15:45 Taunton

Friday 30 December 2022

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:45

2 For 1 Tickets On 9th January Conditional Jockeys' Training Series Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 53.32s

Nobel Joshua^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 110| C

33/1

Fortunate winner of 3m handicap here in November 2020. Not seen again until pulling up over C&D 5 weeks ago. Can only be watched after that.

Form: 51421/P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Ferdinand Star⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Toby Wynne| T: D Pipe| OR: 109

15/2

Fair maiden hurdler in Ireland for Patrick Magee, finishing second in 2m Tramore maiden on final start there in October. Interesting contender now handicapping for David Pipe, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.

Form: 556392

Colonel Manderson^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 109

11/1

Won 3m Southwell handicap hurdle last winter and runner-up on next 2 outings. However, his last 2 efforts have been disappointing, the latter when returning from a break at Hereford in November.

Form: 2122-5P

Scrappy Jack⁴⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Doggrell| T: W G M Turner| OR: 108

25/1

Winner of 2 juvenile hurdles at Newton Abbot in July 2021 but absent since finishing a remote fourth at Stratford the following month. Makes handicap debut. Watching brief has to be the percentage call given his length of time off the track.

Form: 4114-

Forever Des Long²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Martin⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 106| D

50/1

Market Rasen winner for Philip Hobbs in March but ended his time with that yard on a low note and remote fourth at Uttoxeter on recent stable debut. Has something to prove for now.

Form: P612-54

Ithaka²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Finn Lambert| T: R Potter| OR: 106

66/1

Largely well held over hurdles for Ronan McNally in Ireland and no impact on Market Rasen stable debut 4 weeks ago. Could only consider if backed.

Form: P86007

Couldbeaweapon¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁶⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 105| BF

5/2

Produced a career best when winning at Worcester in October and just as good when placed twice since. Likely to go well again.

Form: 5-62132

Ailes D'amour³³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁶⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 103

28/1

Showed ability in bumpers/novice hurdles but disappointed when switched to handicap company at Leicester in February. Still early days but would need to see market support to consider on reappearance.

Form: 42/457P-

Borak^t⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: B Roberts⁽³⁾| T: D Faulkner| OR: 98| C

66/1

Course winner but well held over hurdles and on AW Flat last month. Others certainly arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 488P-40

Royal Sam^t1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 96

8/1

Point winner. Hasn't bettered modest form in a bumper and maiden/novice hurdles but it's possible he'll make more of an impact now handicapping. One to note in the betting.

Form: 16-455

Pak Army⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Hogan| T: B Barr| OR: 95

33/1

Modest maiden hurdler in Ireland, leaving Eoin Doyle since finishing well held on AW Flat at Dundalk 7 weeks ago. Possibly best watched unless the betting vibes are strong.

Form: 4/764-09

Muy Bien^p1,t1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jay Tidball| T: H Fry| OR: 95

12/1

Second in 18.5f Newton Abbot handicap in May but well held both starts since returning to action. A first-time cheekpieces and tongue strap combination needs to help him get his career back on track.

Form: 939-208

Fame And Fun^t1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁶⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 93

7/2

Best effort in maiden/novice hurdles when 26 lengths third over 2m here 5 weeks ago and appeals as one who can improve in handicaps. Tongue-tied first time. One to consider.

Form: 665-003

Karakoram^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J R Wildman⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 91| CD

5/1

Won this race 12 months ago and arrives in form again having got his head back in front at Exeter (18.5f) earlier this month. Likely to give another good account of himself.

Form: 6-43241

Gyllen^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁵⁾| T: M Hunt| OR: 84

12/1

One-time smart performer on the Flat in France. Nothing like so good over hurdles in Britain and he failed to build on a slightly more encouraging third at Exeter when a remote fourth at Hereford last week.

Form: 4/78P-34

Non-Runners

Jakamani¹⁹²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: M Bradstock J: Caoilin Quinn

Forecasts

Couldbeaweapon (5/2), Fame And Fun (7/2), Karakoram (5/1), Ferdinand Star (15/2), Royal Sam (8/1), Colonel Manderson (11/1), Gyllen (12/1), Muy Bien (12/1), Jakamani (20/1), Scrappy Jack (25/1), Ailes D'amour (28/1), Nobel Joshua (33/1), Pak Army (33/1), Forever Des Long (50/1), Ithaka (66/1), Borak (66/1)

It's likely the Paul Nicholls-trained FAME AND FUN has more to offer now handicapping so he could prove the answer to this big-field finale. Like so many from the Ben Pauling team Couldbeaweapon has had a good spell of late and he heads the dangers along with last year's winner Karakoram. Ferdinand Star would also come into it if the betting vibes are strong on his first outing for the David Pipe yard.