16:50 Taunton

Tuesday 6 February 2024

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

Free Racing On Monday 11th March Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 56.09s

Halligator^t⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 105| BF

12/1

Made a winning start over hurdles in a Uttoxeter maiden in June 2022 and runner-up next 2 starts. Lightly raced subsequently and raced too freely following 5 months off/wind op at Warwick (21f, heavy) in November. Absent since.

Form: 122-450

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Stanley Pincombe⁷⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 105| CD

13/2

Consistent sort who resumed winning ways in 9-runner handicap hurdle over 20.5f at Plumpton in November. Off since and raised 5 lb in the interim but he's in excellent hands.

Form: P12-621

Gyllen¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: K Woollacott| OR: 105| CD

16/5

Smart on the Flat at one time and revived for Kayley Woollacott, winning twice at this venue before completing the hat-trick at Sandown 11 days ago. Was perhaps a shade fortunate last time but he remains of firm interest up 5 lb.

Form: 46-6111

Lelant³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 105

7/1

Some promise in maiden/novice hurdles and improved at the second time of asking in handicaps when going down only narrowly over C&D in November. Shaped as though still in good form when fifth at Hereford since.

Form: 72-U625

Sea Village⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: O Signy| OR: 103WS

15/2

Fair form shown last term but off 8 months and pulled up both starts back to end 2023. Since had wind surgery.

Form: 7033-PP

Commanding View⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 102

6/1

Some promise in 2 bumper outings and progressed with each start over hurdles, making a successful switch to handicaps at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) in December, battling well to shade a tight finish. 5 lb higher in a better race but could have more to offer over this trip.

Form: 3746-61

Always Busy⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 101

12/1

Caused a 66/1 surprise when making his second hurdles start a winning one at Warwick (2m) last November. Hasn't been able to repeat that effort since but his mark has come down a long way as a result.

Form: 6P-0755

Gieves^h¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: K Brogan| T: B Pauling| OR: 101

16/1

Hooded for first time and career best when winning 2m novice hurdle at Worcester in September. Held back by jumping back in a handicap at that venue a month later and given a break since.

Form: U63-914

Just Go For It^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M Hunt| OR: 96

16/1

Dual winner over 21f at Wincanton last March, Heavy defeat at Warwick in May and off 9 months after but she gave it a really good go when third at Hereford. Veteran needs to back that run up.

Form: 1414-P3

Mammies Boy⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 94| BF

12/1

Promise in maiden/novice hurdles to start 2023 but disappointing start to his career his handicaps, weakening quickly when backed at Hereford in November.

Form: 823-P7P

Chadlington Lad⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 91

125/1

Modest maiden hurdler who ended last term with a good second at Huntingdon (2m) in March for Ben Pauling. Had a wind op and finished well held starting out for new yard in December.

Form: 27882-8

Meranti^p1,t1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 88

125/1

Mid-field both starts over hurdles in Ireland and signed off time for Stuart Crawford with fourth-place finish in a bumper in May. Little to shout about in 4 appearances for new yard, though and hopes rest on application of headgear.

Form: 64279P

Hour Star^h1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 85

66/1

Runner-up on the first of 2 starts in bumpers last season. Has looked a very hard ride in his qualifying runs so comes with clear risks attached now handicapping. Hooded.

Form: 29-57P

Battle March^h⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 84| D

40/1

Small-field novice winner at Exeter in October 2021 bit lightly raced since and doesn't appear to retain that much ability.

Form: 661/0P-P

Prince Rhinegold⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Bryan Carver| T: Miss L Blackford| OR: 80

10/1

Stepped up on reappearance effort when creditable fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle over C&D in November, finishing with running left. 2 lb lower now and is not out of things.

Form: F01F-05

Whynotnowroy^h1⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 70

28/1

Third in a bumper at Wincanton but yet to make a significant impact over hurdles. Opposable from out of the weights.

Form: 3095-78

Forecasts

Gyllen (16/5), Commanding View (6/1), Stanley Pincombe (13/2), Lelant (7/1), Sea Village (15/2), Prince Rhinegold (10/1), Mammies Boy (12/1), Always Busy (12/1), Halligator (12/1), Just Go For It (16/1), Gieves (16/1), Whynotnowroy (28/1), Battle March (40/1), Hour Star (66/1), Chadlington Lad (125/1), Meranti (125/1)

Quite a few to consider but the revival of one-time smart Flat performer GYLLEN shows no sign of abating so he's selected to overcome his latest rise in the weights and complete the 4-timer. Commanding View and Stanley Pincombe also won last time and head the opposition, with Lelant one to consider at longer odds.