14:25 Taunton

Thursday 27 February 2025

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Royal Bath & West Show Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 4.3s

Colonel Whizz^t³⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 94

17/2

Placed twice in maiden hurdles at up to 2½m and ran up to best in a first-time tongue tie when third of 7 on handicap debut at Huntingdon (19.6f, heavy) when last seen 11 months ago. Returns with yard continuing amongst the winners so worth a second look.

Form: 262373-

Babatunde¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 94

5/1

Lightly-raced maiden who advanced his form when third on handicap debut here (23.9f) in January. However, failed to sustain his effort dropped back in trip when fifth of 12 in handicap at Chepstow (19.5f, heavy) 18 days ago. Eased 1 lb ahead of this.

Form: 3-46435

Grenadier Jed²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 90| CD

1/2

Promise on second of 2 starts in bumpers and left previous hurdling exploits in his wake when making a winning handicap debut over C&D 23 days ago, quickening clear final 100 yds. Up 8 lb on the back of that but manner of the victory suggests there's more to come.

Form: 53-9751

D'gesteevo⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 90

25/1

Well beaten in bumpers but hinted at ability for the first time fitted with cheekpieces (left off here) on his second of 3 starts in maiden/novice hurdles during second half of last year. Goes handicapping now with yard in better form and the market can prove a useful guide.

Form: 94-R70

Raby Mere^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R P Treacy⁽³⁾| T: Louise G Lyons| OR: 88

22/1

Irish raider who was very easy to back but made more impact than previously with cheekpieces enlisted when fifth in a big-field handicap hurdle at Gowran (2m) 5 weeks ago. Interesting if the market spoke in his favour now stepping back up in trip.

Form: 396005

Nobody Told Me¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: T Faulkner| OR: 85

40/1

Fair Flat winner for Jedd O'Keeffe who made more impact than previously in this sphere when fourth on handicap debut at Stratford (18.7f) last spring. May have needed first start for 9 months when pulled up at Chepstow (19.5f) 18 days ago but good deal of progress required to figure.

Form: 698-4P

Tribesmans Glory¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 80

20/1

Ended losing run with a narrow success over fences at Warwick (20f) in May and resumed in good form, seeming to find 23f taxing his stamina here last month. Lesser effort at Exeter 18 days ago and this veteran switches back to smaller obstacles now.

Form: 6-61266

Missy Mole²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 76

33/1

Runner-up completed start in Irish points but little to shout about over hurdles, albeit finding the return to 2m an inadequate test when sixth in novices' handicap at Lingfield 4 weeks ago. Needs to find some improvement stepping back up in distance.

Form: 8075P6

Break Heart Hill^h⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Ben Godfrey| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 76

66/1

No impact only start in bumpers and similar story sent off at big prices in maiden/novice hurdles. Does at least now get first crack at handicaps from a basement mark but big step forward required.

Form: 68-99

Mr Zee^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: H Cobden| T: M Blake| OR: 75

15/2

Multiple Flat winner who arrives in decent nick, noted running on when fourth of 17 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f) 6 weeks ago. Harry Cobden an eye-catching booking stepping back up in trip and not discounted.

Form: 4P4644

Joker Jack^t1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Bryan Carver| T: Claire Hitch| OR: 75

50/1

Hinted at ability in his qualifying runs but disappointing start to life in handicaps, tailed-off last of 12 behind Grenadier Jen over C&D 23 days ago. Tongue strap reached for ahead of this.

Form: P5P-3P0

Alderley Charlie^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: P Gundry| OR: 75

50/1

No promise in his 3 qualifying runs and left behind gradually when seventh of 10 on handicap debut over C&D 23 days ago.

Form: P007

Non-Runners

Rip Wheeler¹⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Chester Tonik⁴²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: Alexandra Dunn J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Grenadier Jed (1/2), Rip Wheeler (9/2), Babatunde (5/1), Mr Zee (15/2), Colonel Whizz (17/2), Tribesmans Glory (20/1), Raby Mere (22/1), D'gesteevo (25/1), Missy Mole (33/1), Nobody Told Me (40/1), Joker Jack (50/1), Chester Tonik (50/1), Alderley Charlie (50/1), Break Heart Hill (66/1)

GRENADIER JED left his previous hurdle exploits well behind when making a winning handicap debut over C&D 23 days ago and the manner of that success suggests a subsequent 8 lb rise may not be enough to prevent Robert Walford's unexposed 5-y-o following up. Rip Wheeler appeals as the type to do better now stepping back up in trip and, along with the returning Colonel Whizz and Mr Zee, heads up the dangers.