14:05 Taunton

Thursday 12 December 2019

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:40

Dave Criddle Travel & Bristol Airport Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 6m 21.75s

Midnight Magic^t,v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 105

6/1

In good form so far this campaign winning once and finishing runner-up three times from four starts prior to falling two out when holding every chance at Exeter (3m, soft) last time out. Strong claims despite a 2lb rise in the weights.

Form: 2-2212F

Minella Examiner²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 103

16/1

Decent effort in finishing 14L third in a small field hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Southwell (heavy) on handicap debut last time. Worth a check in the market upped in trip on chase debut.

Form: 2/57-93

Out For Justice^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 103

20/1

Stepped up on his return from wind surgery when finishing third in a handicap chase over 3m1f at Wincanton (good) last time out. Interesting racing off a mark 3lb higher than when winning at Fontwell (good-to-soft) in June.

Form: 116P63

Bolving³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: James Best| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 100

9/2

Bumper winner returned from a break with a 2½L third in a novices' handicap chase over an extended 2m5f at Hereford (good) early last month. Notable runner racing off the same mark in this contest.

Form: 2/6434-3

From The Heart^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 99

4/1

Ten race maiden ran well when finishing 13L second over an extended 2m4f at Huntingdon (good) on chase debut last month. Races off the same mark here and is an interesting contender stepping up in distance.

Form: 380-482

Fenlons Court³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 96

16/1

Returning from a break when pulled up on heavy ground over an extended 2m7f at Lingfield last month. More needed if he is to take this event.

Form: 5-6353P

Strictlyadancer²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 95| D

9/2

Handicap hurdle winner over an extended 2m7f at Fakenham (good) in January. Best effort in four subsequent starts came when finishing runner-up over an extended 2m4f at Southwell (heavy) last time out. One to note upped in distance.

Form: 716-652

Robyndzone^p,t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 93

17/2

Point-to-point winner and placed three times over hurdles including when 16L third over 3m1f at Huntingdon (good) last time out. Dropping slightly in trip on chase debut.

Form: 68-2243

Hahadi^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 91

10/1

Point-to-point winner but yet to win in ten starts under Rules and is probably best watched on chase debut having finished 17L fifth over 2m3f in a good-to-soft ground handicap hurdle here a fortnight ago.

Form: 533-285

Miss Zip²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 90

40/1

Placed on both point-to-point starts earlier this year and finished a fair 24L fifth in a novices' handicap event on chase debut at Ffos Las (2m5f, soft) last time out. Probably best watched at present however.

Form: 246545

Troed Y Melin²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 89

66/1

Successful in a point-to-point in 2018 and placed in that sphere earlier this year. Pulled up on return to Rules racing in a novice hurdle over an extended 2m5f at Exeter (soft) last month. Making his chase and handicap debut.

Form: 6P462-P

Ruffling Feathers^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 79

9/1

Ten race maiden finished 19½L sixth over an extended 2m5f on good-to-soft ground here last month when returning from wind surgery. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 06-7556

Non-Runners

Hurricane Arcadio⁷

Weight: 10-13| Age: 5

T: M Blake J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

From The Heart (4/1), Bolving (9/2), Strictlyadancer (9/2), Hurricane Arcadio (11/2), Midnight Magic (6/1), Robyndzone (17/2), Ruffling Feathers (9/1), Hahadi (10/1), Fenlons Court (16/1), Minella Examiner (16/1), Out For Justice (20/1), Miss Zip (40/1), Troed Y Melin (66/1)

MIDNIGHT MAGIC has been in good form in recent months and he can put an Exeter fall last time out behind him to defy top weight in this competitive novices' handicap chase. Second place can go the way of Bolving who ran well on seasonal debut on his most recent start while third place can go to Strictlyadancer who has a highly promising conditional jockey in the saddle stepping up in trip.