14:35 Taunton

Thursday 12 December 2019

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

Dave Criddle Travel & Saga Holidays Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 4m 58.30s

Hygrove Percy⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 129| D

10/1

Returned from well over two years off the track with a 10L victory under this rider in a 2m3f handicap hurdle at Fontwell (soft) in October. One to note despite an 11lb rise in the weights.

Form: 12146/1

Cervaro Mix⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 128| D

20/1

Ran well when beaten 10L in finishing third in a 2m2f handicap chase at Fontwell (good) in October. Disappointed at Ascot (2m3f, good-to-soft) next time out however and is worth a check in the market on return to hurdling.

Form: 251-139

Birds Of Prey^p1,t⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127| CD

8/1

Twice a winner over this C&D in the spring and drops markedly in grade having finished 19½L last of seven in a Listed novice hurdle at Kempton (2m, good) on seasonal debut in October. Cheekpieces tried for the first time.

Form: 22116-7

Story Of Friends^p,t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 121| D

12/1

Returning from wind surgery when finishing a good ½L second in a 2m event on handicap debut at Kempton (good-to-soft) last month. Raised 3lb for that effort and cheekpieces worn for the first time that day are retained.

Form: 52-1122

War Brigade^p,t⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: Ian Williams| OR: 120

28/1

Novice hurdle winner on soft ground in December last year and has placed on the Flat subsequently. Well beaten on hurdles return over an extended 2m at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) in October however and others make more appeal.

Form: 2126-0

Kansas City Chief²⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120

50/1

Beaten 65L when finishing sixth in a 3m2f handicap chase at Newbury (good-to-soft) in March. Dropping markedly in distance returning to hurdles on seasonal reappearance.

Form: 0/5P5P6-

Vaziani²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 120| C

4/1

Stepped up on seasonal debut when finishing runner-up in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton (soft) last month. Promising conditional in the saddle and is interesting despite racing off a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 2/75F-02

Jaytrack Parkhomes^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 118

7/2

Placed on both starts since returning from wind surgery including when finishing third over 2m4f at Wincanton (good-to-soft) last time out. Raised 1lb for that effort and looks likely to run his race once more.

Form: 965-323

Eclair Des Sablons⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 117

18/1

Performed well when a neck second on handicap and seasonal debut over an extended 2m2f at Exeter (good) in October. Disappointed next time and is worth a check in the market on this occasion.

Form: 1622-26

Le Ligerien¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116| D

13/2

Finished third over an extended 2m here the last twice including on good-to-soft ground at the end of last month. Interesting to see how he fares stepping up in distance.

Form: 210-633

Ebony Gale³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116

9/1

Promising 14½L fourth in an eight runner handicap hurdle over 2m on seasonal reappearance at Sandown (heavy) last month. Races off a 2lb lower mark here but looks the stable second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 12966-4

Espalion¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 115| D

20/1

Registered two victories over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow in April. Struggled in two starts this campaign however and races off a mark 8lb higher than for his most recent success.

Form: 0P11-80

Annsam²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113

14/1

Maiden hurdle winner over an extended 1m7f on good-to-firm ground at Wincanton in May. Improved on handicap debut when finishing fifth over an extended 2m here last month. Worth a check in the market stepping up in distance.

Form: 53-165

Commandant^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 113

50/1

Placed third in a novices' handicap chase at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) on stable debut in October but finished well beaten at Kempton (2m2f, good) the following month. Races off a 9lb lower mark on his return to hurdles.

Form: 501038

Defuture Is Bright²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 109

25/1

Placed in a couple of point-to-points and showed signs of ability in three hurdles starts so far. Beaten 22L when third of six over an extended 1m7f at Southwell (heavy) last time out and is worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 24-2843

Non-Runners

Lucky Lover Boy³⁰

Weight: 11-10| Age: 4

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: David England

Raven's Tower⁸⁵

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: B Pauling J: Luca Morgan

Forecasts

Jaytrack Parkhomes (7/2), Vaziani (4/1), Le Ligerien (13/2), Birds Of Prey (8/1), Ebony Gale (9/1), Hygrove Percy (10/1), Story Of Friends (12/1), Annsam (14/1), Eclair Des Sablons (18/1), Cervaro Mix (20/1), Espalion (20/1), Raven's Tower (20/1), Defuture Is Bright (25/1), Lucky Lover Boy (25/1), War Brigade (28/1), Kansas City Chief (50/1), Commandant (50/1)

JAYTRACK PARKHOMES has placed on all three starts this campaign and he can get back to winning ways with a success in this handicap hurdle. The selection ran well over further on his most recent start and he can get the better of top weight Hygrove Percy who impressed when winning on his return from a lengthy absence last time out. Birds Of Prey represents a top yard on handicap debut and he can claim third.