14:47 Taunton

Thursday 10 December 2020

All12:0712:3713:1013:4214:1514:4715:1715:47

Dave Criddle Travel - Let's Fly Again Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 4m 53.61s

Good Man Pat²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 128

15/2

Useful chaser in recent years. No significant impact in pair of Cheltenham handicaps back hurdling in recent months but did travel well over 3m last time so perhaps this shorter trip will help.

Form: 4704-06

Garrettstown^p1²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 126| D

50/1

Bumper winner and fairly useful hurdler. Has gone the wrong way over fences, including pulled up on reappearance, but it's possible he'll be more at home back hurdling. Cheekpieces also added.

Form: 2/24BP-P

Champagne City^b1²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 125| D

50/1

Didn't take to chasing last season but has fared little better back hurdling this term. First-time blinkers need to have a revitalising effect.

Form: 2/P7P-77

At Its Own Expense⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Hicks⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 125| CD

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser at best but rather lost his way this year and up against it on debut for this yard.

Form: 2533-7P

Fraser Island^b³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122

33/1

Yet to add to Newbury debut success in 6 subsequent attempts and arrives on back of below-par efforts at Chepstow and Huntingdon this autumn. Goes up in trip now.

Form: 1320-06

When You're Ready²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121

9/4

Struck at second time of asking over hurdles when 3-length winner of 2m Stratford novice in October. Improved again when third in 2m Leicester handicap since and has the potential for better again.

Form: 2/354-13

Zafar⁶²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121

28/1

Fair form over hurdles as a juvenile but not seen since finishing midfield in Ascot handicap in March 2019. Probably best watched on this return unless the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 2239/

Stormy Flight³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: J Scott| OR: 120| C

28/1

2m course maiden winner in the spring but not at the same level in a couple of runs this term, including seventh on 2m Sandown handicap debut latest. Step back up in trip should help, though.

Form: 5631-37

Confirmation Bias¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120

10/3

Bumper winner last December. Much better effort over hurdles this term when narrowly denied in 2m course novice 14 days ago and interesting now making a quick switch to handicap company for top yard.

Form: 12-42

Melekhov^t1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120

33/1

Second in Plumpton handicap in May 2019 but seen only 3 times since, including finishing down the field over C&D 14 days ago. First-time tongue tie needs to make a difference.

Form: 21/25-50

Mount Windsor²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 119

10/3

It took a bit of time for things to click with him over hurdles but he arrives in search of a hat-trick after wins at Lingfield and Fakenham last month. This is his first start beyond 2m.

Form: 643-211

Gateway To Europe^b¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: N B King| OR: 118| D

10/1

Respectable third over 2m at Huntingdon back hurdling in blinkers (retained) last month. Return to this longer trip may help. Ought to be competitive.

Form: 232333

Shall We Go Now^p1,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 117| C

16/1

Maiden winner here in January but his 2 hurdle runs since have been poor (was third on Flat in October). Has cheekpieces on first time. Also has a useful 7 lb claimer up so no shock if he revives.

Form: 602/19-P

Here's Herbie^t²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 114| CD

25/1

Dual winner in 2018/19 but recorded just the one creditable effort in 4 outings last term and well beaten on Wincanton return last month (may have needed the run).

Form: 3/6P39-8

Geneva Barracks^p³¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 113

200/1

Fairly useful handicap hurdler in Ireland but sold from Martin Brassil for only £800 in September. Has predictably struggled so far for current yard, beaten 43 lengths into fourth in claimer latest.

Form: 415/564-

Singapore Saga²⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 111

25/1

Showed promise in bumpers and in her qualifying runs over hurdles last term. Possible improver now handicapping on return.

Form: 6/6P44-

Forecasts

When You're Ready (9/4), Mount Windsor (10/3), Confirmation Bias (10/3), Good Man Pat (15/2), Gateway To Europe (10/1), Shall We Go Now (16/1), Here's Herbie (25/1), Singapore Saga (25/1), Stormy Flight (28/1), Zafar (28/1), Fraser Island (33/1), Melekhov (33/1), Champagne City (50/1), Garrettstown (50/1), At Its Own Expense (125/1), Geneva Barracks (200/1)

WHEN YOU'RE READY shaped well on his Leicester handicap debut last month and gets a narrow vote ahead of the Paul Nicholls-trained Confirmation Bias who rates a likely improver now handicapping on the back of his close second in a course maiden a fortnight ago. The hat-trick seeking Mount Windsor is also on the shortlist.