15:30 Taunton

Monday 9 March 2020

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 4m 23.2s

Peterborough¹⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

18/1

Lightly-raced since scoring in an Exeter handicap hurdle in November 2018 (only seen four times since). Failed to beat a rival in two starts in the autumn over fences; drops slightly in grade but hard to build a convincing case.

Form: 0170-50

Templier^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 98| D

6/1

Took advantage of the handicappers lenient nature when scoring at Hereford in November returning to form out of the blue. Has to a certain extent backed up that success in two subsequent starts despite falling last time; still on a fair mark.

Form: 60512F

Lots Of Luck^p1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 96| BF| C

6/4

Well behind Templier on his chasing debut he did give the impression that there was something to work on in that contest. Off the mark here next time (2m2f) a bad mistake last time appeared to shake his confidence despite finishing second.

Form: P-90312

Marley Firth^v³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 96| D

7/1

A drop in the weights and the application of a visor saw hm produce a reasonable display over hurdles on his penultimate start. Back over fences last time a standing start did him no favours (left poorly placed); quirky sort, capable of better.

Form: 0-06824

Ut Majeur Aulmes^t⁸²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 96| D

7/1

Unreliable sort who defends an ever-increasing losing record with the majority of his recent efforts suggesting the drought is likely to end soon. Ought to be able to win in this grade but more likely to flatter and deceive yet again.

Form: P454-55

Hot Smoked^b1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 90

14/1

Most of her efforts over hurdles bar one have been poor and she hardly showed much aptitude for chasing when pulled up on her chasing debut after an 11-month absence at Fontwell. Not really bred for this sphere and makes no appeal here.

Form: 0P672-P

Royal Act^b³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: S-J Davies| OR: 89| CD

7/1

The winner of the last two renewals of this race off lower marks albeit only 1lb from last year he arrives having found his old jumping misdemeanours resurfacing last time. Has to be respected due to his record in this; needs to be back on song.

Form: 6P2255

What's Up Rory^t⁷¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 80| D

40/1

Didn't show much in this sphere when last seen over fences some two years ago and unlikely to have improved in the interim. Even at this lowly level makes little appeal given his form unless there were any market positives to hang onto.

Form: 385975/

Hold Me Tight^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Jamie Bargary| T: P Gundry| OR: 80

12/1

Does have the odd decent effort to his name but with a career record that reads 0-31 he's hardly the most solid of citizens. Didn't last long on his chasing debut and hard to muster much enthusiasm for his chance.

Form: 05046U

Kapoupakap^h1,t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 71

16/1

Won a couple of point-to-points in 2016 but has never really looked like troubling the judge under Rules. Hood now joins his usual tongue-tie as the headgear of choice; attracted support last time but finished well held again.

Form: 307377

Forecasts

Lots Of Luck (6/4), Templier (6/1), Ut Majeur Aulmes (7/1), Marley Firth (7/1), Royal Act (7/1), Hold Me Tight (12/1), Hot Smoked (14/1), Kapoupakap (16/1), Peterborough (18/1), What's Up Rory (40/1)

A modest contest at best and one that makes for an unappealing betting medium. Course winner Lots Of Luck might have been brought out again too quickly when his jumping rather fell apart at Huntingdon last time and if he can hold that side of things together he has to be shortlisted. Winner of this for the past two years Royal Act is another to note given his record although his old jumping problems did resurface last time. Marley Firth can be given a modest chance on some of his form he was on the backfoot from the start last time. TEMPLIER comes here off a fall but his two previous runs indicated that he’s in good heart and he’s tentative suggestion to return to winning ways.