14:05 Taunton

Thursday 29 February 2024

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

West Buckland Primary Racing To School Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 5m 10.3s

Activist^p³^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 87

9/2

Fairly useful on Flat in France and, despite going in snatches, produced best effort in this sphere when taking 6-runner handicap hurdle at Plumpton (15.9f) 3 days ago. Return to further won't inconvenience him on that evidence and respected under a penalty.

Form: 655621

Sarsen⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 92

14/1

Placed twice in maiden hurdles for Alan King in summer 2022 but was unable to make an impact in 2 starts for new stable late last year. Handicapper has afforded him a chance if this marked step back up in trip/65-day break has positive effect.

Form: 5/239-07

Imperial Measure⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 89| BF

10/3

Successful from a 6 lb lower mark at Newton Abbot (16.7f) last summer and made the frame on 3 of his 4 starts since, 4 lengths second of 12 in C&D handicap 9 days ago. Nicely clear of remainder then and has more races in him from this sort of mark.

Form: 413262

Come On Nia³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J Martin⁽⁵⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 87

20/1

Telescope mare who was never involved down in trip but did finish clear of the rest when sixth of 12 in mares' novice at Chepstow (2m, heavy) 4 weeks ago. Switch to handicaps/return to further a plus here.

Form: 0666

Whynotnowroy^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 77

4/1

Maiden who is from a reasonable jumping family and caught the eye (in first-time hood) from out of weights when sixth in 16-runner C&D handicap 23 days ago, seeming to finish with more to give. Worth keeping an eye on from such a low mark.

Form: 095-786

Wellwillya³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 76

11/2

More encouraging signs in novice/handicap contests upon returning late last year and ran as well as could be expected in face of stiff task at Fontwell (19.2f, soft) 32 days ago. Likely he can be more competitive back in this more suitable grade.

Form: 70-P635

Spicy Nelson^t1⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 75WS

12/1

Offered little so far, labouring along way out when pulled up on 3m Wincanton handicap debut in December. A subsequent wind operation needs to have made a big difference but he does come here with his yard amongst the winners.

Form: 86P-9P

Come On Paddy Mac^p,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 70

13/2

Winning Irish pointer but not offered much in handful of starts over hurdles, including upon returning from a lengthy absence for new yard in recent weeks. Does at least start life in handicaps from a very low base but would need to see market support to make him of interest.

Form: 51/PP-98

Pivotal Sky^v1⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M Hunt| OR: 81

14/1

Achieved little in juvenile hurdles and fared no better when tenth of 14 on handicap hurdle debut at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) 48 days ago. Up in trip. Visor on 1st time.

Form: 3860

Non-Runners

Grandmaster Flash⁹²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: B J Llewellyn J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Imperial Measure (10/3), Whynotnowroy (4/1), Activist (9/2), Wellwillya (11/2), Come On Paddy Mac (13/2), Spicy Nelson (12/1), Grandmaster Flash (12/1), Sarsen (14/1), Pivotal Sky (14/1), Come On Nia (20/1)

This looks fairly competitive but there was enough encouragement in his finishing effort over C&D last time to suggest WHYNOTNOWROY could just be worth chancing to build on that run operating from such a lowly mark. Imperial Measure has more races in him judged on his recent C&D second and is feared. Plumpton-scorer Activist back up in trip and Wellwillya also command respect.