15:20 Taunton

Tuesday 6 February 2024

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Broadway & Horton Cricket Club Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 4m 37.33s

Our Nel^h⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: H Fry| OR: 96

5/1

Made the frame all 3 starts over hurdles and positive start in this sphere when third in a 7-runner Fakenham handicap (21.2f, heavy) in December. 1 lb lower now and, moreover, she will benefit from this drop back in trip. One to consider.

Form: 0-32343

No Mean Feat^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 90

50/1

Pulled up sole start in points and just poor form to over hurdles. Big step forward needed now switched to fences.

Form: 073P00

Herecomeshogan^t,v²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 85| D

13/2

Dual hurdles winner who, equipped with a first-time visor, stepped up on previous efforts in this sphere when finding just one too good in a 13-runner Hereford handicap (2m, good to soft). Definite chance off the same mark here, provided he's able to back that up.

Form: P57862

Merry Monty³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down| OR: 83

13/8

Series of respectable efforts in handicap hurdles was followed by a solid chase debut second to Bolsover Bill (winner again since) at Exeter (19.2f, heavy) on New Year's Day. 3 lb rise for that effort fair enough and he's open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 57/5522

Howyouplaythegame^t1⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: S Allwood| OR: 82

17/2

Looked limited over hurdles but has fared better since switched to the larger obstacles, posting his best effort yet when a close third at Doncaster on penultimate start. Not in the same form at Leicester since but each-way claims in a first-time tongue strap here.

Form: 8024-33

Blue Ribbon³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: K Brogan| T: R Chapman| OR: 80

20/1

Fair 2m hurdles winner for Dr Richard Newland in 2021 but largely struggled in half-a-dozen appearances over fences for present connections.

Form: 7442-5P

Poet's Reflection⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 79| C

9/1

Sole success from 22 starts overall came in a handicap hurdle here back in March 2021. However, she was placed twice off higher marks than this over fences last spring and is entitled to come on for her reappearance spin at Wincanton in December.

Form: 4/623-P8

Tonto Foley^t²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 78

25/1

Equipped with a first-time tongue strap when winning 6-runner handicap hurdle at Southwell (15.8f, good) last June. However, he was pulled up at Uttoxeter the following month and opposable on this return/chase debut.

Form: P048-1P

Invincible Wish²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 73

150/1

Veteran who was tailed off when returning from an 18-month absence at Leicester. Readily passed over.

Form: 47/62P-0

Sevenofus²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 72

33/1

Point winner who was placed in a series of handicap hurdles at around 2½m in 2022. However, she was never in the hunt following 15 months off here in January and looks set for another struggle now switched to fences.

Form: 2/3336-8

Broadoak^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 71

80/1

Pulled up on each of his last 4 outings and can only be watched at present.

Form: 24P-PPP

Noah's Light^t,v²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 69

12/1

Hasn't shown much in 7 runs in this sphere and best watched from 5 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 6P67P4

Etincelle Artiste^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Rex Dingle| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 69

8/1

Runner-up sole start in points but just poor form under Rules and work to do from out of the handicap.

Form: 7/83P-34

Non-Runners

Trapista⁴⁹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Benjamin Macey

Forecasts

Merry Monty (13/8), Our Nel (5/1), Herecomeshogan (13/2), Trapista (13/2), Etincelle Artiste (8/1), Howyouplaythegame (17/2), Poet's Reflection (9/1), Noah's Light (12/1), Blue Ribbon (20/1), Tonto Foley (25/1), Sevenofus (33/1), No Mean Feat (50/1), Broadoak (80/1), Invincible Wish (150/1)

MERRY MONTY pulled clear of the rest when runner-up on his debut over fences at Exeter and, with the winner going in again since, that form looks decent. Chris Down's charge may well go one better here if, as expected, he is able to build on that. Herecomeshogan is by no means certain to reproduce the form of his latest Hereford effort but he'll certainly be a threat if able to do so, while Our Nel is third choice ahead of Howyouplaythegame and Trapista.