15:40 Taunton

Thursday 4 March 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1216:4217:12

Thatchers Cider Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 58.5s

Cheng Gong^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 100

16/1

Fair winner at 12f on flat. Little impact over hurdles so far and a similar story when well beaten in a jumpers bumper at Kempton last month. Work to do on handicap debut with cheekpieces reapplied.

Form: 5577

Arcade Attraction^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 100

12/1

Landed a gamble over fences at Ffos Las on reappearance and might have needed the run in a first-time tongue strap after 3 months off when sixth at Hereford 15 days ago. Mark continues to tumble.

Form: 8P-1F56

Russian Service^b1,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 98| CD

6/1

Back to form with a bang when leading towards the finish over C&D last month. Blinkers go on and only nudged up 3 lb so likely to remain competitive.

Form: 1-F9601

Russian Exile⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 98

40/1

Maiden who shaped well on his return at Newton Abbot but possibly failed to stay the longer trip at Fontwell when last seen in December.

Form: 0F4-477

Aronius^t¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 91

2/1

Ex-German 10f Flat winner who surpassed previous hurdling exploits when geting off the mark at Southwell 10 days ago, responding well under a strong ride. Respected under a penalty back up in trip.

Form: P80291

Tactical Manoeuvre⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 97| BF| CD

9/1

Has 3 C&D wins, the latest last February. Yet to really hit top form this term but his mark is starting to edge back down so can't be ruled out.

Form: 18-6556

Vanderbilt^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 96

16/1

Long-standing maiden (0-23) but close up when exiting 2 out here before finding just one too good at Bangor (16.7f, heavy) last time. Solid each-way chance.

Form: 4-227F2

Jupiter Rising⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 96

150/1

Pulled up in a point and down the field in a bumper/trio of maiden hurdles in recent months. Faces an uphill task on handicap debut.

Form: P9089

Manor Park^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 96

20/1

Winner at Market Rasen in November and wasted no time getting back to form when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (15.9f, soft) 50 days ago. Each-way claims.

Form: 881254

Toad Of Toad Hall⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 94

80/1

Showed a bit more than previously when fourth in a Wincanton maiden (15.3f) in December but failed to repeat that effort when pulled up at Exeter since. Competitive assignment on handicap debut.

Form: 004P

Nocte Volatus⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 93| BF

6/1

Yet to get his head in front but has hinted at promise, plugging on for fourth of 11 in handicap at Ffos Las (2½m, heavy) in November. He's unexposed and should give a good account.

Form: 984-424

Champagne Ideas^t1⁶⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 93

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler. Had wind op before excellent third in 19f handicap hurdle at Chepstow but off track 23 months since. Tongue strap on for comeback with his fitness a big worry.

Form: 634003/

Motdepas²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 92

33/1

Poor hurdler who showed more temperament than ability when well beaten in a jumpers bumper at Kempton last month. Firmly up against it once again back over hurdles.

Form: 67U-P50

Auenwirbel⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 83| CD

7/2

Modest hurdler who after 13 months off, took advantage of a drop in the weights to score readily over C&D 9 days ago. Should strip fitter for that and may be well treated under a penalty.

Form: 525/90-1

Dido¹⁰⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 89

66/1

Six-time winner between the flags and though 0-9 under Rules, he's performed with credit when placed in 3 of 5 starts this season. Switches back over timber for first time since 2014.

Form: 3-23445

Across The Park^t1⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 89

125/1

Lightly-raced maiden who went with no promise on first start for 2 years when pulled up at Wincanton in December. Tongue goes on but hard to make any sort of case for on handicap bow.

Form: 67639/P

Non-Runners

Blazing Saddles¹⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: J Scott J: Matt Griffiths

Forecasts

Aronius (2/1), Auenwirbel (7/2), Russian Service (6/1), Nocte Volatus (6/1), Tactical Manoeuvre (9/1), Blazing Saddles (10/1), Arcade Attraction (12/1), Cheng Gong (16/1), Vanderbilt (16/1), Manor Park (20/1), Motdepas (33/1), Russian Exile (40/1), Champagne Ideas (50/1), Dido (66/1), Toad Of Toad Hall (80/1), Across The Park (125/1), Jupiter Rising (150/1)

The 3 last-time-out scorers look the ones to focus on here, with preference for Laura Young's AUENWIRBEL, who made light of a 13-month absence to score readily over C&D 9 days. He should come on from that and seemingly holds leading claims of following up. Aronius and Russian Service rate as the obvious dangers, with 3-time C&D winner Tactical Manoeuvre another to consider.