14:55 Taunton

Monday 30 December 2019

All12:4513:1513:5014:2514:5515:3016:00

Brain Tumour Research Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 7m 2.4s

Bellamy's Grey^p1⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 98

20/1

Still chasing elusive first career success under rules after nine attempts. However, he bounced back to form with a fine second at Fontwell (2m5f; soft) last month. Front-pair drew 11-length clear of the third. Stamina to prove back up in trip.

Form: 2/806-02

The Boola Bee^h¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 96

12/1

Ran better than the finishing position would suggest when a close-up fourth over slightly shorter at this track last time out. That was a marked improvement on her previous effort when pulled-up at Hexham (3m; heavy). Place claims at least.

Form: 1122P4

Kilcrea Bridge^p,t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: R T Dunne| T: R G Hawker| OR: 96

5/1

Back down to his last winning mark which came around this time last year at Exeter (3m; heavy). Had been in quiet form prior to that, so it isn't concerning that he finished in midfield on his return to action last month.

Form: 54257-5

Troed Y Melin¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 94

6/1

Produced a career-best run under rules when a 66/1 runner-up over slightly shorter here 18 days ago. Now drops in class slightly, and must hold a huge chance off 5lb higher if able to build on that effort and prove it was no fluke.

Form: P462-P2

Big Time Frank^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry| OR: 89

22/1

In nowhere near as consistent form as she was last season since returning to the track this season. Posted another moderate effort over a trip just shy of this one when a well-beaten sixth of seven at Ffos Las (3m1f; heavy) last time.

Form: 253-306

Great Tempo^b,t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 88

8/1

Yet to win in seven attempts over fences, but he is only a six-year-old and he may improve from seasonal return when fourth at Ffos Las (2m4f; soft). Steps back up in trip and mark continues to steadily drop.

Form: 3P-5484

Lizzie Langton^p1,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 86| BF

7/1

Tremendously consistent sort who improved from seasonal return to finish third over this trip at Wincanton (3m2f; good). Is now just 2lb above his last winning mark. Top stable are going great guns. Major player but wouldn't want testing ground

Form: 5333-53

Mogestic⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 85| D

33/1

Got no further than the 12th on his return to action when unseating his rider at Plumpton (3m4f; soft) last month. Now 0-3 over fences, but has plenty of placed form over this distance. Could run well at a price if avoiding jumping errors.

Form: 86-353U

Mount Oliver^p⁶⁹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 83| BF| D

16/1

Market likely to be informative as he returns from 696-day absence. Did win over this trip at Fontwell (3m2f; heavy) back in January 2018, so no stamina worries with him. Looked to have improved for the switch of yard prior to suffering injury too.

Form: 703U13/

Dont Be Robin^v³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 83| D

10/1

Well-beaten previously, but did produce a good effort when runner-up behind Kingston Mimosa at Lingfield (2m4f; heavy). Work to do to reverse that form but he doesn't have stamina to prove and jockey booking is an interesting one.

Form: 1-52U24

Kovera²⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 82| D

8/1

Looked to be returning to form but then ended last season on a sour note when finishing down the field at Chepstow (3m2f; good). No stamina queries with him as he won over this trip as a novice last season. Fitness to prove.

Form: 11P536-

Hollow Park^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 79| C

14/1

Failed to build upon promising run at Worcester (2m7f; good) two starts ago when an eased down fourth of five at Southwell (3m; soft) last month. Has questions to answer again after that, and looks one to oppose for the time being.

Form: 2PP32-4

Max O^v⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 79

12/1

Not finished out of the first three on any of his last five starts since sent chasing. His most recent effort was probably his best when runner-up at Sedgefield (3m2f; soft) last month. Stamina guaranteed and he could have a say.

Form: 833332

Clondaw Ace⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 78

8/1

0-7 under rules but not as exposed as some of his rivals. Initial two chase efforts at the backend of last season were woeful. However, he wasn't completely disgraced on his return to action and has place claims if able to build on that.

Form: 6568P-5

Kingston Mimosa^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 77

25/1

Scored at Lingfield (2m4f; heavy) on his penultimate start but was then stepped up slightly in grade/trip and was a disappointing sixth. Has stamina to prove going up even further in trip, and others have more solid claims.

Form: 346U16

Non-Runners

Cap Horner²²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: J W Mullins J: Daniel Sansom

Forecasts

Kilcrea Bridge (5/1), Troed Y Melin (6/1), Lizzie Langton (7/1), Great Tempo (8/1), Kovera (8/1), Clondaw Ace (8/1), Dont Be Robin (10/1), The Boola Bee (12/1), Max O (12/1), Hollow Park (14/1), Mount Oliver (16/1), Bellamy's Grey (20/1), Big Time Frank (22/1), Kingston Mimosa (25/1), Cap Horner (25/1), Mogestic (33/1)

An extremely difficult staying-handicap chase puzzle to solve. The Boola Bee returns to fences for the first time since being pulled-up at this track, but she advertised her wellbeing when just failing to make the frame over hurdles last time out. The Colin Tizzard stable are firing on all cylinders and so Lizzie Langton is greatly respected after showing obvious improvement from her seasonal reappearance to finish third over this trip at Wincanton recently. The vote goes to TROED Y MELIN though, who produced a clear career-best when second at this track last time (comfortably clear of the third). He is completely unexposed and could go one better off a 5lb higher mark.