17:00 Taunton

Tuesday 7 February 2023

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Free Racing On Monday 13th March Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 4m 46.60s

Light In The Sky^h1¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 102

100/1

Won at Fontwell in June 2021 (final start for Paul Nicholls) but has offered little in a hurdle and AW Flat handicap since returning from an absence for a new yard. Hooded first time.

Form: 430/21-P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Let's Go Amigo³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 102

50/1

Has more than hinted at ability and is probably the type to do better in handicaps but he'll need plenty of improvement to defy this opening mark.

Form: 5278

Fame And Fun^t⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 99| CD

9/2

Made a winning handicap debut with a tongue tie added (retained) over C&D just after Christmas. In contention when unseating 2 out at Wincanton last week. Likely to go well.

Form: 5-0031U

Almost Gotaway⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 94

9/1

Found improvement when opening account in 7-runner handicap hurdle at Wincanton (2½m, good to soft) in November but needs to shrug off a poor run at Market Rasen on Boxing Day.

Form: 532-317

Issar D'Airy⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 86| D

5/4

Pulled up on Lingfield handicap debut in November but a totally different proposition when returning there last week, winning comfortably despite a serious mid-race mistake. Looks well treated under a 7 lb penalty.

Form: 273-7P1

Per Vino Veritas^b1⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 92

40/1

Modest maiden. Strong in the betting but could only manage a midfield finish on 2m course reappearance. Pulled up on Fontwell chase debut since. First-time blinkers need to help.

Form: 6640-7P

Arthalot^p,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 91

33/1

Fair on Flat. Beaten a long way on his completed start over hurdles but handicaps provide him with a more realistic chance of success. One to monitor in the betting.

Form: 5-0U

Just Another One^p1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 104

28/1

Ran to fairly useful level on second Flat outing and shaped well when runner-up on Market Rasen hurdle debut in September. Below that level twice since but still early days. Sports first-time cheekpieces now moving into handicap company.

Form: 275

Sassified³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 89

10/1

Fairly useful on Flat in Ireland for Johnny Murtagh. Beaten a long way in a trio of novice hurdles for new stable but he could come into his own now handicapping. Yard won the race last year. One to keep a close eye on in the betting.

Form: 648

Justshortofabubble^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: G Harris| OR: 76

10/3

Went close over C&D last March but has been operating below that level this season, beaten 29 lengths when second at Ffos Las a week ago.

Form: 24-8582

Non-Runners

Argus³¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 11

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Philip Armson

Forecasts

Issar D'Airy (5/4), Justshortofabubble (10/3), Fame And Fun (9/2), Almost Gotaway (9/1), Sassified (10/1), Just Another One (28/1), Arthalot (33/1), Per Vino Veritas (40/1), Let's Go Amigo (50/1), Argus (66/1), Light In The Sky (100/1)

If ISSAR D'AIRY is in the same form as when winning comfortably at Lingfield last Tuesday he should take a bit of stopping under a penalty. Fame And Fun was running well when departing 2 out at Wincanton last week and looks next best. Handicap-newcomer Sassified would enter the reckoning if the betting speaks in his favour.