13:35 Taunton

Saturday 23 January 2021

All12:3013:0513:3514:1014:4515:2516:0016:30

Foresters Garden Buildings Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 21.20s

Chinwag^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 113| C| D

11/8

Resumed winning ways following a wind op in first-time tongue strap at Wincanton (15.3f) on Boxing Day. Better still when striking again here (19f, heavy) 4 days later and another bold show likely.

Form: 12-3611

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Torcello⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Lycett| OR: 113| D

4/1

Went close on the Flat at Newbury back from an 11-month absence in October, but beaten a long way both starts since, including on hurdles reappearance at Cheltenham.

Form: 509/00-0

Bran^p1⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: James Best| T: S Edmunds| OR: 112

40/1

Has failed to complete on 4 of his 5 starts over hurdles, well held when departing at the final flight in a Leicester novice last time. Cheekpieces enlisted for this handicap debut.

Form: 49FP-PF

Lill Smith^t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Lee Edwards| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 104

50/1

Some decent efforts for Noel Meade in Ireland and encouraging signs prior to falling 2 out on return/debut for new yard at Uttoxeter. However, she ran no sort of a race at Leicester next time.

Form: 2400-F0

State Crown²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115

17/2

Showed ability for Charlie Appleby on the Flat and placed all 3 starts in this sphere. Capable of better than he was able to show in 2m Plumpton handicap latest and remains open to improvement.

Form: 323

Detatched^p1³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 104| D

6/1

Irish point winner who gained first hurdling success at Uttoxeter before fair seventh under inexperienced rider at Catterick. Cheekpieces go on now and he's in with an each-way shout.

Form: 236-717

Pyramid Place^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 104

10/3

Fair maiden on Flat and went one better than on hurdles debut when accounting for 5 rivals in a Bangor maiden. Flying too high in Grade 1 company at Chepstow recently and this is more realistic.

Form: 217

Oxford Blu⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: Lady S Brooke| OR: 90| D

100/1

One-time fair hurdler who underperformed for Olly Murphy last term and he was in trouble some way out when last of 11 on yard debut/return at Hereford in November.

Form: F/5775-0

Forecasts

Chinwag (11/8), Pyramid Place (10/3), Torcello (4/1), Detatched (6/1), State Crown (17/2), Bran (40/1), Lill Smith (50/1), Oxford Blu (100/1)

There should be better to come from STATE CROWN, who understandably ran out of petrol in the closing stages after racing close to the pace in a strongly-run affair at Plumpton last time. The emphasis on stamina is unlikely to be so great here and he gets the nod ahead of Pyramid Place, who is on a fair-looking mark for this handicap debut, and the hat-trick seeking Chinwag.