12:30 Taunton

Tuesday 23 February 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0515:40

Taunton Round Table Selling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 5m 13.00s

Zero To Hero⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 100

7/1

Still without a win, but she arrives in good nick, third of 7 at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) 45 days ago. Can race off 2 lb lower mark so worth considering.

Form: P40393

Airton^t,v⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 100| C

13/2

Landed a gamble off a career-low mark at Uttoxeter (23f) in September. Third on next 2 starts but below par at Doncaster (3m) latest. Back down in trip.

Form: 581338

Dubheen^p¹⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 90

9/2

Poor form in Ireland but would be by no means the first to improve for a switch to this yard. Interesting runner, particularly if betting vibes strong.

Form: 7859-PP

The Weasel^p1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 89

7/1

Modest form in only bumper and beaten a long way on all hurdle starts, including on C&D handicap debut last month. First-time cheekpieces need to spark improvement.

Form: 4-5088

Earthly^b,t⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 88

40/1

Modest winning stayer on Flat but well held in 3 runs over hurdles. May do better now on his handicap bow.

Form: 768

Rathnure Ranger^h¹⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 85

50/1

Maiden pointer who is yet to show much under Rules, finishing a distant third in Stratford handicap when last seen in August.

Form: 5708-F3

Dan Gun^h³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 85| CD

22/1

C&D winner off 7 lb higher last season. Signs of a revival when third at Stratford in November and perhaps unsuited by heavy ground at Chepstow since.

Form: 7P0730

Auenwirbel⁴⁰²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 83

33/1

Chase winner at Worcester in summer 2018 but more miss than hit since, including well held both starts this term.

Form: U525/90-

Vicenzo Mio^t,v⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 82

13/2

Has been placed a couple of times over fences this term but this veteran's losing run goes back to December 2013.

Form: 44-2345

Linguine^v1³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 81

11/2

On a lengthy losing run and has suffered heavy defeats in handicaps this season, including for this yard last twice. Has a first-time visor replacing cheekpieces.

Form: 907089

Flanagans Field^b¹⁹

Age: 13| Weight: 10-4| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 78| D

20/1

Veteran who won twice at selling handicap level last season. Sharper for reappearance when third at Plumpton in November but well beaten twice since.

Form: 14-4385

Shadow's Girl^p⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 78

14/1

Successful over 2m at Chepstow last winter and back to form when narrowly denied in 2m Plumpton selling handicap in November. Player if returning from a 3-month break in the same form.

Form: 26-4572

Polo The Mumm^b,t⁴⁸²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 78| CWS

28/1

Successful twice over fences in 2018/19 but out of sorts for Alexandra Dunn when last seen in autumn 2019. Had wind surgery ahead of this return for another stable.

Form: 2/68685-

Fethard Flyer^t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 78

50/1

Poor maiden hurdler who has been well held on his completed start over fences this season. Mark on the slide but others more obvious.

Form: 6P0F-F7

Candyman Can^h³⁵⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller| T: L Hurley| OR: 74

16/1

Flat winner who is exposed as poor in this sphere. Some creditable efforts this term but latest Wincanton sixth wasn't one of them.

Form: 603456-

Invicta Lake^b,t⁵¹

Age: 14| Weight: 10-0| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 74| D

10/1

Veteran C&D winner who is on a feasible mark but needs to bounce back from lesser runs the last twice to make a mark here.

Form: 43-85P8

Non-Runners

Away For Slates²⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: M F Harris J: Kevin Jones

Forecasts

Dubheen (9/2), Linguine (11/2), Vicenzo Mio (13/2), Airton (13/2), The Weasel (7/1), Zero To Hero (7/1), Invicta Lake (10/1), Shadow's Girl (14/1), Away For Slates (14/1), Candyman Can (16/1), Flanagans Field (20/1), Dan Gun (22/1), Polo The Mumm (28/1), Auenwirbel (33/1), Earthly (40/1), Fethard Flyer (50/1), Rathnure Ranger (50/1)

ZERO TO HERO's latest Chepstow third in a higher grade looks solid form in the context of this race so she gets the nod to land a first win. Dubheen could be a threat on his first outing for Dr Richard Newland, with confidence increased should the betting speak in his favour. Shadow's Girl also makes the shortlist.