12:35 Taunton

Wednesday 30 December 2020

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:4015:1515:50

Thatchers Cider Training Series Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 4m 56.44s

Zhiguli⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 12-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 109

9/4

Improved switched to handicaps the last twice, third at Lingfield prior to opening his account at Huntingdon (20.7f) last week. Likely he has more to offer and big chance under a penalty here.

Form: 69-6731

Get The Appeal³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: K Brogan| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 111

12/1

Low-mileage 6-y-o who landed a Wincanton maiden on Rules debut in October 2019. Creditable third off this mark in 21.2f Ludlow handicap last time and should make her presence felt.

Form: 176-0F3

Here's Herbie^t²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 110| CD

33/1

Dual winner during 2018/19 campaign, but largely below par last season and hasn't fired in a couple of runs since returning to action in November.

Form: 6P39-89

Haasab^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Archie Bellamy⁽³⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 110| D

66/1

Successful in handicap hurdles at Catterick and Southwell last season, but well held both completed starts this time round and plenty to prove at present. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 121-8U0

Bang On¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Godfrey| T: J Scott| OR: 109| C

14/1

Winner here in 2018 and left low-key reappearance well behind when just edged out by an in-form rival at Bangor (16.7f) recently. Up 3 lb for that, but needs considering all the same.

Form: 4/284-82

Singapore Saga²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Cillin Leonard| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 108

28/1

Showed promise in bumpers and in her qualifying runs over hurdles last term. However, failed to progress on C&D return/handicap debut this month and needs to raise her game.

Form: 6/6P44-0

Chinwag^t⁴^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 99

5/4

Huntingdon winner last season and, having undergone a wind op, he added to his tally in first-time tongue strap at Wincanton (15.3f) on Boxing Day. Should give it a good shot under a penalty.

Form: 512-361

Camron De Chaillac⁶⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Buckley| T: N J Hawke| OR: 105| CD

40/1

Absent since a tame effort over fences at Fontwell in February 2019, so he has plenty to prove at present, not least wellbeing.

Form: 530674/

Gulshanigans^p1,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Jack Barber| OR: 105

50/1

Missed whole of last season and pulled up both starts since returning from a lengthy absence in October. Hopes pinned on first-time cheekpieces sparking an unlikely revival.

Form: 3926/PP

Minella Away¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Jason Dixon| T: B Pauling| OR: 102

66/1

Went close on handicap debut at Tipperary in August, but was well adrift of second-placed Bang On starting out for this yard at Bangor recently.

Form: 882569

Mary Of De Sorrows¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Max Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 102

150/1

Placed 3 times during the summer, but has completely bombed out on her last 2 starts, including on debut for this yard at Doncaster (24.4f) 18 days ago.

Form: 2033PP

Tactical Manoeuvre⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Luca Morgan| T: J Scott| OR: 100| CD

18/1

Notched third C&D success when completing the hat-trick here in February. However, he failed to build on his fairly encouraging reappearance when a well-held fifth at Chepstow last time.

Form: 1118-65

Grain De Thaix^t1⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Savage| T: Nick Williams| OR: 99WS

25/1

Just minor promise in maiden/novice hurdles, and sizeable step forward needed with a tongue strap enlisted on this handicap debut. Has undergone wind surgery.

Form: 64P

Russian Service^p,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 97| CD

10/1

Last season's best efforts were over this C&D, second to Tactical Manoeuvre in February before getting the better of Chinwag in a 9-runner handicap a month later. Below par so far this season, though.

Form: P21-F96

Mr Minerals^t⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Fergus Gillard| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 94

150/1

Offered little in 3 starts over hurdles last term and beaten a long way on the Flat when last seen in October.

Form: 060-

Seasearch^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Lewis Stones| T: C J Gray| OR: 92

100/1

Decent effort when fourth of 14 in a maiden hurdle here last November, but he's otherwise struggled since switched to hurdles, finishing down the field back here following wind surgery 20 days ago.

Form: 4600-P8

Just Go For It²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: William Marshall| T: K Bishop| OR: 85

16/1

Some signs of ability in half-a-dozen starts over hurdles, but she'll need to up her game in order to emerge on top here.

Form: 0/0005-4

Forecasts

Chinwag (5/4), Zhiguli (9/4), Russian Service (10/1), Get The Appeal (12/1), Bang On (14/1), Just Go For It (16/1), Tactical Manoeuvre (18/1), Grain De Thaix (25/1), Singapore Saga (28/1), Here's Herbie (33/1), Camron De Chaillac (40/1), Gulshanigans (50/1), Haasab (66/1), Minella Away (66/1), Seasearch (100/1), Mary Of De Sorrows (150/1), Mr Minerals (150/1)

Recent winners ZHIGULI and Chinwag both make plenty of appeal in a race in which many of their rivals have something to prove for one reason or another. The latter is not passed over at all lightly but preference is for Zhiguli, who appears to possess the greater potential and was well on top at the finish at Huntingdon last week. Bang On is best of the rest.