Invest Southwest Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 28.90s

Mr Tambourine Man³¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 124

8/1

Winner of handicap hurdles at Exeter (21.6f) and Ffos Las (2½m) on good/good to soft last spring. However, resumes from a 10-month break on a tough-looking mark and his stamina has to be taken on trust.

Form: 44461-1

Guernesey²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 118

7/2

Generally consistent when trained by Philip Hobbs, scoring at Warwick (19f, good) in October. Has found life tougher since, though, and he's opposable up in trip here following a low-key recent debut for this yard at Fontwell.

Form: 1U4036

Iberio^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 108| C

6/4

Improved with cheekpieces added/switched to handicaps last term, scoring twice over 19f here, and latest second to the in-form Hititi at Exeter was a decent effort. However, he didn't appear to get home when tried over this trip on penultimate start.

Form: 11-2252

My Last Oscar⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 106| CD

2/1

Successful twice last term, on the second occasion accounting for 14 rivals in a C&D handicap (soft). Early faller back from a break at Ffos Las last week but, granted a clear round, he could play a part returned to this course.

Form: 1561-4F

Non-Runners

Apple Rock⁴⁰

Weight: 11-13| Age: 9

T: B Pauling J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Iberio (6/4), My Last Oscar (2/1), Apple Rock (3/1), Guernesey (7/2), Mr Tambourine Man (8/1)

The one with the most compelling claims is APPLE ROCK, who typically found plenty for pressure when completing the hat-trick here at the end of last year. He looked a little short of full match-fitness back from 7 weeks off at Ascot and, with that run under his belt, the 9-y-o can resume winning ways. My Last Oscar, also a C&D winner on his sole previous visit to Taunton, may emerge as the main danger given that this trip is a concern for both Iberio and Mr Tambourine Man.