15:50 Taunton

Thursday 12 December 2024

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:4015:1515:50

Twixmas Meeting 30th December Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 6m 2.01s

Kendelu¹⁰³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss Megan Bevan⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 98| CD

66/1

Won back-to-back handicaps at this venue before Christmas in 2021 and following a couple of lesser efforts, returned to form back under less testing conditions when third of 17 in handicap at this course (19f, good to soft) when last seen in February 2022. Best watched given the absence.

Form: 211603/

Brownstone^t,p⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 98

11/1

A fair hurdle winner in Ireland and in good nick for current yard, shaping as if still in good form but letting himself down off the bridle when fourth of 10 in handicap at Exeter (18.5f, heavy) 6 days ago, no extra run-in having hung badly left from 3 out.

Form: 440244

Wot You Wearing^t,p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 97

8/1

Back-to-back winner at Chepstow last November and very encouraging start to present campaign when just touched off in a 25.5f Hereford handicap (good) in October. Not in same form on both subsequent starts though but appeals as a likely candidate to bounce back down in grade.

Form: 227-250

Despereaux^p⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 97| C| D

5/2

Had rather lost his way this season but bounced back to form in first-time cheekpieces when winning weak 7-runner handicap at Ludlow (23.8f, soft) last week. Gets to race from the same mark here so certainly not out of things despite this being more competitive.

Form: 48-8301

Badbury Rings²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 96

25/1

From a good jumps family and runner-up second (only completed) of 2 starts in points but has looked a longer-term project in a trio of runs over timber thus far. Could progress now handicapping hiked up in trip.

Form: 22-3606

No Rematch¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss Imogen Mathias⁽⁷⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 96| D

40/1

Denied only by an unexposed type in 15-runner handicap hurdle at Exeter (21.6f, heavy) on final outing for Evan Williams last December. Not seen to best effect on both starts for this yard in the summer and failed to complete in his first chase since spring 2023 at Hereford recently.

Form: 622-44F

Chauffeur Driven^b,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 96| D

18/1

Point winner. Also third in maiden/novice hurdles around 2m last winter but disappointed first 2 starts handicaps. However, he made more impact than previously fitted in blinkers/tongue tie when fifth of 10 at this C&D (good to soft) 2 weeks ago and he could well build on that.

Form: 303P-95

Broomfield Gale^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Robbie David⁽⁷⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 94

33/1

Modest hurdler at best in Ireland for Robert Murphy. Played up beforehand but ran creditably on her first outing for this yard when third of 10 in handicap hurdle at Ludlow (21.2f, soft) last month but has work to do from this mark.

Form: 776583

Lock Out^b²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 94| BF| D

12/1

Firmly back on track when making a winning return in handicap chase at Chepstow in October under this rider. Unable to land the odds off 5 lb lower at Hereford 3 days later, but back on song when third at this track (23f, good) 4 weeks ago. Blinkers back on for his return to hurdling.

Form: 745-143

Just Four Fame^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Theo Gillard| T: David Dennis| OR: 94

100/1

Third in an Aintree bumper in May 2022 but hurdling efforts have been uninspiring in the main, faring no better in first-time cheekpieces at Huntingdon (19.6f, good) last month. Can only be watched.

Form: 3/5-45PP

Ugo Bingo^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 94| C

11/2

Stepped up in trip and duly showed improved form to get off the mark over hurdles at this course (19f, good to soft) a fortnight ago, tackled run-in and all out to hold on. Capable of better again as his stamina is drawn out further, so certainly one to look out for.

Form: P-65341

The Dark Edge^p1³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Lily Pinchin| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 93

17/2

Improved further after 5 months off when off the mark in 9-runner handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) in September and has held form well in filling the runner-up spot both outings since. Cheekpieces now go on.

Form: 692-122

Happy Index^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 91

4/1

Confirmed promise of yard debut when winning at Perth in September and defied a hike in the weights when landing 9-runner handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (23.1f, good) 4 weeks ago, driven out under an excellent ride. Every chance for the hat-trick with a conditional negating most of a 6 lb rise.

Form: 455-211

Elusiveness^t,p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 89

22/1

Flat-bred mare who took a step forward when runner-up on her handicap debut at Exeter on final start of last season. Looked rusty returning from 6 months off back there in October but more like it with cheekpieces added when fifth of 10 at Ffos Las (21.9f, heavy) just over 3 weeks ago.

Form: 6532-55

R Bernard^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 89

66/1

Scored at Stratford in May but off 6 months before a fading sixth of 9 in handicap at Ludlow in October. Tailed-off last of 6 at Huntingdon (25f, soft) 19 days ago so the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: P31-166

Non-Runners

Gata Ban³⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: N P Mulholland J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Despereaux (5/2), Happy Index (4/1), Ugo Bingo (11/2), Wot You Wearing (8/1), The Dark Edge (17/2), Brownstone (11/1), Lock Out (12/1), Chauffeur Driven (18/1), Elusiveness (22/1), Badbury Rings (25/1), Gata Ban (25/1), Broomfield Gale (33/1), No Rematch (40/1), R Bernard (66/1), Kendelu (66/1), Just Four Fame (100/1)

A tricky finale to solve but the suggestion is HAPPY INDEX, who has returned this season an improved model and Olly Murphy's mare can complete the hat-trick with a good-value conditional negating most of her latest 6 lb rise. Despereaux left previous efforts behind this season when scoring at Ludlow last week, so he heads up the opposition, with recent course winner Ugo Bingo and The Dark Edge both fancied to be in the mix, too.