16:45 Taunton

Tuesday 23 March 2021

All14:1214:4215:1715:4716:1516:4517:15

Porter Dodson Solicitors & Advisors Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 56.1s

Montys Medoc^p1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 105

11/1

Hasn't shown much in a bumper/3 starts over hurdles, but represents top yard and one to note in the betting now switched to handicap company in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5608

Gang Warfare^p¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 104

15/2

Won 4 times on Flat (all AW) and though yet to strike in this sphere, he has found just one too good in handicap hurdles on 2 of his 3 starts this season, including over C&D last time. Possibilities.

Form: 7PP-262

Brigade of Guards^t,v¹⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 102

50/1

Good third in an Ascot maiden hurdle for Alan King in March 2019, but efforts since joining this yard have been anything but inspiring.

Form: 83/03P-P

Mr Katanga³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 101

12/1

Showed ability when fifth in novice at Uttoxeter on debut for this stable in October. Best not judged too harshly on latest result (badly hampered at the third-last) and he's worth a second look.

Form: 6-55P

Rainbow Storm¹¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Kai Lenihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 99

22/1

Clear signs of ability in a bumper on debut in September. Little impact in 3 starts since tackling hurdles, but improvement may well be forthcoming now upped in trip for this handicap bow.

Form: 4879

Adimelo¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs M Evans| OR: 99

18/1

More miss than hit on this side of the Irish Sea, but there were more positive signs at Hereford (21.7f, heavy) recently and further 3 lb drop and this better ground are positive factors.

Form: 73P676

Malachys Girl^p1¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 98| D

28/1

Some promise in novice hurdles for Ben Pauling last season, but she has gone the wrong way since switched to handicaps, offering precious little in 2 runs for new yard this term. Cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 44/50-P0

Et Apres Thou⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 98

15/2

Improved when second at Wincanton on return in November. Poor effort tried in cheekpieces at Exeter (21.6f, heavy) since, but headgear discarded and this better ground will help.

Form: 0855-20

Mandalayan^h²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽¹⁰⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 97

16/1

Sole win from 16 starts on the Flat was gained on the AW, and record in this sphere stands at 0-10.

Form: PP6680

Arctic Footprint²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 96

17/2

Runner-up in 23f maiden at Exeter in January, but couldn't quite reproduce that back in a handicap when fourth of 13 over this C&D (heavy) last month. Still, she's not without each-way hope.

Form: 20-P724

Tactical Manoeuvre¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: J Scott| OR: 96| C

5/1

A regular here, notching another two wins in 19f handicaps at this course last season. Respectable efforts back at this venue on last 3 starts and will be a threat if stamina passes the test.

Form: 8-65564

Auenwirbel¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L J Young| OR: 93| C

8/1

Modest hurdler who took advantage of a drop in the weights when landing a 19f selling handicap here back from 13 months off in February. Not in the same form back here recently, though.

Form: 25/90-17

Cap'n^t⁶⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: A West| OR: 91

80/1

Plenty to prove starting out for new yard here on the back of a 21-month absence.

Form: 977P/PP-

Say The Word^b1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T R George| OR: 88

7/1

Not disgraced in a jumpers bumper at Lingfield in January, but best efforts in this sphere have been over shorter trips and pulled up over 24.3f at Southwell last time. Blinkers added.

Form: 97755P

Galactic Power¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 85

6/1

Veteran who hasn't got his head in front for a while, but has acquitted himself with credit on each of his 3 starts this season, finding just one too good at Huntingdon (25f, soft) recently. Claims.

Form: 704-242

Somerset Jem³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-5| J: James Best| T: K Bishop| OR: 84

28/1

Veteran who hasn't hit the target for over 5 years and her 3 efforts since returning from a lengthy absence in December haven't been inspiring.

Form: 426/66P

Non-Runners

Frame Rate²²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: C J Gray J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Tactical Manoeuvre (5/1), Galactic Power (6/1), Say The Word (7/1), Gang Warfare (15/2), Et Apres Thou (15/2), Auenwirbel (8/1), Arctic Footprint (17/2), Montys Medoc (11/1), Mr Katanga (12/1), Frame Rate (14/1), Mandalayan (16/1), Adimelo (18/1), Rainbow Storm (22/1), Somerset Jem (28/1), Malachys Girl (28/1), Brigade of Guards (50/1), Cap'n (80/1)

RAINBOW STORM appears to have been brought along with handicaps in mind and he is worth chancing now pitched into one off what looks a feasible opening mark. This step up in trip may be of benefit, too. Fellow handicap debutants Montys Medoc and Mr Katanga need a second look, but bigger threats may be posed by Galactic Power and Taunton-regular Tactical Manoeuvre.