14:10 Taunton

Tuesday 20 February 2024

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:45

Blundells Preparatory Racing To School Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 1.2s

Diamand De Vindecy¹⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr Huw Edwards⁽⁷⁾| T: R Bevis| OR: 100

25/1

Fair performer on the level in France and in 3 runs over hurdles for his current yard last term. Didn't fire at Carlisle on reappearance 3 months ago and improvement is required.

Form: 023-7

Chankaya^p⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: M Hunt| OR: 99

4/1

Fair form on the Flat and runner-up twice from half-a-dozen starts over hurdles, including in a 13-runner handicap at Wincanton (19.8f). Only sixth after making mistakes on chasing bow there last time. In the mix back in this sphere.

Form: 8-24826

King Of The Road⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 96

9/2

Well held in Newbury bumper and in 3 runs over hurdles last month but qualified for them on the back of his most encouraging display at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft) latest when late headway into eighth. Interesting for yard among the winners.

Form: 0778

Getuptheyard^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: N J Hawke| OR: 94

11/1

Getaway gelding who has been well held in 2 bumpers/3 novice hurdles. Needs more now handicapping.

Form: 7-4896

Mini Yeats^p1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M Hunt| OR: 91

8/1

Maiden hurdler who was pulled up in handicap hurdle at Leicester (20.5f, heavy) 20 days ago. Cheekpieces go on for 1st time.

Form: P/44-54P

Bruce Gobbler¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 89

40/1

Last of 4 sole start in point bumpers and well beaten all 3 starts under Rules to date.

Form: 4-9005

Imperial Measure⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 89| BF

3/1

Opened his account at Newton Abbot in September and in good form after until only sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f, soft) 56 days ago. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 341326

Tribesmans Glory¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 85| BF

9/1

Fair winning chaser for Tom George in 2020. Lightly raced since but posted largely creditable efforts over hurdles this term. No forlorn hope.

Form: 0/8-3P36

Gardons La^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 79

66/1

Just a modicum of promise in 2 starts in France and has shown little for current connections, having a wind operation before refusing to race at Wincanton in December. Others appeal more.

Form: 8-7P7R8

Citizen Jane¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 78

22/1

Point winner who arrives winless over hurdles but often shaped better than bare result in handful of starts for Alastair Ralph. Well worthy of note if market speaks in her favour starting out for new yard back up in trip.

Form: P17545

Dora's Addrezz^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 75

33/1

Offered little tongue tied in a Newton Abbot bumper on only outing for Brian Barr and poor efforts to date over hurdles. Switch to handicaps needs to bring about improvement.

Form: 79P7

Irlandais¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 73

6/1

Only poor form shown over hurdles (first one for Dan Skelton) to date and lots more is required from 1 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 7-7805

Non-Runners

Russies Dream²⁷²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 8

T: C J Down J: Ben Ffrench-Davis

Forecasts

Imperial Measure (3/1), Chankaya (4/1), King Of The Road (9/2), Irlandais (6/1), Mini Yeats (8/1), Tribesmans Glory (9/1), Getuptheyard (11/1), Citizen Jane (22/1), Diamand De Vindecy (25/1), Dora's Addrezz (33/1), Bruce Gobbler (40/1), Russies Dream (50/1), Gardons La (66/1)

Not so competitive as the numbers suggest and KING OF THE ROAD appeals as a likely improver for the in-form Ben Pauling team now stepping into handicaps so gets the nod. Chankaya reverts to this sphere on a handy-looking mark having made mistakes on his recent chasing bow at Wincanton and is next on the list ahead of Ryan Potter's new recruit Citizen Jane.