14:40 Taunton

Thursday 14 December 2023

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Classic Collection Holidays Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 44.03s

Swaffham Bulbeck²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130

16/1

Returned to hurdles to land a Southwell handicap in September and even better form when second of 12 at Chepstow. Found Greatwood too competitive at Cheltenham since so needs considering in these calmer waters.

Form: 21-512P

American Sniper^p,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| C

10/3

Course scorer who got back to winning ways in first-time tongue strap in 20-runner handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (21f, soft) 27 days ago, finding extra. In the mix despite taking a 6 lb rise.

Form: 263-701

Bashful Boy^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 121| D

25/1

Scored at Newton Abbot in July and not discredited when fourth of 6 in handicap hurdle over C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: FF-19P4

Inferno Sacree^b¹⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 118| D

11/1

Resumed with success in 2m2f handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot but he beat only two in handicap hurdle at Cartmel (17.2f, good to soft) in July. Sort to bounce back after a break.

Form: 1141-10

Samuel Spade¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 118

11/1

A fair winning juvenile hurdler last season who took a step back in the right direction when fourth of 10 in handicap at Kempton (16f, soft) 17 days ago. One to consider off an easing mark.

Form: 2104-P4

Amelia's Dance¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 117| C

9/2

Added to an excellent record at Taunton when winning last December. Lost her way in the spring but back on song of late, runner-up at Kempton (2m) 17 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 2545-22

Santana Plessis¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 112

125/1

Fairly useful ex-Irish hurdles winner in 2020 but very lightly raced since and well below par both runs for his current yard this term. Others appeal more.

Form: 0U25/P6

Individualiste³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 110| CD

4/1

Fair on the Flat in France and he got off the mark for current yard at Taunton (19f) in March 2022. First outing since when an encouraging fourth at Newton Abbot and possibly found the run coming too quickly when fifth at Sandown since. Well worth another chance off a lenient mark.

Form: 51/45

Just Loose Change³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: James Bowen| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 110| CD

4/1

C&D winner in April but he came in only ninth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (21f, heavy) 37 days ago. Can give a good account if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 3321-59

Samtara^h²²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Atkins⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 109WS

20/1

Belatedly off the mark at Hereford in March and backed that up with a fine second at Cheltenham (17f) in April. His run of good form came to an abrupt halt at Worcester in May, though, and off since (has had wind surgery).

Form: P5412-P

Iorens²⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 106

18/1

Twice runner-up in novice company last winter but well below par both runs since. Off 9 months and needs to get back on track.

Form: 1/2249-

Forecasts

American Sniper (10/3), Just Loose Change (4/1), Individualiste (4/1), Amelia's Dance (9/2), Samuel Spade (11/1), Inferno Sacree (11/1), Swaffham Bulbeck (16/1), Iorens (18/1), Samtara (20/1), Bashful Boy (25/1), Santana Plessis (125/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but it is worth siding with Paul Nicholls' low-mileage 5-y-o INDIVIDUALISTE to capitalise on a handy-looking mark. Recent Cheltenham scorer American Sniper rates a massive threat though, while Swaffham Bulbeck can also have a say now his sights are lowered.