15:30 Taunton

Monday 30 December 2019

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

Invest Southwest Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 10.13s

Jersey Bean⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 130| D

11/1

Posted a very poor effort over this C&D over fences last month on his second run of the season. Now returns to hurdles off a 10lb lower mark than when pulling-up at Doncaster (3m; good) in March. Has too much to prove to recommend.

Form: P5P-227

Dinos Benefit^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 129| D

9/1

Dropped 3lb by the handicapper for finishing down the field in a slightly higher grade at Cheltenham (2m4f; soft) recently. This looks easier on paper, but she needs to much more. Others hold slightly more appealing profiles.

Form: 213-480

Thegallantway⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 122| D

3/1

Impressive when winning at the first time of asking over hurdles at Exeter (2m2f; good), but was then a remote third in a poor race at Ludlow (2m5f; soft) next time out. One of a few in here who are stepping up in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 138-13

Winter Getaway⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 122| D

5/2

Took her record over hurdles to 2-2 when winning at Warwick (2m5f; soft) last month. Starts out in handicaps off a fair enough mark, and she is related to a 3m2f winner so should have no problems with the step up in trip.

Form: 14-1311

Normandy Soldier¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 119

9/4

Posted a career-best when making it third time lucky over hurdles to score at Hereford (2m3f; soft). Now makes handicap debut as he steps up in trip, and there should be plenty more to come from this lightly raced sort.

Form: 51-571

Kansas City Chief¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117| D

12/1

Never featured on seasonal reappearance over 2m3f at this track earlier in the month. Losing run is beginning to mount up and as a result he is now 3lb below his last winning mark which came at Doncaster (3m; soft) almost two years ago.

Form: 5P5P6-0

Marmont^h,t²²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: James Davies| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 112| CWS

28/1

Recorded second success of his career when successful over 2m on his penultimate start. Steps up in markedly trip, and was unplaced over further at Market Rasen (2m4f; good) on his final start of last season. Fitness/stamina to prove.

Form: 2/5521-4

Compadre³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: L Treadwell| T: H J Evans| OR: 108

12/1

Reverts to hurdles for the first time since finishing a neck-second at Huntingdon (3m1f; good) in March. Not completely disgraced on seasonal return over fences in a competitive event at Ascot (2m7f; soft). 7lb lower over hurdles than fences.

Form: 0121-37

Forecasts

Normandy Soldier (9/4), Winter Getaway (5/2), Thegallantway (3/1), Dinos Benefit (9/1), Jersey Bean (11/1), Kansas City Chief (12/1), Compadre (12/1), Marmont (28/1)

Preference is to stick with the young and improving horses in the line-up. Namely, Normandy Soldier and WINTER GETAWAY. The former took his form to a new level when cruising clear of his rivals to get off the mark over hurdles by eight-length at Hereford recently. However, the latter is preferred as the substance of her form is that bit stronger and a mark of 122 may yet prove to look a lenient one in time. Compadre is rated 7lb lower over hurdles than he is over fences and he ran a cracker when last seen over the smaller obstacles. He wasn't heavily beaten at Ascot on his return to action and this race is not as competitive which can enable him to finish in the money.