13:25 Taunton

Monday 8 January 2024

All12:5513:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:05

Blackdown Motor Company Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 4m 17.20s

Bluegrass^t²⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 108WS

20/1

Useful on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien (placed in the 2022 Dante). Has shown promise switched to hurdles in recent months and not ruled out on the back of a wind op reverted to maiden company.

Form: 4220-

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Dundory²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J G M O'Shea

200/1

Fairly useful Flat winner but has yet to fire in two runs over hurdles at Ludlow and Wincanton this winter.

Form: 00

Everyonesacritic⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

125/1

Fetched £40,000 after winning his sole start in Irish points and hinted at promise when fourth of 7 in novice hurdle at Chepstow (16f, soft) 45 days ago. May do better still.

Form: 1-54

Goonhilly³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116| BF

9/4

Fairly useful form in a couple of bumpers and has shown similar form in this sphere, second of 11 in novice hurdle at Aintree (17f, heavy) 30 days ago. Well in the mix.

Form: 24-3F2

Into The Park³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

25/1

66/1, showing some promise when unseated rider 3 out in novice hurdle at Aintree (17f, heavy) on hurdles bow 30 days ago. No forlorn hope.

Form: F-7U

Jaxonne⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

250/1

Has offered little both starts over hurdles this winter and looks set for another struggle.

Form: 0-89

King Of The Road¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

125/1

Well held in Newbury bumper and in two runs overe hurdles last month. Lots more is needed.

Form: 077

No Mean Feat^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 90

250/1

Pulled up sole start in points and just poor form to date under Rules, blinkered for 1st time when last of 11 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (good to soft) 25 days ago.

Form: P-073P0

Onewayortother²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 115| D

6/1

Fairly useful bumper winner but he posted just a respectable fifth of 17 in novice hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 1/P-35

Tout Sur Moi^t1⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams

66/1

Eleventh of 15 in bumper (40/1) at Cheltenham (16.4f, soft) 72 days ago. Makes hurdles debut with tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 4-0

Chatty Chich¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton

200/1

Fair in bumpers but well held on both her runs over hurdles at Taunton and Fontwell this winter. Needs a big step forward.

Form: 3867

Joyeuse⁴⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

11/4

A half-sister to Champion Hurdle winner Epatante who landed a French maiden bumper 15 months ago. Worth a market check starting out over hurdles for top yard.

Form: 1-

Shakeyatailfeather⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton

200/1

Maiden pointer who has shown only modest form in a pair of bumpers for Harriet Dickin and Tom Watson. Lots more needed going hurdling for another new handler.

Form: P-340

Tutti Quanti¹⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

6/4

Tongue tied when a promising second at Senonnes-Pouance on his hurdling debut in August. Yard have took last two runnings of this so he's a big player with plenty more to offer.

Form: 2

Forecasts

Tutti Quanti (6/4), Goonhilly (9/4), Joyeuse (11/4), Onewayortother (6/1), Bluegrass (20/1), Into The Park (25/1), Tout Sur Moi (66/1), King Of The Road (125/1), Everyonesacritic (125/1), Shakeyatailfeather (200/1), Chatty Chich (200/1), Dundory (200/1), No Mean Feat (250/1), Jaxonne (250/1)

Paul Nicholls has took this prize for the past two seasons and his new recruit TUTTI QUANTI, who shaped well on his hurdling bow when runner-up in France, looks another strong candidate for the yard. Nicky Henderson's newcomer Joyeuse, a half-sister to the stable's Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante, is feared most with Goonhilly rating a solid place prospect.