning¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop

150/1

Poor and regressive form at up to 1m on the Flat in Ireland, and well held in maiden at Wincanton on hurdling debut for new yard recently.

Form: 8

Scardura⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland

13/8

Stowaway gelding failed to complete in two point-to-point starts but would have gone close but for falling on latter. Fifth of 18 on hurdling debut in a maiden at the Galway Festival for Andy Slattery, and entitled to progress on debut for new yard.

Form: PF-5

Taurean Dancer⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal

28/1

Sole Flat win came over 1½m on Polytrack, but consistent enough, and ran one of his better race at Bath last time. Yard do well with their runners in this sphere, so he's not taken lightly.

Form:

Everlasting Sea⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: David Noonan| T: W S Kittow

66/1

Long-standing maiden on the Flat, but does stay well, which is a positive going forward, and not disgraced when a place behind Taurean Dancer at Bath last time, albeit in receipt of plenty of weight.

Form:

Sarasota²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard

100/1

Fair form at up to 1¼m on the Flat, but she has been soundly beaten on both starts over hurdles, and makes limited appeal this side of handicaps.

Form: 35

Non-Runners

Sheeza Legend¹⁸⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 5

T: Mrs E Bishop J: Jamie Bargary

Forecasts

Scardura (13/8), Bathsheba Bay (15/8), Dusky Hercules (7/2), By Order Of (12/1), Aria Rose (16/1), Jawshan (25/1), Taurean Dancer (28/1), Sheeza Legend (33/1), Everlasting Sea (66/1), Finvarra (100/1), Sarasota (100/1), Alfie's Angel (125/1), Phoenix Lightning (150/1), Niamh's Oscar (200/1)

BATHSHEBA BAY was the best of these on Flat form, and after an encouraging debut after a long absence, is taken to score at the second attempt over hurdles. Scardura shaped well on his only hurdles outing for Andy Slattery, and should be competitive on debut for Neil Mulholland, while Taurean Dancer appeals as the type who could improve on his fair Flat form now switching codes.