11:45 Taunton

Thursday 14 December 2023

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

Blackdown Motor Company Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:46 | Winning time: 4m 10.32s

Zufal⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: J D Frost| OR: 100

80/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler. Only ninth of 10 in novice hurdle at Newton Abbot (16.8f, heavy) 54 days ago. Makes handicap debut with work to do.

Form: 0/P-49

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Phoenix Aquilus¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: S Durack| OR: 98| D

5/1

Fairly useful staying handicapper on Flat at best but just a modest maiden over hurdles. Showed an aptitude for chasing when placed at Ludlow and Hereford last two runs. Solid claims again back in this sphere.

Form: 30P-032

Quian¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher| OR: 98| D

13/2

Smart performer on Flat (stays 2m) at one time but seems only modest at best over hurdles. More is needed on his handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 6-85

Johnny Boom²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: S Lycett| OR: 96

5/2

A fair winner at 12f on Flat for his current yard who also posted a very good second of 15 after 8 months off in handicap hurdle over C&D 28 days ago, travelling strongly long way. Form has been franked so he's a big player.

Form: 6P59/2

No Mean Feat^b1,t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 95

50/1

Pulled up sole start in points and just poor form to date under Rules, also pulled up on his handicap bow at Ffos Las last month. Hard to warm to.

Form: P-073P

King's Castle^t¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 95

15/2

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. 4/1, last of 5 in handicap at Wolverhampton (14f) in July. Switches to hurdles and others more persuasive.

Form: 784-U

Moonshine Spirit¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 95

10/1

Maiden hurdler who came in only eleventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at Ludlow (15.8f, soft) 17 days ago, folding. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 523700

Dancing Harry²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: James Davies| T: R A Teal| OR: 95| BF

6/1

A fairly useful winner at 14f on Flat. Also showed some promise in four runs in this sphere last winter so he needs considering on only his second go in handicaps.

Form: 5324-

Karloss⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 94

9/2

Gambled on and much imporoved on yard debut (formerly with Ian O'Connor) when landing 12-runner handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) 64 days ago. Not taken lightly despite a 8 lb hike in the weights.

Form: 000/00-1

Chadlington Lad²⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 94WS

33/1

Modest maiden hurdler who ended last term with a good second at Huntingdon (2m) in March for Ben Pauling. Since had a wind op and not ruled out for his new yard.

Form: 9/27882-

Sous Surveillance¹⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Ffrench-Davis⁽⁵⁾| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 88

66/1

Poor maiden on the Flat and not enough encouragement over hurdles to make him of interest in this.

Form: P64-0

Non-Runners

Omaha Wish³⁸

Weight: 11-13| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Johnny Boom (5/2), Karloss (9/2), Phoenix Aquilus (5/1), Omaha Wish (5/1), Dancing Harry (6/1), Quian (13/2), King's Castle (15/2), Moonshine Spirit (10/1), Chadlington Lad (33/1), No Mean Feat (50/1), Sous Surveillance (66/1), Zufal (80/1)

JOHNNY BOOM shaped very well after a lay-off when a strong-travelling runner-up over C&D last time and looks very much the way to go with that form also proving strong. Karloss hit the ground running for his new yard when scoring at Sedgefield and rates the obvious threat with Phoenix Aquilus and Omaha Wish in the mix for minor honours.