13:05 Taunton

Saturday 18 January 2020

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2515:5516:25

Gold Cup And Grand National Lunches Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 5m 0.0s

Streets Of Fire²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jean-Rene Auvray| OR: 100

33/1

Winning pointer who has shown mixed from so far in maiden hurdles. Good second on heavy ground at Leicester 2m4f six weeks ago but disappointed on return visit there last time when well beaten (reportedly lost a shoe). Makes handicap debut.

Form: 217-825

Amzac Magic⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 99

8/1

2m4f Wincanton handicap hurdle winner last March off 95 and solid third in heavy ground on reappearance at Market Rasen in November. Failed to stay 3m latest so drops back to optimum trip off 2lb lower mark.

Form: 0431-34

Et Apres Thou³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 99

8/1

Showed little in two bumpers and first two starts over hurdles, but did better latest when eighth of 20 in Newbury 2m maiden hurdle. Steps up 4f and makes handicap bow off feasible mark for top yard. Worthy of consideration.

Form: 59-008

Maasai Warrior²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: P Henderson| OR: 94

14/1

Modest form in three novice hurdles earlier this winter. Ran too freely at Ascot last month over nearly 3m on handicap bow and eventually pulled up. Back in trip and dropped 4lb but has questions to answer.

Form: 53-768P

Neetside⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: T Dennis| OR: 92

5/1

Second in Newton Abbot bumper in May 2017 but yet to reach a place in 10 starts over hurdles. Won restricted 3m point last month and isn't easy to assess, so worth noting for any market interest.

Form: 5621C-1

Truckers Tangle⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 91| BF

18/1

Had been consistently reaching the frame in hurdles and chases prior to poor run latest when favoutite for Fontwell h'cap hurdle but only finished seventh. Best form on decent ground so heavy surface has to be a concern.

Form: 22-3527

My Lady Grey^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 90

6/1

14-race maiden who returned from more than five months off and wind surgery to run respectable sixth in Chepstow maiden hurdle last time. Makes handicap debut for top yard and may not be far away if building on that effort.

Form: 7-22466

Tactical Manoeuvre⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 90| CD

9/4

C&D winner in February 2018 and struck for first time since when staying on gamely at Exeter last month. 7lb rise makes life tougher but handles conditions and is in form so should be thereabouts.

Form: 44P-431

Cottonvale¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 89

40/1

Only win in 37 attempts came on quick ground at Fakenham in June. Has looked out of sorts on testing ground last four starts and is hard to fancy given anticipated ground conditions.,

Form: F05000

Auenwirbel^t⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 88

33/1

Nine-time winner who stays well and failed by just a short-head to land 10th career success over nearly 3m at Lingfield last January. Only two runs since and looked in need of run when well beaten at Chepstow after long lay-off. Eased 5lb now.

Form: 9U525-9

Ali The Hunter^t⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 88

40/1

Landed Wincanton 2m5f h'cap hurdle in May off 1lb lower but has struggled both starts so far this winter and is hard to enthuse over on recent evidence.

Form: 137587

Gold Man³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 87

66/1

Stable companion of Ali The Hunter. Very lightly raced and only win under Rules came in Towcester bumper more than five years ago for Kim Bailey. 100/1 and tailed off when pulled up at Fontwell last month.

Form: 7UU3/6P

Havacuppa⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 84

50/1

Third in six-runner Fontwell bumper this summer but has looked very modest in three starts over hurdles, finishing last of 18 last time at Exeter. Tackles longer trip on handicap bow but is hard to fancy.

Form: 63400

Mr Magill^t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 84

16/1

Sprang 40/1 surprise when winning Wincanton 2m5f h'cap hurdle last February off this mark. Ran better than finishing position shows when ninth over C&D last time having been hampered. Capable of better and is not out of this.

Form: 1820-99

Timetobenefit^t⁴⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 84

10/1

Eight-race maiden under Rules who appeared not to stay 3m1f latest at Huntingdon but still ran fair fourth after six-month absence. 5lb lower and drops back in trip so worth a market check for any support.

Form: 8976/84-

Flanagans Field^b¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 83| D

25/1

Veteran who goes well in heavy ground and won selling handicap hurdle at Plumpton in November. Second in non-seller time after at Bangor prior to poor run last time. May find a few too good once again.

Form: 235120

Non-Runners

Getaman¹⁸

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: D J Jeffreys J: Max Kendrick

Forecasts

Tactical Manoeuvre (9/4), Neetside (5/1), My Lady Grey (6/1), Et Apres Thou (8/1), Amzac Magic (8/1), Timetobenefit (10/1), Maasai Warrior (14/1), Mr Magill (16/1), Truckers Tangle (18/1), Flanagans Field (25/1), Getaman (25/1), Streets Of Fire (33/1), Auenwirbel (33/1), Cottonvale (40/1), Ali The Hunter (40/1), Havacuppa (50/1), Gold Man (66/1)

MY LADY GREY is a speculative choice in a race where most are struggling. She showed improved form last time and has her first start in a handicap with a good conditional booked. Tactical Manoeuver is one of the few in form coming here following his recent win at Exeter and should make a bold bid off his 7lb hgher mark, and there are a number of others who could figure if in the mood, including Timetobenefit, Auenwirbel, Mr Magill, and Et Apres Thou.