14:41 Taunton

Thursday 26 November 2020

All12:4113:1113:4114:1114:4115:1115:41

Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 4m 40.5s

Calva D'Auge²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

14/1

Dual winner of novice events last season, but ended that campaign on a low-key note and again failed to fire on return/handicap debut at Ayr (2m).

Form: 24115-6

Air Horse One^b,t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 130| CD

9/1

Successful at Ffos Las last year and creditable third over C&D (record at Taunton reads 2123) in January. Not disgraced on Fontwell reappearance and he has slipped to an attractive mark.

Form: 14360-5

Nordic Combined^b,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 129| C

5/1

Opened hurdles account over 16.5f here on final run of last term. Not disgraced in handicaps at Fontwell and Sandown this season, but possibly a shade too high in the weights at present.

Form: 6441-65

Organdi³⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 129| CD

25/1

Notched third success over hurdles in a Ludlow mares' handicap last October. However, struggled off this mark at Kempton a month later and absent since.

Form: 1/31317-

Tight Call¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 128

9/1

Looked better than ever when adding to his tally at Ludlow (21.2f) a fortnight ago. 6 lb rise fair enough, but another personal best will be needed in order to follow up in this stronger race.

Form: 48F-161

Foreign Secretary^b²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 126

12/1

Hurdles winner for John Halley in Ireland and placed on 2 of his 4 starts for new connections, runner-up off this mark here (16.5f) last month. Still, more needed if he's to go one better this time.

Form: 85-8302

Melekhov¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 124

9/1

Dual bumper winner who struck at the third attempt over hurdles at Exeter (17f) in April 2019. However, well held sole start last term and recent Sandown reappearance wasn't overly encouraging either.

Form: 421/25-5

Final List^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 123

200/1

Sold cheaply after losing his way for Gordon Elliott and beaten a country mile starting out for this yard at Lingfield.

Form: 62PP-06

Fair Mountain²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123

12/1

Form: 20P605

Ballyhill²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Zac Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122

18/1

Very useful when on-song, particularly over fences, but offered little last season and hasn't fared any better back in this sphere the last twice.

Form: 0/66P-50

Chantecler^h⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 121

16/1

Firmly back on track when winning 2 of his first 3 starts for this yard, the latest at Hexham in September, but it was alarming how quickly he beat a retreat off this mark at Wincanton last time.

Form: 55/3117

Dave And Bernie³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: O Signy| OR: 121

9/1

Ended time with Michael Barry in Ireland in good form and produced a career-best when making a winning start for this yard at Ludlow (15.8f). 5 lb rise fair and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 522131

Kuraka⁴²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 119

50/1

Well beaten all 3 starts in 2019 and probably best watched on debut for new yard following a 14-month layoff.

Form: 660/877-

Sheshoon Sonny¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 117

9/2

Fairly useful bumper winner who has finished in the money on 4 of his 6 starts in this sphere, good third on return/handicap bow at Sandown (2m). Step back up in trip will help and merits respect.

Form: 35723-3

Olympic Honour¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 117

14/1

Signed off last season on a winning note and stepped up on inauspicious reappearance when third (subsequently promoted to second) over 16.5f here 2 weeks ago. Place possibilities.

Form: 3U21-02

Adman Sam^p³⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 115| BF

66/1

Wide-margin winner of Warwick handicap chase on debut for this yard last November, but absent since misfiring at Ffos Las a month later and opposable back in this sphere.

Form: 33P214-

Forecasts

Sheshoon Sonny (9/2), Nordic Combined (5/1), Air Horse One (9/1), Tight Call (9/1), Dave And Bernie (9/1), Melekhov (9/1), Fair Mountain (12/1), Foreign Secretary (12/1), Calva D'Auge (14/1), Olympic Honour (14/1), Chantecler (16/1), Ballyhill (18/1), Organdi (25/1), Kuraka (50/1), Adman Sam (66/1), Final List (200/1)

It's fair to say that SHESHOON SONNY didn't measure up to expectations last season, but his reappearance/handicap debut effort over 2m at Sandown was encouraging and he is appealing off the same mark back up in trip here. He may have most to fear from Dave And Bernie, who made a winning start for this yard at Ludlow and probably has more to offer. Air Horse One goes well here and also has claims.