16:05 Taunton

Monday 10 January 2022

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:05

Taunton Racecourse Business Club Mares' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 4m 18.6s

Amelia's Dance^h³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 100| D

7/1

Gained breakthrough win at Stratford in October and arrives here having found only an unexposed pair too strong at Fontwell (17.7f) last month. Expected to give another good account.

Form: 313353

Joyful Kit³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: James Bowen| T: T Lawes| OR: 99

11/2

Modest form in bumpers in Ireland but some promise in trio of mares' maiden/novice hurdles for new yard this winter. Entitled to hold more chance now handicapping and not discounted.

Form: 443435

Gaot^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 98| BF

5/1

French bumper winner who looks competitively handicapped, set a lot to do when staying on for second at Exeter (16.7f) in November. Subsequent effort there was below that level but not ruled out here.

Form: 342-526

Wilderness^v²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 98

66/1

Maiden winner at Exeter (16.8f) in April who ran well in defeat next 2 starts. However, failed to scale same heights in trio of mares' handicap hurdles in recent months. Back in trip now.

Form: 1-3280P

Minnie Escape^b¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Heidi Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 96| CD

18/1

C&D winner who shaped as if retaining ability when seventh on return at Chepstow in November. Not in same form at Wincanton (15.2f) on Boxing Day but mark has eased a little more. Not discounted.

Form: 142-079

Blue Heather^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: B Lund| OR: 95

50/1

Maiden who offered a little encouragement returning from 12 months off for new yard when fourth in a mares' maiden at Ffos Las in October. Out of depth at listed level since but this more suitable.

Form: 225/P-48

West On Sunset^p1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 94

22/1

Clears signs of ability in bumpers and best effort yet when third in a mares' maiden at Plumpton (15.9f) in November. Not in same form on handicap debut since but it remains early days.

Form: 0585-39

No No Tonic^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 93

7/2

Maiden who went closer than ever to bucking that trend when second at Wincanton (15.3f) in March. Ran well in face of stiff task on return at Exeter and she can be expected to be in the mix once more.

Form: 42/562-3

Miss M^b1,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 92| D

12/1

Won back-to-back novice event at Southwell in August 2020. Largely struggled in handicaps but her latest fifth at Uttoxeter (20f) was a definite step back in right direction. Needs to build on that.

Form: 4-58575

Sawpit Sienna^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 86

11/2

Improved in handicaps last season, winning at Fakenham (20f) and second on 3 of her 4 starts thereafter. Possible first run for 9 months was needed at Plumpton in December and better expected.

Form: 12282-5

Sindabella²⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 86| BF

8/1

Made first start in handicaps a winning one at Carlisle (17f) in March, getting on top close home. Similar form when third at that venue later that month and less exposed than most ahead of return.

Form: 05813-

The Cilleens^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: James Best| T: J D Frost| OR: 84

66/1

Maiden who hasn't offered a great deal in a couple of starts on the back of a wind op for present stable this winter. Can only be watched until showing more. Tongue tie back on.

Form: 86480P

September Daisy³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T R George| OR: 83

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules who failed to improve switched to handicaps when sixth in 16-runner event at Uttoxeter (19.9f) last month. Eased 5 lb and it remains early days at least.

Form: 64-856

Miss Marette^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 79

33/1

Much improved when fourth in a C&D bumper last March. Not convinced with her attitude in trio of starts in novice/maiden hurdles so far this winter but does start out from a low base in handicaps.

Form: 784-009

Vinnie's Icon³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: C J Gray| OR: 78

100/1

Poor form in bumpers and well beaten over hurdles, well held on the back of a 17-month absence at Exeter (18.5f) in December. Needs to step up plenty on that to figure.

Form: 6548/6-9

Non-Runners

Monete¹⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: H Brown J: Thomas Doggrell

Dolly McQueen⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: F Brennan J: David Prichard

Forecasts

No No Tonic (7/2), Gaot (5/1), Sawpit Sienna (11/2), Joyful Kit (11/2), Amelia's Dance (7/1), Sindabella (8/1), Miss M (12/1), Dolly McQueen (12/1), September Daisy (16/1), Monete (16/1), Minnie Escape (18/1), West On Sunset (22/1), Miss Marette (33/1), Blue Heather (50/1), Wilderness (66/1), The Cilleens (66/1), Vinnie's Icon (100/1)

Unsurprisingly claims can be made for a whole host in a tricky finale and it may well be worth chancing GAOT. Below her best at Exeter in December, she previously highlighted she's on a workable mark when runner-up in a big-field event at that venue and bounce back is distinctly possible back at this shorter trip. No No Tonic, Sawpit Sienna, Minnie Escape and Amelia's Dance head up the dangers.