15:25 Taunton

Saturday 18 January 2020

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

Invest Southwest Seniors' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 1.1s

Air Horse One^b,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 136| BF| CD

9/5

C&D novice hurdle winner in January 2017 then followed up in hot Ascot handicap hurdle a month later. No joy after that until penultimate start when bolted up in heavy ground at Ffos Las and handed 9lb rise. Well beaten when odds-on latest.

Form: 6P-0514

Mr Antolini³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135

11/1

Last win came in Grade 3 Imperial Cup at Sandown in March 2018. Been chasing this season in decent company but without success. Back to timber and 5lb lower than 12th of 24 at Cheltenham Festival in March. Handles heavy ground.

Form: 5P0-253

Theo^h⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135| D

22/1

Fair chaser who returns to timber off 23lb higher mark than last hurdle when successful at Newton Abbot in June 2017. Best form on better ground so has a bit to prove all in all.

Form: 69-2249

Myplaceatmidnight²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 133

4/1

Good second on seasonal return at Wincanton in November then disappointed back there on Boxing Day when encountering heavy ground. Conditions have to be a concern but not out of it on previous effort.

Form: 21F-525

Sleep Easy^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122| CD

7/1

Won over fences and hurdles last year for Neil Mulholland. Joined current yard last month and after poor first effort did better when second in 2m4f Fakenham h'cap hurdle last time. Raised 2lb, goes on soft ground but unproven on heavy.

Form: 140192

Raven's Tower¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 122

28/1

Fair handicap hurdler who ran as though in need of outing when weakening from 2 out at Fakenham latest following 105-day break but shaped well for a long way. Should strip fitter and is feasibly handicapped under decent conditional.

Form: 3-72469

Limited Reserve²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 122| D

10/1

Encounters heavy ground for first time since landing back-to-back successes at Haydock in 2017. Poor form three starts this term, but has eased 12lb in all so not out of it if ground conditions spark a revival.

Form: 11/4030

Applesandpierres^v²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122

12/1

Stable companion of Sleep Easy. Old timer who ended long losing run when scoring comfortably at 20/1 at Leicester last time in heavy ground. Hit with 9lb rise so will find things tougher but is clearly in great heart at present.

Form: 647F01

Trans Express^p⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 120| D

10/1

Exeter specialist who has been badly out of form in four starts so far this campaign away from his beloved Haldon track. Slowly coming down weights but is hard to fancy on recent form.

Form: 4-24887

Jacbequick^p,t¹⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 117| BF

8/1

Landed his 11th career success when staying on well in first-time cheekpieces to land length victory on penultimate start at Newton Abbot in June. Returns following six-month break off 4lb higher. 1-1 in heavy ground so conditions no problem.

Form: 42-2213

Forecasts

Air Horse One (9/5), Myplaceatmidnight (4/1), Sleep Easy (7/1), Jacbequick (8/1), Limited Reserve (10/1), Trans Express (10/1), Mr Antolini (11/1), Applesandpierres (12/1), Theo (22/1), Raven's Tower (28/1)

RAVEN'S TOWER will be better for a recent outing following a mid-term break and can get his head back in front with his promising conditional rider claiming a useful 7lb. There are plenty of dangers, including Mr Antolini who is fairly handicapped on the pick of hs hurdles form as he switches back from chasing. Applesandpierres bounced back to form in heavy ground last time but the handicapper has had his say, while such as Jacbequick, Theo and Air Horse One are not out if it if in the mood.