15:30 Taunton

Thursday 30 December 2021

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:30

Thatchers Cider Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 14.20s

Time To Tinker^p,t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129| C

4/1

Course winner who posted career best in 3-runner handicap at Wincanton (19.8f) 42 days ago. Up in trip, and holds solid claims in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 2413-11

Sizable Sam^p1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 129

9/2

Pulled up in handicap chase (4/1) at Chepstow (23.6f) 26 days ago. Switches to hurdles with cheekpieces on and work to do.

Form: 115P-5P

Hell Red^t⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126

12/1

Yet to hit form in two runs this term, and pulled up in handicap hurdle (5/1) at Plumpton (20.5f) 59 days ago. He's not easy to make a case for.

Form: P391-5P

Taste The Fear^p1³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 125

25/1

Dual winner this season who posted respectable third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f) 39 days ago. Not ruled out in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 212163

Bard Of Brittany^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 124

25/1

Respectable sixth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Ascot (21.6f, good to soft, 28/1) 13 days ago. Possibilities off the same mark.

Form: 18-1676

Le Musee⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 124| CD

22/1

C&D winner but only eighth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Newbury (24.2f, 50/1) 56 days ago. Has something to prove now.

Form: 31P00/8

Alrightjack³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Page Fuller| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 123

18/1

Latest win in hurdle at Fontwell in November. 11/1, respectable eighth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Newbury (24.2f) 34 days ago, so he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 75-2318

Only The Bold²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121| D

11/2

Creditable staying-on sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle here (19f) 21 days ago. Worth considering now granted this stiffer test of stamina.

Form: 2213-76

Some Detail^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: N J Hawke| OR: 120

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler who posted creditable fifth in 2m handicap on Flat at Lingfield 30 days ago. Not taken lightly back in this sphere.

Form: 6-21243

Tip Top Cat²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 119

5/2

Improving hurdler who arrives on a hat-trick after back-to-back handicap wins at Exeter, overcoming drop back to 21f on latter occasion with something to spare. Big player despite 8 lb hike.

Form: 930-311

Vaziani^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: R Walford| OR: 112| C

12/1

Course winner who wasn't disgraced in first-time blinkers when fourth at Chepstow (23.6f) 26 days ago. Cheekpieces back on now, and he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 10/P-724

Non-Runners

Jersey Wonder⁵²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: O Sherwood J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Tip Top Cat (5/2), Time To Tinker (4/1), Sizable Sam (9/2), Only The Bold (11/2), Vaziani (12/1), Hell Red (12/1), Jersey Wonder (14/1), Alrightjack (18/1), Le Musee (22/1), Bard Of Brittany (25/1), Taste The Fear (25/1), Some Detail (25/1)

Fergal O'Brien's TIP TOP CAT has returned an improved model this term and is fancied to defy a career-high mark now he reverts to this longer trip. Fellow hat-trick seeker Time To Tinker rates the obvious threat for the Paul Nicholls yard, although in-form duo Some Detail and Only The Bold warrant plenty of respect too.