13:55 Taunton

Tuesday 4 February 2025

All13:2513:5514:2514:5515:3016:0516:40

Gold Cup Lunch 14th March Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 18.30s

Manuelito¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121| D

9/1

A fairly useful 2m winner over hurdles for David Pipe but pulled up in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (16.6f) when last seen out 6 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running for his new stable.

Form: 321-1P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Ninth Loch^h¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁵⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 120| D

7/2

Bumper scorer for Willie Mullins prior to winning 3 times over hurdles in France. Encouraging start for his new yard when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Haydock (15.6f, soft) 17 days ago. Can build on it.

Form: 1-P4714

The Widdow Maker^t⁷⁰⁶

50/1

C&D winner but not seen out since pulled up in handicap chase at Wincanton 23 months ago. Since had a wind op and has his fitness to prove on his comeback run.

Form: 3423FP/

Black Hawk Eagle⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Liam Harrison| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 120| D

10/1

Scored twice over hurdles for his current yard but only eighth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Ascot (15.7f, good to soft) 45 days ago. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 11P-328

Latin Verse^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 118| D

12/1

Winless this term but in good nick until only 11th of 15 in handicap hurdle (15/2) at Wincanton (19.8f, soft) 19 days ago. Cheekpieces refitted and sort to bounce back.

Form: 2-67260

Saint Anapolino²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 118| D

10/3

Lightly-raced sort who posted a career best when winning 14-runner novice hurdle at Exeter (16.7f, heavy) 22 days ago. Much respected now going into handicaps.

Form: 1/52-231

Mostly Sunny¹¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| D

25/1

A 3-time winner on the Flat who has taken well to hurdling for the Skelton yard, winning twice. Cheekpieces on when a creditable second of 6 in 2m5f Ludlow novice in October so he's respected after a break.

Form: 112492

Admiralty House^h⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 117| D

9/1

Lightly-raced winner who comes here on the back of a good third of 8 in 2m Haydock handicap in the mud in December. Big shout eased 1 lb with these less testing conditions also a likely plus.

Form: 122/2U3

Campaign Trail^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 116| BF| D

16/1

Progressive stayer on Flat for Ralph Beckett in 2023. Overcame long absence to make a winning hurdling/yard debut at Doncaster in November but only a fair third in 2m Wetherby novice following month. Remains with potential now handicapping.

Form: 13

Golden Move^p⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115

11/2

A fairly useful winner at 12f on flat and got off the mark in this sphere in 2m Wincanton handicap in December. Only 13th at Ascot since so needs to bounce back.

Form: 33-10

Intrepide Sud^h1,t⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 114| D

22/1

Fair bumper winner who opened his hurdling account in 2m novice at Uttoxeter in October. Pulled up in handicap at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy) 61 days ago though so has something to prove with hood added.

Form: 21/53-1P

Walk On High^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 112

18/1

Remains winless and he came in a below-form eighth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) 40 days ago. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 74/F-328

Wasthatok^h1,t³⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 112

80/1

A fairly useful ex-Irish 2m hurdles winner. Came in a well-held sixth on his yard/chasing debut at Hereford however and off for 12 months since. Hooded for return with bit to prove.

Form: 451/526-

Phoenix Risen^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 101| CD

18/1

C&D winner but he came in a below-form fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle here (19f, good to soft) 36 days ago. Can give a good account if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 469214

Forecasts

Saint Anapolino (10/3), Ninth Loch (7/2), Golden Move (11/2), Manuelito (9/1), Admiralty House (9/1), Black Hawk Eagle (10/1), Latin Verse (12/1), Campaign Trail (16/1), Walk On High (18/1), Phoenix Risen (18/1), Intrepide Sud (22/1), Mostly Sunny (25/1), The Widdow Maker (50/1), Wasthatok (80/1)

Lots with chances. Alan King's ADMIRALTY HOUSE rates the pick at these weights so is taken to build on his good Haydock third under these less testing conditions and resume winning ways. Campaign Trail fluffed his lines at Wetherby last time but could still emerge as the main danger on his first go in handicaps, while Ninth Loch, Saint Anapolino and Mostly Sunny all need factoring in too.