14:35 Taunton

Thursday 28 November 2024

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Trucksmith Dropside Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 4m 45.70s

Bigz Belief^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 100

50/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2023 but was in the process of building on his stable debut with cheekpieces quickly refitted when departing 2 out at Exeter last month, looking sure to be placed at the very least. Must enter calculations.

Form: 45786F

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Zhang Fei²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 99

5/1

Winner at Newton Abbot in July and returned to form when second of 12 in handicap hurdle (9/2) at Stratford (18.7f, good to soft) 28 days ago, clear of rest. Merits consideration.

Form: 7-54152

Fine By Her²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: J S Smith| OR: 96

40/1

Benefited from a return to hurdling when scoring at Fakenham in June and ran creditably when seventh of 12 at Sedgefield 5 months later.

Form: 1VPR-17

West Park Boy⁶⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 94

16/1

Clear signs of ability in his 3 qualifying runs and he appeals as one who can go on to better things now stepping up in trip on handicap debut. Interesting back from a big absence.

Form: 805/

Vivid Pink^h⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 93

14/1

Bounced back to form when second of 11 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (19.6f, good) 51 days ago. Good chance of making the frame with a repeat.

Form: 24U-252

Prairie Diamond^h⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Daire James McConville⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 90

9/4

Bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Wincanton (19.8f, good to soft, 17/2) last week, by 4½ lengths from Sassified. Escapes a penalty for that success, so has obvious claims of following up.

Form: 06-3831

Ugo Bingo^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 88

18/1

Lightly-raced maiden who shaped better than the distance beaten suggests in a first-time tongue strap when fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at this course (16.5f, good, 7/1) 14 days ago. Worth a try at this longer trip.

Form: P-6534

Kintaro^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 88

40/1

Seems to be going through the motions at present, finishing only fourth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, good to soft) 7 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 329504

Of Corse I Can^h1⁵⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 84

125/1

In the frame in points and offered something to work on when second of 6 in novice hurdle at Ffos Las in June 2022. Little show since and now returns from 18 months off in a first-time hood.

Form: 28600/7-

Grain Trade^h²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: K Brogan| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 84

13/2

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules who made more impact than previously when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (19.6f, good) 25 days ago. May do better still.

Form: 0/P89-4

Harry Gulliver²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryan Carver| T: A M Hales| OR: 83

12/1

Opened his account at Huntingdon in October and ran at least as well in defeat back there (19.6f, good, 11/2) 25 days ago. Should remain competitive.

Form: 0-F0U13

Footloose Man^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Lily Pinchin| T: R Hobson| OR: 83

16/1

Winner at Fontwell in August but underperformed back over a slightly shorter trip when only sixth of 10 in handicap hurdle at Fakenham (20f, good) 29 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 314436

Sassified^b⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 81| BF| D

3/1

Has slipped in the weights and ran better than for a while when 4½ lengths second of 10 to Prairie Diamond in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (19.8f, good to soft, 3/1) 7 days ago. Has same mark to work with.

Form: 984482

Chester Tonik^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 79

80/1

Modest/temperamental on Flat (stays 1¼m) and has made little impact in varied events over hurdles.

Form: 6P-78

Too Sharp^b1,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Reed| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 76

80/1

Poor maiden hurdler who has shown little for current yard, including in handicaps. Blinkers on for 1st time.

Form: 4/P768U

Non-Runners

Mactavish¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 7

T: M Sheppard J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Prairie Diamond (9/4), Sassified (3/1), Zhang Fei (5/1), Grain Trade (13/2), Harry Gulliver (12/1), Vivid Pink (14/1), Footloose Man (16/1), West Park Boy (16/1), Ugo Bingo (18/1), Mactavish (20/1), Fine By Her (40/1), Kintaro (40/1), Bigz Belief (50/1), Chester Tonik (80/1), Too Sharp (80/1), Of Corse I Can (125/1)

PRAIRIE DIAMOND escapes a penalty for last week's Wincanton success and is the percentage call to follow up. Harry Gulliver ran well in a race that appeals as solid form at Huntingdon on his most recent outing, while handicap-debutant West Park Boy and Bigz Belief, who was running well when falling 2 out at Exeter, are other interesting rivals.