15:00 Taunton

Thursday 30 December 2021

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

Kevin And Heather Bishop Retirement Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 7m 9.6s

Swincombe Scorchio^t⁷⁸⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 95

50/1

Seemed to retain some ability on final outing for Polly Gundry, but that was over 2 years ago, so hard to support with any great confidence, acknowledging the handicapper has given him a chance.

Form: F785P4/

Troed Y Melin¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: C Gethings| T: C Honour| OR: 93

28/1

Bagged second course win in April is yet to find his form this term, pulled up at Exeter last time. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 5P1-44P

Mr Katanga²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 92

10/1

Runner-up in 3m Taunton handicap for Olly Murphy in March, but has failed to match that in four subsequent outings, so hard to make a solid case for switched to chasing.

Form: P26-657

Give Us A Swig²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: S Curran| OR: 88

3/1

Off the mark over hurdles at Worcester (20f) in July and has made a promising start to chasing. Promises to be well suited by this longer trip, so worth chancing in a weak race.

Form: 1P3533

Queen Of The Court¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Archie Bellamy⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Cann| OR: 85

9/2

Winning Irish pointer who ended last season with some good efforts over hurdles but hasn't fired yet this term. Upped in trip for chasing debut, but has a bit to prove.

Form: 7424-97

One For Dunstan^p,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: R Walford| OR: 85

9/1

Far more miss than hit and whilst he did stop the slide when fourth at Lingfield recently, he hardly shaped like a winner in waiting. Handicapper has relinquished his grip a little more at least.

Form: P13P-P4

Eaton Miller^p²⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 85| BF| D

9/1

Modest hurdler/chaser who scored twice last season. Fell at Wetherby when last seen 9 days ago, but chance can't be ignored returning at a time when his stable is thriving.

Form: 5/2311F-

Kingsmill Gin⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 83

16/1

Still a maiden and, while she completed for the first time (from three goes) over fences when fifth at Chepstow last time, her finishing effort was rather underwhelming.

Form: 408P-F5

The Boat^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 78

7/2

Justified strong market support when gaining breakthrough success back over fences in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (19.2f) this month. Up just 2 lb and claims if able to build on that.

Form: 897-691

Lets Go Dutchess²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Alan Johns| T: M Hunt| OR: 74| C

15/2

Winning hurdler/chaser who put some disappointing efforts behind her when runner-up at Wincanton last time. Hard to know if she'll back that up, however.

Form: 4P-PP72

Gorcombe's Rascal³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Max Kendrick| T: J D Frost| OR: 73

66/1

Limited hurdler/chaser who has offered no encouragement so far this season.

Form: 0P2-PP4

Forecasts

Give Us A Swig (3/1), The Boat (7/2), Queen Of The Court (9/2), Lets Go Dutchess (15/2), Eaton Miller (9/1), One For Dunstan (9/1), Mr Katanga (10/1), Kingsmill Gin (16/1), Troed Y Melin (28/1), Swincombe Scorchio (50/1), Gorcombe's Rascal (66/1)

An encouraging third on his last couple of starts, GIVE US A SWIG, has been shaping as if this longer trip will bring improvement out of him, so he gets the nod to prevail in a race where the majority arrive out of sorts. Recent Market Rasen winner, The Boat, is a danger if his stamina lasts out, and Eaton Miller is one to monitor in the betting back from 9 months off.