15:08 Taunton

Thursday 8 December 2022

All12:2813:0013:3514:0814:3815:0815:40

Jetset Flights & Holidays Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 6m 1.99s

Dan's Chosen²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 105

5/6

Fair maiden hurdler who has quickly proven better over fences, left with a simple task when off the mark at Fakenham in October. Didn't find a great deal when fourth off this mark at Exeter (24.2f) next time but claims here nonetheless.

Form: 58-3214

Barrowmount²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 103

33/1

Made a winning hurdles debut at Stratford (2¾m) in May last year but has shown little spark in 3 starts since returning from a 16-month absence. Best watched on chase debut.

Form: 313-FP8

Airtothethrone¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 102

9/4

Placed both starts in Irish points and good second on hurdles debut at Ffos Las last November. Fair start to chase career when third of 8 at Ludlow (23.8f) recently and definite chance if able to build on that.

Form: 33/32-43

Go Fox¹¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 101

25/1

Flat winner who opened his account in this sphere at Perth last September. Hasn't fired in 4 subsequent starts in this sphere, though, and limited appeal now switched to fences.

Form: 3176-74

Ho Que Oui³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95

20/1

All the better for return when winning 6-runner handicap chase at Ffos Las (21f) but well held next 2 starts and she now has a bit to prove.

Form: PP-6135

Layerthorpe^p¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Jones| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 88| C| D

18/1

Landed a hat-trick in staying handicap hurdles in 2019. Pulled up on recent chase debut at Ludlow but was entitled to need that following 16 months off and this run should be more revealing.

Form: 0/3235-P

Shirocco's Delight⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: Miss A M Newton-Smith| OR: 84

18/1

Modest hurdler in Ireland and not even at that level for current yard, pulled up on return at Fontwell in October. Hard to warm to now switched to fences.

Form: 3445-4P

Toad Of Toad Hall¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 83

12/1

Didn't need to improve when off the mark in 3-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (3¼m) in June. No impact in 2 starts since returning from a break, though, and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 0P-216P

Old Page¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: A Sadik| OR: 77

50/1

Successful between the flags during the spring and didn't shape badly on chase debut at Cartmel in August. However, no show both subsequent completions and he needs to get back on track.

Form: 5735F7

Botus Fleming^p,t1³³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis| OR: 76

16/1

Appears to be of little account and looks set for another struggle.

Form: 09P6/64-

Non-Runners

Lazy Sunday¹⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: R Mitford-Slade J: Bryan Carver

Forecasts

Dan's Chosen (5/6), Airtothethrone (9/4), Lazy Sunday (4/1), Toad Of Toad Hall (12/1), Botus Fleming (16/1), Layerthorpe (18/1), Shirocco's Delight (18/1), Ho Que Oui (20/1), Go Fox (25/1), Barrowmount (33/1), Old Page (50/1)

The vote goes to AIRTOTHETHRONE, who made a fairly encouraging start over fences at Ludlow and he probably won't need to improve much on that bare form in order to go close here. Dan's Chosen came up short in a stronger race than this at Exeter and while it's slightly disconcerting that he found little at the business end he has to enter calculations. Lazy Sunday got no further than the first fence here a fortnight ago but she shaped well on her chase debut and is best of the rest.