14:25 Taunton

Tuesday 4 February 2025

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

Arthur & Peggy White Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 5.25s

Isaac Des Obeaux⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130

13/2

Back-to-back hurdles winner last winter and signed 2023/24 campaign off by finishing a close third in 3m handicap here in April. Still early days in this sphere but will need to show much more than he has in handicap chases at Chepstow and Cheltenham if he's to figure prominently here.

Form: 13P3-5P

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Pimlico Point^t²⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125

8/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who got off the mark in this sphere in 4-runner Exeter handicap last February. Very nearly added to that at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) when last seen 9 months ago and it's still early days for him over fences but improvement will certainly be needed if he's take this.

Form: P/241U-2

Stormy Flight^p¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 124| CD

17/2

Dual Exeter winner last term and left low-key reappearance behind when going down narrowly to the upwardly mobile Lowry's Bar over 19f at the aforementioned course in December, with the re-opposing The Doyen Chief (2 lb pull) 3¾ lengths back in third. Strong claims.

Form: 31-F02U

The Doyen Chief⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 124| C

11/8

Winning pointer/bumper performer who won 2 of his 3 completed starts at up to 20.6f over hurdles last term, including a 19f novice here 12 months ago. Placed both starts since switched to fences and this stiffer test could be the catalyst for improvement.

Form: 21U1-33

Investment Manager^t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 123

14/1

Won over fences at Newton Abbot last May and capitalised on lower hurdles mark at the same course in September. However, hasn't put his best foot forward the last twice and likely to come up short once more.

Form: P-17134

Jupiter Allen^p1⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 120

9/1

Dual winner over hurdles who advanced his form after 5 months off when opening his chase account at Exeter in October. However, has failed to fire both subsequent starts and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 15-514P

First Lord De Cuet^b¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: C O'Farrell| T: D Pipe| OR: 115

22/1

Hasn't won since 2021 and there have been very few positives to take from his efforts so far this season. Yard also saddles Castle Daragh.

Form: 433-485

Mount Gay Run³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 113

5/1

Showed fair form in bumpers for Paul Nicholls and similar level in a pair of hurdle runs for new yard in recent months, third at listed level before finishing fourth in a Cheltenham maiden (20.2f) on New Year's Day. Makes a quick switch to chasing for handicap bow and market should guide.

Form: 45-34

Castle Daragh^p⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 110

80/1

Point winner who made a successful start under Rules in 23.6f hunter chase at Chepstow last spring. However, he was pulled up at Stratford the following month and again failed to complete on return in a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot in October.

Form: P221-PP

Forecasts

The Doyen Chief (11/8), Mount Gay Run (5/1), Isaac Des Obeaux (13/2), Pimlico Point (8/1), Stormy Flight (17/2), Jupiter Allen (9/1), Investment Manager (14/1), First Lord De Cuet (22/1), Castle Daragh (80/1)

It could be a case of third time lucky over fences for THE DOYEN CHIEF, who wasn't far behind Stormy Flight in the Exeter handicap won by the progressive Lowry's Bar and Alan King's charge will almost certainly benefit from this step up in trip. Stormy Flight failed to complete at Windsor next time but he'll be a threat granted a clear round here. If Mount Gay Run takes to fences at the first time of asking he shouldn't be far away either.